Argentina - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 62

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Esquina Carlos Gardel Carlos Gardel 3200, Abasto T 011
4867 6363, W esquinacarlosgardel.com.ar. Although very
touristy, this smart venue, named after the king of tango,
remains a classic. Shows from AR$470 (without food).
Piazzolla Tango Florida 165, Microcentro T 011 4344
8200, W piazzollatangoshow.com; map p.55. Housed in a
grand old theatre in the centre, the show here is made up
of two singers, an orchestra and a set of tango dancers,
with prices starting at US$78.
El Viejo Almacén Av Independencia 300, at Balcarce,
San Telmo T 011 4307 6689; map p.55. Dinner and show
from 8pm or show only from 10pm.

3pm onwards, when the cafés surrounding the plaza are
converted into indoor markets filled to the brim with
affordable clothes and jewellery.

DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange The centre has a host of casas
de cambio for foreign exchange; shop around for the best
rate. Banks will also change to or from dollars.
Embassies and consulates Australia, Villanueva 1400
T 011 4779 3500; Bolivia, Av Corrientes 545, 2nd Floor
T 011 4394 1463; Brazil, Cerrito 1350 T 011 4515 2400;
Canada, Tagle 2828 T 011 4808 1000; Chile, Tagle 2762
T 011 4808 8601; Ireland, Av del Libertador 1060, 6th
Floor T 011 5787 0801; New Zealand, Carlos Pellegrini
1427, 5th Floor T 011 4328 0747; UK, Dr Luis Agote 2412
T 011 4808 2200; United States, Av Colombia 4300
T 011 5777 4533; Uruguay, Av Las Heras 1907 T 011
4807 3040.
Hospitals Private hospitals: Hospital Británico (Pedriel 74
T 011 4309 6400) has English-speaking doctors and
24hr emergency care; for non-emergency visits there is
also a more central location at Marcelo T de Alvear 1573
( T 011 4812 0040). Hospital Alemán (Av Pueyrredón
1640, between Beruti and Juncal T 011 4827 7000),
emergency (enter on Beruti) and non-emergency care;
English spoken. Public hospital: Hospital Juan A Fernández
(Cerviño 3356, at Bulnes T 011 4808 2600).
Internet Internet cafés are everywhere in Buenos Aires,
and many locutorios (phone shops) also have internet;
rates are inexpensive and they tend to open late.
Laundry Laundries are plentiful and inexpensive (though
not usually self-service). Expect to pay around AR$30 for
a wash and dry.
Left luggage Retiro bus station and both the domestic
and international airports have left luggage services. Your
hostel may be prepared to look after your luggage if you
have a return booking.
Pharmacies Pharmacies are plentiful. Farmacity
( W farmacity.com.ar) has branches throughout the city,
many open 24hr (for example, at Florida 474, between
Corrientes and Lavalle, Centre T 011 4322 6559).
Police In an emergency call T 101. Tourist Police, Comisaría
del Turista, Av Corrientes 436 T 011 4346 5748 or T 0800
999 5000 (24hr), English spoken.
Post o ce Correo Argentina has branches all over town
( W www.correoargentino.com.ar).

SHOPPING
Buenos Aires offers some of the best shopping in
South America, from high-end designer stores and
air-conditioned malls to weekend markets and cutting-
edge boutiques. Best buys include leather goods (hand-
bags, belts, shoes), wine, home design and handicrafts
(particularly handmade jewellery). Top shopping areas
include Avenida Santa Fe, Palermo Viejo and San Telmo.
Downtown Calle Florida is a famous shopping street from
yesteryear but is a bit of a tourist trap today. Most of
the Argentine clothing chains and designers have outlet
stores in Villa Crespo, around Gurruchaga and Aguirre; see
W espacioutlet.con.ar for a full list.
Malls The city's malls house Argentina's most successful
brands, as well as big international names; they open
every day of the week until 10pm. Try Alto Palermo
(Santa Fé and Coronel Díaz, Palermo, W altopalermo
.com.ar), Galerías Pacífico (Florida and Córdoba, Centre,
W progaleriaspacifico.com.ar) or Paseo Alcorta (Salguero
3172 and Figueroa Alcorta, Palermo Chico, W paseoalcorta
.com.ar); the last has a large Carrefour hypermarket
downstairs. The largest of all is Unicenter ( W unicenter
.com.ar), north of the city in the outer suburbs, full of
designer shops, a cinema, and with an IMAX close by. You
can get there on the #60 bus from the centre, or by taxi.
Markets The city's ferias usually take place on weekends
and are an excellent place to pick up inexpensive local
handicrafts. The most extensive are: the Feria “Hippy” next
to Recoleta cemetery (Sat & Sun); Plaza Dorrego in San
Telmo, spreading half a dozen blocks along Defensa (Sun);
and on Sat or Sun depending on time of year, the Feria
de Mataderos (see p.60). For locally made and designed
clothes head to Plaza Serrano in Palermo, weekends from

PALERMO VIEJO
After the economic crash of the early noughties, this low-rise area became a hotbed of creative
and design talent, and the streets have since filled to bursting with tiny, beautifully presented
boutiques. The area is perfect for browsing but choice boutiques include: Condimentos
(Honduras 4874) for comely local jewellery designs; 28 Sport (Gurruchaga 1481) for
top-quality shoes for men and women; and SoldBA (Costa Rica 4656), cool T-shirt heaven.