Tease your taste buds on this gourmet itinerary as you journey to Latin America's most revered wine lands and culinary cities in Argentina and Chile. We have carefully handpicked the most exclusive and indulgent hotels to enhance the quality of your stay.
This 10 day trip combines some of South America’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities with the spectacularly breath-taking Iguazu Falls; unforgettable highlights of any trip to this incredible continent.
During a trip to Argentina, Latin America Specialist Scarlett fell in love with Mendoza, the land of wine. Below she entices us with her experiences of Mendoza and the best way to explore such a diverse region of Argentina.
Food and drink is at the heart of Argentine culture, so what better way to spend your time than eating and drinking in all the best spots Buenos Aires has to offer. Tried and tested by our Marketing Executive and Latin America enthusiast Suzie, we recommend the best things to eat, drink and do in Buenos Aires.
Want to know more about what’s on offer in Buenos Aires? Call the Latin America team on 020 7622 1116 and find out why it’s one of our favourite Latin American cities.
Buenos Aires is a fantastic city for foodies; the streets are lined with restaurants, cafés and patisseries. There is, of course, a common theme running through much of the city’s gastronomy – meat, meat and more meat! I do believe there are some vegetarian restaurants lurking somewhere in the depths of BA, but I cannot pretend to have sampled any of them myself. So, perhaps somewhat predictably, I’m going to point you in the direction of some of the city’s best steak…
The nightly queues to get a table at La Cabrera are testimony to the high standard of food served here. The website’s caption, which reads ‘One of Palermo’s Best Kept Secrets’, must be a throwback to a bygone era, because certainly it would appear there are few people in Palermo today who have not discovered the delights of La Cabrera. Once you’ve sampled the succulent steaks on offer here I’m sure you will agree the food is worth the wait – and what better way to wait for your table than with a cold glass of sparkling wine?! Despite the high demand, from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, La Cabrera’s waiters will make sure you know that your custom is valued.
Moving onto the important stuff – what to order? While my personal favourite are the empanadas, I suggest you begin by sharing a selection of the starters that are on offer, because they really are too good to choose just one. Follow this up with a steak of your choice; they come in a variety of cuts and sizes and with an array of sides, so there is something to suit almost all tastes. Alternatively, I have it on good authority that the sweetbreads are some of the best around, so if offal is your thing (personally I’m a little too squeamish) then these mollejas are not to be missed!
If for you, like me, no day is complete without a little taste of something sweet, dulce de leche is a delicacy not to be missed during a stay in Buenos Aires. This sweet and sticky goodness is part of the local identity and is responsible for many an extra inch on the waistline! Head to one of Argentina’s many Havanna cafés and you’ll be spoilt for choice with dulce de leche filled products!
Buenos Aires’ nightlife is some of the best I’ve ever sampled; the city never sleeps and you won’t want to either! Argentinian wine is world renowned and there is no better way to wash down your dinner than with a large glass of Malbec, certainly I enjoyed a fair few of these during my stay in BA! But when you are looking for something a little different, the drink of choice has got be a Pisco Sour – a classic Peruvian cocktail consisting of pisco (a grape brandy), sour mix and, the wild card ingredient, an egg white. Do not be put off by this unusual addition, it is a spectacular drink and has to be tried to be believed!
This has to be one of my favourite bars in BA and its Pisco Sours are second to none. Located in a beautiful art-nouveau style townhouse, Milión has a unique and welcoming atmosphere, where modern design meets old world features. If you haven’t booked you will have to battle with the crowds to find a table, but I was quite happy sipping my drink standing in the gardens at the back of the building, where cascading greenery frames the busy courtyard. I cannot fault this bar – from beautiful décor, to delicious drinks and excellent people-watching opportunities, it has it all. It’s the perfect place to while away a few hours on a warm BA evening.
If, come the early hours, you still think you have something left to bring to the party, head to Miloca. We were introduced to this place by a local we had met earlier in the evening and joined a gaggle of BA’s seasoned partygoers in dancing on the roof terrace while the sun came up around us. This is an absolutely magical experience and reaffirms the BA mentality that sleeping is something that can be done when you’re dead!
Buenos Aires is bursting with things to keep you busy and one of my favourite ways to pass my time was just wandering aimlessly through the city’s streets; you always come across so many interesting things that you would never have thought to look for. But here are two things to do that I think are not to be missed.
For a lazy day in BA, take a picnic and enjoy the idyllic wilderness of the Constanera Sur Ecological Reserve. While the incredible hustle and bustle of the city is what gives it its charm, sometimes it’s necessary to take a moment to relax. With an abundance of birdlife, iguanas and luscious greenery, it would be easy to forget where you are here if it wasn’t for the cityscape that can be seen in the distance, poking up from behind a foreground of plants and trees. For me this beautiful nature reserve was a necessary moment of calm in the midst of a jam-packed stay in BA.
It’s not possible to visit BA without getting caught up in tango at some point in your trip. After many evenings spent in bars stumbling over my own feet, my friend and I decided it was time to take a lesson. We went to Centro Cultural Torquato Tasso, where a beautiful Argentine couple attempted to teach us the basic steps. I have to admit I spent more time staring in awe at their perfect movements than working on my own rather clumsy footwork, but nonetheless it was a very enjoyable couple of hours!
Tempted by a few days eating, drinking and wandering your way around Buenos Aires? Take a look at our Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro Itinerary to get an idea of the tailor-made holidays we put together.