Argentina

Best of Buenos Aires – Views, Romance and People-Watching
Adapted from Moon Buenos Aires by Nick Mills

BEST VIEWS

PALACIO BAROLO
Take the guided tour of this stunning palace for a chance to survey the city skyline during the day or at night. Once the tallest building in South America, Palacio Barolo is a magnificent piece of architecture whose design was influenced by Dante’s Divine Comedy.

RESERVA ECOLÓGICA COSTANERA SUR
Look back at the city from this nature reserve to observe the dramatic contrast between nature and the towering skyscrapers. It is a favorite place for residents, who use the area for walking, jogging, and bird-watching. A number of guided tours are available, all of which are free!

BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL
Recline on a comfy chair on the fifth floor of the national library while surveying the northern section of the city. Housing the largest library collection in Argentina, the building took over 20 years to build and is elevated by vast columns, giving it the appearance of hovering over the surrounding parks.

ZIRKEL
Make sure to ask for a window seat at this 21st-floor restaurant in the middle of Centro.

SKY BAR
Watch the sunset from this 13th-floor night spot while live jazz plays in the background. Sky Bar is only open between October and April if you want to enjoy the swanky surroundings.

PURO REMO
Head out into the Río de la Plata with this outfitter to see the city from a boat.

SOCCER STADIUMS
The highest tier inside the stadium of the city’s most popular soccer teams, Boca Juniors and River Plate, afford splendid views of the surrounding neighborhoods.

BEST FOR ROMANCE

STARGAZING
Wander around the docks of Puerto Madero at night, where the moon reflects off the water and lovers canoodle on benches. For an

JARDÍN BOTÁNICO
Find a shady bench among the wild plants and cats that wander among the foliage in this botanical garden. Five ornamental greenhouses—one of which is in art nouveau style, thought to be the only version of its kind in the world—contain thousands of plants.

ROSEDAL
This rose garden, with its 20,000 roses, a lake, fountains, pergolas, swans, wooden bridges, and busts of poets, provides an ideal location for meandering hand in hand. October through April is the best time to visit, when the explosion of color is overwhelming, although there are species in bloom throughout the year.

DINING AT LA CABRERA
Reserve an intimate table at this gourmet parrilla and share one of their oversize melt-in-your-mouth steaks.

WATCHING A TANGO SHOW
While options are endless for watching tango dancers, Bar Sur is of the most intimate venues, while La Catedral is one of the most unique and bohemian. La Catedral is notable for the relaxed and information atmosphere, making it perfect for unsure foreigners and beginner dancers. Bar Sur transforms at night into a cozy affair where dancers pass within inches of the tables.

LISTENING TO MUSIC
Let the musicians at tiny Lo de Roberto charm you with their romantic laments.

PARQUE TRES DE FEBRERO
Hire a tandem and roam this park on a sunny afternoon. Jules Charles Thays, a French landscape architect born in Versaille during 1934, added lakes, curved paths, and bridges to the park. He dreamed of transforming Parque Tres de Febrero into the Buenos Aires version of Paris’s Bois de Boulogne.

BEST PEOPLE-WATCHING

THE CITY CENTER
It’s the obvious choice: Plaza de Mayo is a gathering place for residents and is often the site of political protests. It’s also a good starting point to explore the historic city center, with its cobbled streets and crumbling houses sitting alongside sweeping avenues and glass skyscrapers.

IN A SQUARE
Sit at one of the tables in Plaza Dorrego on any day but Sunday (when the popular Feria de San Pedro Telmo makes it impractical) and you’re sure to pass hours watching the passersby.

AMONG THE ROSES
With the sheer quantity of people around the lake in Parque Tres de Febrero’s Rosedal over the weekend, almost anywhere will do, but setting up near the Greek Bridge will ensure you see an endless stream of people taking photos on the peculiar structure.

CAFÉ WITH A VIEW
There are few café patios that provide such an ideal spot for people-watching as La Biela, where lavishly dressed women sweep down the adjoining avenue alongside wandering musicians and artisans selling homemade bread.

GREEN SPACES
During the day, the shaded benches in the tree-filled Plaza San Martín draw a diverse mix of people. One of the largest green spaces in an area otherwise deprived of open land, Parque Centenario fills with people over the weekend.

SHOPPERS’ HAVEN
The hardest part of people-watching in the crowded shopping district of Once is finding somewhere to sit down. Prepare to be amazed at the variety of purchases you’ll see tucked under people’s arms when you do find an unoccupied bench.

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