Best of Buenos Aires | Wanderful

As my parents can attest, I am a huge fan of “Best of ______(fill in the city) ” ratings. Since high school, I have participated annually in submitting nominations for our local newspaper’s “Best of La Jolla” list and wait expectantly for the list of “winners” to come out in September (my parents now have to mail me the newspaper when I am away for college). So, as my time in Buenos Aires is winding down, I decided to make my own “Best of” list to help out any future travelers. After more than four months of exploring el capital federal, these some of my favorite places:**

**Disclaimer: the majority of these places are in Palermo, which is by and large the best neighborhood in all of Buenos Aires.

Best Bookstore: Libros del Pasaje at 1762 Thames

The best place in BA to study or find a new book to read. The atmosphere is warm and once you enter the store you never want to leave. The café makes that possible along with their repertoire of books that span many topics of interest and several languages.

Best Café: Oui Oui 6068 Nicaragua

Oui oui is easily the most charming café in all of Buenos Aires. A combination of the quaint decorations, delicious food, table full of freshly- baked pastries and friendly staff, make this one café you can’t afford to miss.

Best Ice Cream: Freddo

The most famous ice cream in a city known for its gelato (courtesy of the large waves of Italian immigrants around the turn of the century). While there are lots of heladerias, or ice cream stores, you can find Freddos in nearly every barrio, or neighborhood!

http://www.freddo.com.ar/

Best Park: 3 de Febrero (also known as the Bosque de Palermo)

The best way to get out of the city for a day without actually leaving is to spend an afternoon in the park. The park has two lakes (you can rent paddleboats), a rose garden and is one of the most popular exercise spots with runners, walkers, roller skaters and cyclists.

Best Fancy Restaurant: La Cabrera at Cabrera 5099

The chic French inspired atmosphere was accompanied by one of the best meals I have had in Argentina. The two steaks we ordered were delicious and more than enough to feed four hungry adults. In addition, the chocolate lava cake for dessert was to die for– definitely one of the best anywhere in in Argentina or the USA!

http://www.parrillalacabrera.com.ar/

Best Happy Hour: Bar 6 at Armenia 1676

Although it may not sound like a traditional early evening Happy Hour, where boliches, or clubs, don’t open until around 2am, from midnight-2am Bar 6 does two-for-one tragos–cocktails!

http://www.barseis.com/

Best Day Trip: Colonial del Sacramento, Uruguay

A quick ride on the buquebus (ferry) gets you to Colonia in under an hour. Make reservations for your boat ride a day in advance and then go and enjoy a tour of the charming once-Portuguese colony. And get a new stamp on your passport!

Best Museum: MALBA,The Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires at Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415

The modern art museum has a nice collection of Argentine and Latin American Art on permanent display along with two rotating exhibits. The museum itself is very nice and has an amazing wooden vine that spans multiple floors. The exhibits are easy to tour in an hour plus, leaving time to hang out at the great café that’s next to the lobby!

http://www.malba.org.ar/web/home.php

Best Stores for Young Women: Rapsodia, Casa Chia & Prune

Rapsodia and Casa Chic are very similar to the Anthropologie/Free People empire. Prune is known for its leather products and will interest women of all ages with coats, boots, wallets, purses and more.

http://www.rapsodia.com/argentina.php

http://www.prune.com.ar/

Best Place for a drop-in Tango class: La Catedral at 4006 Sarmiento

La Catedral looks nothing like what its name implies—cathedral—but rather like a set out of Moulin Rouge in Paris. They offer classes at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels during the week and then people often stay after lessons to practice or take advantage of the restaurant/bar.

Best Tourist Tidbit

The Casa Rosada, or the Argentina equivalent of the White House, has free weekly tours on Saturday and Sunday. No reservations are required, just show up and wait in line for tours that are scheduled every 10 minutes.