Beauty

TRAVEL CLUB

By Flare Staff April 17, 2008

Spotlight on Buenos Aires
This month, join Ashleigh and Amanda—co-founders of Toronto’s exclusive culture club The Society–as they travel to Buenos Aires for some fun in the sun. Read about the hottest places to eat, sleep, drink and get cultured in the city that’s known as the “Paris of the South”. And don’t miss our travel spotlight on Buenos Aires in FLARE’s May issue!
STAY
TOUR
EAT
DRINK
SHOP
GET CULTURED

STAY

Our home away from home, Casa Gorriti

Casa Gorriti
If hotels aren’t your thing, book Casa Gorriti for you and your friends. Nestled on a quiet street in Palermo Soho (the Queen West of Buenos Aires), this three bedroom, three bathroom, kitted-out modern abode is the perfect haven from the bustling streets of Buenos Aires. For a fraction of what you would pay at a hotel, enjoy all the luxuries of a five star experience with the flavour of living like a local. Casa Gorriti’s personal concierge team will ensure you are well taken care of—from hard to get restaurant reservations to fresh flowers and private wine tastings.
Website: www.internationalnest.com

Talk about five star luxury at Faena

Faena Hotel + Universe
Designed by Philippe Starck and the notorious South American Hotelier Alan Faena, this hotel is in a category all its own. Located in Puerto Madero, the incredibly posh and newly developed docklands, the Faena is over-the-top lavish with all kinds of campy additions expertly blended in. The hotel offers outstanding service in all capacities. Each guest receives their own “Experience Manager” to ensure that their every need is met. In addition, the Faena is home to the chicest pool, dining room, spa, and bar (see Library above) in the city. Non-guests can enjoy the pool and the bars, at a price of course but believe us, it’s worth every peso!
Website: www.faenahotelanduniverse.com

TOUR

Anti-Tour guide and owner Magdelena

Anti-Tour
Just as the name suggests, Anti-Tour is everything but the usual way to sightsee and explore the city. Owner Magdelena Morales Bustamente (Macu) will show you Buenos Aires through her eyes. Thanks to a professional background and passion for architectural restoration, Macu can shed endless light on her favourite places to eat, sleep and play. She expertly knows both the architectural wonders and the hidden gems and will take you to the places that she goes to with her friends. We loved the local touch and even snuck into an office building to take the elevator to the top to snap a few photos of the city from what was the most spectacular view (shhh, it’s a secret).
Website: www.antitour.com.ar

EAT

Favourite brunch spot in Palermo Hollywood

Olsen
Tucked away in hipster haven, Palermo Hollywood, Olsen brings a taste of Scandinavia to Argentina. Frequented by foreigners and the urban set, this restaurant/bar oozes style with its blonde wood structure highlighting a large steel fireplace and a perfectly manicured garden to lounge in after an exuberant day of sightseeing. The sumptuous Swedish fare features a rotating menu of tapas to share among friends and the most delicious main courses, fresh from the sea. Hit Olsen for a Sunday brunch and soak up some rays in their lush garden patio.
Address: Gorriti 5870, Buenos Aires

Diego’s specialty soup

Casa Felix
This fresh concept in dining is making waves in the culinary world of Buenos Aires. Diego Felix is the genius behind this trend of private dining. Arguably one of the city’s best chefs, Diego and wife Sandra, have graciously opened the doors to their cozy home. Lucky for us they invite locals and travelers alike to try pescaterian fare bursting with a variety of exotic flavours and spices from all across South America. They present a five-course tasting menu (changing weekly depending on what’s in season and fresh that day) with only 12 reservations each night. Diego takes pride in creating exquisite dishes that are predominately local and vegetarian. We loved his style so much, that we are meeting him in NYC this spring where he will be cooking privately for 12 of our members in a downtown Manhattan loft.
Website: www.diegofelix.com

DRINK

Hidden door with 878 address

878
Pronounce it like a local—Ocho-Siete-Ocho—is located on a nondescript street in Palermo Soho, unknown to even the most intrepid hipster. Maintaining a low profile is impressive, considering the recent media attention this tucked-away watering hole has received both locally and internationally. From the outside, it’s completely bare—no sign, just a bouncer who picks and chooses who to let in. Persevere and you’ll find a transformed textile factory turned rock bar where the international patrons dance on the tables till the wee hours of the morning.
Address: Thames 878, Palermo Soho
Tel: 54-11-4773-1098

Ashleigh and Amanda in the Library at Faena

The Library @ Faena Hotel + Universe
By far the most sophisticated and standout bar in Buenos Aires, Library Faena Hotel + Universe is dark, sexy and swank in so many ways. From the sophisticated clientele to the copious amount of champagne, we loved the bejeweled taxidermy adorning the walls. The Library is where it all happens. Our favourite nights included everything from funk to jazz with a healthy dose of danceable tunes from the DJ’s deck. A true destination for the jet set, here you may find yourself seated next to a famous polo player or an international musician making the scene. Yet, like all things Argentine, it still maintains a level of understatement where nothing is contrived.
Website: www.faenahotelanduniverse.com

Ashleigh and Amanda sipping delicious Argentine wines

Wine Tasting with Heather Willens
For those who appreciate their wines but don’t buy into pretentious and complicated tastings, we recommend a visit with California native and sommelier Heather Willens. She led us through a fascinating retrospective of Argentine wine and didn’t make us feel the slightest bit unqualified. We loved her easy approach to wine education and walked away with a new appreciation for the local vines as well as a wine-induced spring to our step. A great way to enjoy cocktail hour with an informative and personal touch.
Website: www.hwvinos.com

SHOP

Jazmin Chebar
There is nothing conventional to be found at this chic boutique. Known by Argentines as their Stella McCartney, Jazmin Chebar has built up a solid reputation in the city by providing a wide range of looks from cocktail dresses to business attire aimed at the modern and feminine woman. You’ll find great separates to pair with that favourite T-shirt and must-have travel accessories from Shared.
Website: www.jazminchebar.com.ar

Maria Cher
Another local and talented designer, who is famous not only for her cutting edge designs but also for her inspiring social action. In 2007, the young designer launched the “Cosiendo Redes” (Knitting Networks) project which aims to teach women and men in need a work-related skill in the textile industry. All the more reason to support this local and impressive fashionista!
Website: www.maria-cher.com.ar

Mission
A great place to buy last-minute gifts and Argentine home accessories. We love our newly purchased cowhide rugs and collection of mate mugs (mate, an herbal infusion of tea leaves, is the national drink of Argentina that we enjoyed every afternoon!)
Website: www.centralmission.blogspot.com

GET CULTURED

Malba
A refreshing and bold collection of Latin American art awaits you at this beautiful museum. Created, funded and filled with the collection of one man—Eduardo Constantini, the biggest collector of Latin American art in the world. If you love your Diego and Frida and everything in between—we recommend this stop as a cultural must-see. Don’t miss the museum shop full of curious objects and accessories crafted by local designers and a bustling restaurant for an artful lunch.
Website: www.malba.org.ar

Football Game
A favorite Argentine pastime, locals are as crazy about Football as Canadians are to hockey. We checked out a match and fell in love with the sport and the passion it induces in its fans. Visit the stadiums of two of the South American top teams: River Plate and Boca Juniors.

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