In January and February, Buenos Aires hums to a lazy melody as Portenos (locals) escape the summer heat. Yet the contemporary cool of this Argentinean city prevails with tango shows, irresistible parrillas (BBQ) and graceful elegance.

As a New Yorker, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I boarded a plane with a one-way ticket to this vibrant city. As I departed the divided political scene in the U.S., I entered a country that’s past is a roller coaster of financial booms and gripping political soap operas. The Broadway Musical Evita is dedicated to sharing that story with the world and even today, over 50 years after her early death, Portenos are careful to discuss in public what happened back then.

Yet, this colorful city continues to entice foodies, artists, soccer fans and fashion buffs with its vibrant and ever-growing cultural scene. The hip energy of the locals is shown in all of their craft as art galleries, restaurants, boutique hotels and the nightlife scene continues to grow daily.

The city’s European infused character and artistic natures lives on in all that they do. If you’re visiting for the first time, it can be overwhelming as the Buenos Aires Province is the size of the country of Spain. To make it easier on you, I’ve included my favorite finds below, including a call for you to visit the province of Mendoza, the “Napa of Argentina”.

FOOD & DRINK

• El Gran Mosquito – Authentic Parrilla, iron grill barbecue. (facebook.com/ElGranMosquito).
• Don Carlos – Family run restaurant with no menu. They serve what they make that day.  
• Moliere – Authentic Argentinean cuisine & live music (moliere-cafe.com).
• Nicki Harrison – Speakeasy with sushi dinner & cocktails (nicky-harrison.com).
• Valance – Argentinean Ice Cream (facebook.com/valenceargentina).
• Café Tortoni – Traditional café with tango show (cafetortoni.com.ar).

THINGS TO DO:

• Recoleta Cemetery – Unique cemetery where Evita is buried.
• Explore La Boca neighborhood – A colorful, romantic neighborhood where tango emerged.
• Explore San Telmo neighborhood – The old heart of Colonial Buenos Aires.
• Gourmet Buenos Aires Food Adventure – Take this food tour to taste the highlights of Argentinean cuisine in 3 hours (urbanadventures.com).
• We are Tango – Tango lesson and show (wearetango.com).

EXPLORE:

Mendoza, Argentina – Check out our Vines of Mendoza video series for more on Mendoza. 

• Stay: Vines of Mendoza Resort & Spa – A beautiful resort nestled in a vineyard and overlooking the Andes Mountains (vinesofmendoza.com).
• Do: Sunrise horseback with Masi Nino – A horseback ride up a local mountain to witness the sunrise. Masi Nino teaches you about gaucho culture and serves a light breakfast of mate tea and pastries. Book via vinesofmendoza.com.
• Eat: Siete Fuegos dinner experience paired with the wine from the Vines- Francis Mallmann’s honed collection of open-flame cooking techniques, inspired by Argentine gauchos and European migrations. Book via vinesofmendoza.com.

This article was featured in W42st Magazines March 2017 issue.