Hey! I was in BA for two months last year. Loved this city! Here’s an email I wrote for the friend of a friend who was visiting last year…
This is the map I made. Look at the notes on each place, some have recommendations and some I didn’t actually get to.
My favourite restaurants were Mishengue and Gran Dabang. Mishengue there was very little English spoken so take your phone or play dinner roulette - everything we had was fantastic though. Argentinians eat really late, so although they’re often busy if you go there at 6.30pm you can often get a spot. Gran Dabang was more casual (and cheaper), and they came over and explained the menu in English.
I highly recommend booking into Nicky’s NY Sushi. It’s an expensive sushi restaurant. The food is great, but what’s even better is the speakeasy out the back. After dinner (you can only get in if you eat there) you ask to see the “Bodega”, and you’ll be taken through.
Ninina is a good work spot - they do a good coffee and a mean huevos revueltos.
In general - foursquare is heavily used over there, so no matter what you’re looking for, you can usually find something on foursquare. And of course, you can just look out for an empanada shop for a cheap and delicious snack ![:slight_smile: :slight_smile:]()
ATMs can be a PITA - often they won’t work or will just be out of cash
Plus the fees are exorbitant, so get as much out at once as you can (it’s about $10 fees per withdrawal). I think I must have used my credit card to pay for a taxi when I arrived, but if you can, I suggest getting some cash out before you leave, because the ATM at the airport didn’t work for me. Actually, it may have, but only let me get out a little bit… I can’t remember.
Anyway, I’m not sure where you’re staying, but I marked an ATM on the map in Palermo that always worked for me. They are hard to find, so if you need money on your way out, look them up on a map before you go - you won’t necessarily just find one.
Also - if you’re having trouble getting cash out, try a lower amount - sometimes it just has a limit on how much you can get out in a single transaction.
I drank the water in BA just fine, but if you’re at all worried you can buy big bottles from the supermarkets.
Tipping is usually 10 - 15%, but don’t tip taxi drivers, they don’t expect tips.
Oh - and a note - in Spanish, man is hombre and woman is mujer, so sometimes you’ll see H and M on the bathroom doors - and M is for the ladies ![:wink: :wink:]()
Be careful if you go to La Boca - go during the day, preferably on a Saturday or Sunday when there will be lots of tourists around. In general BA is pretty safe, particularly Palermo, but don’t walk around with your phone or camera in hand, or it might be snatched by an opportunist.
And… that’s about it! Oh I took a salsa class - can’t remember where exactly, but it was in Palermo. It was chaotic and hot but fun, and a good place to meet people (and cute Argentinian guys who can dance really well).
Hope that helps!