Buenos Aires is the most cosmopolitan capital in South America, given that there has been a constant flow of European immigration throughout history, their idiosyncrasy thus owed to the Spanish, Italians, Germans, and a combination of other nationalities. Shopping in Buenos Aires is very attractive and all kinds of exclusive brands and surprising antiquities, as well as woollen and leather articles on their streets and markets are on offer. Prices vary making shopping for all kinds of pockets perfect, and what you find will depend on which street you choose to wander down.
Shopping in Buenos Aires
By district
If what you like are the well-known leather articles that they sell in Buenos Aires, then you have to have to head down to Calle Florida that is the most famous pedestrian street in the city. In fact, it was the first pedestrian street to be entirely dedicated to shops in Buenos Aires. For more luxury items, Avenida Santa Fe has numerous higher priced clothes and home décor shops in comparison to those on Calle Florida. In addition, Avenida Alvear and Quitana, situated in the Recoleta district, is where the most luxury and expensive shops such as Armani, Valentino, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Versace, amongst others can be found. A walk down Palermo Viejo is a definite must during your wanderings around the city and the Buenos Aires districts, for a more alternative shopping experience with young designer shops selling clothes as well as goods for the home, the main street being Calle Honduras, jam-packed full of modern bars and restaurants. Alternatively, Avenida Corrientes running from Callao to Pueyrredón is full of clothes and shoe shops, as well as stores selling accessories with wholesalers and retailers, much cheaper than the two streets, Alvear and Santa Fe.
Shopping Centres
Like any good South American city, Buenos Aires can boast of having an impressive number of shopping centres of enormous dimensions, where you will find everything you need. The Abasto in Buenos Aires located on Av. Corrientes is the most modern. Not only will you find many shops there, but also restaurants, patios, 12 cinema screening rooms, child friendly areas, and exhibition areas. The Alto Palermo shopping centre (Av. Santa Fe 3.200) is one of the largest places selling Buenos Aires fashion with shops such as Ona Saez, Ayres and Akiabara, amongst others. Buenos Aires design (Pueyrredón 2501, Recoleta) was the first on the continent to offer products exclusively related to architecture, design, and home décor. Then, there is Solar de la Abadía (Av. Luis María Campos 940, Belgrano) and Galerías Pacífico(Florida y Av. Córdoba) where in addition to top designer shops such as Yves Saint Laurent or Cacharel, they exhibit works of art, and there are many shops that specialise in leather articles.
Markets
If what you fancy doing is wandering the streets and squares in Buenos Aires and browsing around the different markets with antiquities, ceramics, leather, and everything else on offer, the Argentinean capital is the place for you. Feria de San Telmo(Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo) has stalls offering all kinds of antiquities from vintage clothes, and gramophones, to watches, and antique telephones, and you can enjoy performances from the street artists there. On the walkway (Lamadrid and Magallanes) you can take a look at the paintings of artists that are exhibited there every day. In addition, in Plaza Francia (Recoleta) on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays you can buy silver, ceramic, and leather goods, as well as craftwork items. On Saturdays and Sundays you will find plastic art with exhibitions from young artists and childrens’ shows in Plaza Manuel Belgrano. If what you fancy is looking for second hand books and CDs, head down to Parque RivaDivia (Rivadivia 4.800), where they sell all kinds of second hand cultural items every Sunday.
Claudia – Marketing Team