24 hours in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a city that is alive and full of life. However, if you find yourself lacking inspiration one weekend, here are a few ideas to keep you entertained.

Get up late (it is a weekend after all!) and take a camino to your favourite brunch restaurant. I love Cocu (Malabia 1510) , a French inspired boulangerie nestled deep in Palermo Soho that specializes in breads and pastries. Grab a cortado and a pain au chocolat, sit outside and watch the world go by.

Nothing is better after a yummy breakfast than taking a leisurely stroll. Spring is here and the weather in Buenos Aires is crisp and sunny; perfect conditions for aimlessly wandering around the city. Take a trip to Recoleta and find yourself in awe at the cemetery. The Argentine elite are buried here; from Jose Luis Borges to Eva Peron and this slightly eerie but spectacular place is somewhere to gawk at the grand and wonderful mausoleums, in the knowledge that some very important people were laid to rest before your very feet. Next up, get your culture fix and spend some time moseying around the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. A stone’s throw from the cemetery, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes has a massive collection of both Argentine and European 19th century art, citing works from Van Gogh to Rembrant to Goya. Best of all, admission is free!

By now I am sure that your stomach will be rumbling, so take a trip to the Buenos Aires Food Market. Taking place every weekend at a different venue (this week it is at Párque Rivadavia, Caballito) the food market has a plethora of different stalls, each with a delicious selection of treats (and lots of free tasters!) My favourite is the Queso Brulee stand – a culinary dream for a cheese lover like me. Imagine a stick of melted cheese, ready to dip into an assortment of herbs. Qué rico!!!!!!

The afternoon lull is sure to hit you after your indulgent trip to the market. Make your way to Libros del Pasaje, a wonderful and charming bookshop located in Palermo. Not only do they have a great collection of books, (English ones too) they also have a delightful little café section; light with high ceilings, rendering it the perfect spot for sipping on an afternoon coffee and lazing the afternoon away.

Palermo is alive during the week but it really comes alive at the weekend. As afternoon descends into evening, find yourself at one of the bars surrounding Plaza Armenia or Plaza Serrano and soak up the busy atmosphere. With porteños and foreigners all milling around, it is a great place to share a pre-dinner botella of vino tinto and do some serious people watching.

As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So, when in Argentina, do as the Argentineans do and find a parilla to sample some mighty fine meat. My choice would be either La Cabrera (Jose Antonio Cabreba 5099), or Las Cabras (Fitz Roy 1795). If you want a cheap and cheerful meal, head to Las Cabras. The steak is good, the atmosphere is great and the prices are low! If you are feeling a little wealthier head to La Cabrera, a fantastic restaurant that offers exceptional dishes.

No weekend in Argentina would be complete without a trip to a bar, or even a boliche. Head to one of the secret bars such as 878 or Frank´s. Borrowing the idea from speakeasy’s in the United States these secret bars have non-descript outsides, secret doors and in some cases, passwords. They are the perfect end to a great day out in the city. So get a group of friends together, order some cocktails, and live the life of a porteño.