Due to the economic crisis which started in 2001, the prices had to adapt to the population's economic situation, therefore, in relation to the international average, they can end up being between 30% and 50% lower. It is worth to say that they are very attractive when compared with those of other cities of the world. Argentina has very good quality standards.

Keep in mind this:

Buenos Aires offer a wide possibility for shopping. Florida street , in downtown, is a pedestrian zone full of interesting shops for the tourists.

The neighborhood of Once (Balvanera, see map) provides goods at wholesale prices considerably loxer that those of market. One can buy a wedding suit for U$S 150, also all the things related to that event, as cotillion, Ticoral Lavalle St., offers other alternatives . By Azcuénaga, there are some stores where you can buy fabrics to make a wedding or night dress or to renovate the house (curtains, accessories, tassels, etc) or tapestry articles. Also in Corrientes Av. we can get a suit for your boyfriend Matices ), shirts, buns, etc… informal clothes, linen, pijamas, hairdresser articles and beauty.

In other streets, there are articles for art crafts makers (pearls, ceramics…. etc…). Once offers - if one play attention - good merchandise to very low prices. To bargain is an applicable verb in this neighborhood.

Whenever for buying clothes of national or international brands, head for Córdoba Ave., where 10 blocks form a true outlet area. You can get there recognized national and international brands - with truly low prices: articles from previous seasons, for example. A Levi's jean for U$S 35 , a YSL suit for U$S 170, or a silk tie for U$S 20 (average), or Cannon bed linens for less than U$S 60. Christian Lacroix offers a woman suit for less than U$S 70. Go for Nike, CK Underwear , Caterpillar, Hush Puppies, Wrangler. Check also alternative clothes, with unique garments as for ex. Mancha Real

Other places to visit regarding fashion and design : Palermo Viejo and La Recoleta, where you will be able to find very good local brands, art galleries, restaurants and coffees shops that testify for a prosperous local industry with plenty of talented young designers.

As for Commercial Centers, 20' by driving or taxi , Unicenter, the biggest shopping in Argentina and no doubts of South America has all the services (exchange, handicap services, changing room for babies…) and more than 300 shops to buy. Restaurants, bars, movie theaters and an impeccable supermarket Jumbo with gourmet goods, organic products, etc.

Patio Bullrich, in the middle of Recoleta: offers top brands: national &international, in a spledid environment. The atmosphere is the most refined and selective in Bs. Aires.[ + info ]

It has also movie theaters and it is possible to indulge in one of the best Argentinean ice creams Freddo. Meats with typically national flavor.

A wider proposal in the Neighborhood of Palermo is Alto Palermo Shopping just 15 minutes from the hotel area.
In down town, the Galerías Pacífico, has its own Cultural Center (called Borges) It is a stunning place , not just for its architecture, but also for its magnificent murals.

In another neighborhood -and tango area – El Abasto de Buenos Aires (10' by subway form down town), there is a wide range of possibilities for buying national brands with good products to very low prices.[+ info]
Note: a system of de-tax exists in most shopping centers.

Another possibility for the most demanding, is Paseo Alcorta, a very exclusive shopping center, just 10 minutes by taxi from down town or Recoleta. You could get national and international brands, Argentinean designers, movie theaters , food courts, supermarket - Carrefour -, parking lots, mechanical stairways, accesses for handicaps, travel & bureau de change services, etc… [+ info]

 ARGENTINE FASHION DESIGNERS (TOP)

Como opción de diseño argentino en cuanto a prendas la opción es muy amplia.

 LEATHER GOODS (TOP)

Given the size of its beef industry, Argentina should be a world-class leather producer.

 FASHION FOR MEN (TOP)

Argentina como país productor ofrece un vasto surtido de productos de gran calidad y diseño.

 FASHION FOR KIDS (TOP)

Style, vanguard and quality for babies and kids.

 WOMEN UNDERWEAR (TOP)

 UNDERWEAR HOMBRE (TOP)

 TOYS (TOP)

 BUENOS AIRES DESIGN (TOP)

A good idea for the design lovers, the architecture of interiors, or small objects is to go to the Buenos Aires Design in the heart of Recoleta, a very chic and glamorous area, very near to the Alvear Ave. , where we could find the very best brands like Vuitton or Armani. [+ info]

 FLOWER SHOP (TOP)

Most Porteños get their flowers from the numerous street stalls that are dotted around the city. If you want something a bit more exotic try:
Savia Flores y Poesía: Very friendly staff with a wide range of fresh flowers.
La Mejor Flor: Well-known and slightly hectic specialist florist with another branch in Recoleta.

 GIFT-SHOPPING (TOP)

Although Argentina offers little in the way of exotic handicrafts, there are many small outlets for traditional gaucho products, such as gourds, leather whips and silverware. Look in just about any mall or keep a lookout as you wander through the centre of town.

Celedonio Lohidoy: Bijoux jewellery for all ages. Celedonio has stores around the world, but in Argentina you must ring for an appointment to visit the workshop.

Francesca Romana: Opulent, classical jewellery ripe with gold and precious stones appeals to a somewhat older, up-market crowd.

Platería Parodi: Maté, Argentina's bitter traditional tea, is something of an acquired taste, but the gourds in which the tea is served can be elaborately worked examples of local craftsmanship. Try this shop, which also sells local jewellery and leather accessories.

Maidana: This hatter seems to have been preserved from a bygone age. The attention is thus impeccably courteous, as the owner either finds your choice of headwear from stock or takes your measurements to make something to measure. The only drawback is that the shop is just opposite Congress, so you may have to brave marches or protests to collect your hat.

Arte Étnico Argentino: Antique carpets from the Santiago del Estero province, many of which show their 50-plus years. A few newer, cheaper carpets are also available and, if you are prepared to wait a few months, can even be made to order.

Papelera Palermo: All sorts of notebooks and paper products, including handmade paper. There is a smaller branch in Barrio Norte (Arenales 1170).

Gropius Design: Lovingly restored antique furniture and accessories from the 1920s to 1970s. The ideal place for kitsch and nostalgia fans. The branch two blocks away, at Honduras 6027, sells new furniture with the same retro feel.

OdA: Art objects by various designers.

Spoon: Fashionable furniture and home accessories.

Babel: Just off the Plaza Serrano, this designer bric-a-brac store is a neighborhood classic (Serrano 1527).

 HANDYCRAFT TOURS (TOP)

Today, in Argentina has a new appreciation of argentine crafts: hats, arts goods, gaucho’s goods –mates engravings while you wait-, and other things like: belts, silver buckles, candles, sweaters, scarfs hand made, etc. There’s a large offer:

San Telmo: a typical place in the city. Specially the flea market. It’s like to the Rastro in Madrid, in the middle of historical district, there, you can get everything you an imagine, from old pieces to not so far. It’s like a history travel: antiques shops, jewels, clothes, stamps, old pictures in sepia, arts, sculptures.. Around Plaza Dorrego, you can buy – low prices-, modern art –porteño, tango- o with some Buenos Aires’ topics. Sunday, is the special day to go, to this circuit. Also, on the streets, you can listen a tango, or admire living statues. We recommend to take a typical argentine beer, called “Quilmes” in some bars or restaurants around the Plaza. The best place in Buenos Aires, with the most strange atmosphere. [+ info]

Barrio de Mataderos:Another place to meet, it’ the Mataderos’ neighborhood , where you can eat typical food, and buy handy crafts at the lowest prices, in the Feria de la Tradición (Tradition Fair), just 40’ by taxi or car form Buenos Aires downtown you can see a gaucho’s show, or people from provinces dancing “pericon” or a “carnavalito” (from the north of Argentina) or a tango. There’s no doubt: shopping has a large spectrum in this place: wines, marmalades, candies, different cheeses, silver jewels, buckles, leather goods. Vitrofusion. T-shirts hand painted. Puppets. Candles. Odorous smokes. Taking about eating, there are some bars and restaurants (called bodegones) where you can taste the empanadas or some food home-made with an accent more popular. [+ info]

Mercado de frutos:One hour from Buenos Aires, the Mercado de Frutos del Tigre, (the fruits market) where you can get some products like: crafts, leather goods, candles, hand-made soaps, etc. After or before shopping, a river escape is possible to the Delta of Paraná. [+ info]

Tren de la costa y Casino: If you want to draw lots, you can visit the Tigre Casino, at the end of the day, to relax, or eat at the restaurant (“all you can eat”). You can get there by tren de la costa.

 GOURMET PRODUCTS (TOP)

Havanna: Pick up a tub of dulce de leche at Havanna (there are branches dotted around the city). Other top brands are La Salamandra or Chimbote. Havanna also specialises in good alfajores, traditional cornflower biscuits, covered in chocolate or icing sugar and filled with jam or—you guessed it—dulce de leche.

Valenti Especialidades: Meats, cheeses and fish imported from around the world are on offer, as well as plenty of fresh bread. You can combine the ingredients and order a fresh sandwich. Patio Bullrich.

La Bourgogne: This fine restaurant in the Alvear Palace Hotel has a tiny gourmet store attached, where you can buy fresh oysters and a range of French breads and pastries. This is perhaps the only place in Buenos Aires that sells real French-style croissants, rather than medialunas—the sweet and doughy Argentine variety.Ayacucho 2027 –Recoleta.

Pérsicco:Designer ice-cream in chic surroundings at high prices. Persicco has a delivery service in some areas of the city: check the website for details. Migueletes 886 – Belgrano.

 TATTO0S (TOP)

In Argentina there are excellent tattooists. Most of them are located in Barrio Norte, -Buenos Aires-, in a commercial gallery called "Bond Street". We found there "El Alemán" a plastic artist who began in this activity some years ago and today, manages its own business: 3 tattoists; each one with their styles and likes; one of them is a specialist in tribal – for example from Argentine indian , as Diaguitas -. A tattoo can cost (on average) - small size - from U$S 18 up to 35. For further works, like in the back, you should pay per hour U$S 35/50 - depending on the complexity of the task -.

Another studio, in this area, - in another commercial gallery, the "5ta. Avenida**"- go to Corazón Salvaje, their owner Manny, is a piercing and branding specialist.

Piercing is a perforation technique for lips, ears, tongue, etc. It appeared some years ago timidly, but it is getting increasly popular . Those methods are carried out with total asepsis, and with disposal materials. Prices from U$S10 more the jewel (there are jewels from U$S 10 until U$S 130 - of pure gold -). In genitals, it gets more expensive: from U$S 30.

Surface is similar to the piercing but it’s carried out in an area where there is not an end, for e.g. in the breastbone.

Scaring is another technique, of relative novelty. The tattooist works with insoles heated "to red ", the designs are more limited than in the case of tattoos. It is carried out with anesthesia supervised by a doctor. Prices start from U$S 30.

 MENU OF MASSAGES (TOP)

Norberto Acebal
A pleasant, calm and functional space only dedicated to the massage and the relax in the heart of Retiro. Organic products and/or of high quality. Aromatherapy. Disposable materials. Extreme cleaning.
Dates are indispensables: cel. phone 15 58 21 7100 or 4328-7726 .