When to Visit - Arts and Events

Romance and passion are synonymous with Argentina and both are represented through the music and dance of the tango. Tango classes are held throughout Buenos Aires and have become a favourite holiday pastime for visitors. Religious passion is also to the fore of everyday life, coupled with a veneration of the dead that is manifested in pilgrimages and spiritual rituals.

Buenos Aires Dining

Beef is the national food of Argentina, with almost every part of the animal used in a variety of basic and speciality dishes. Baby beef barbecue (sirloin) and empanadas (pies) are part of the range on offer at a number of colourful, lively restaurants. The dining options do not, however, begin and end with beef. Fish eaters will never be disappointed and vegetarians can choose from an extensive range of authentic Italian pasta and gnocchi menus. Italian-influenced ice cream becomes a true Argentine treat, and local wine is now recognised as among the best in the world. The traditional drink, however, is maté, a Paraguayan tea used as part of an acceptance ritual and sipped from a shared, hollowed gourd.

Buenos Aires Tipping Advice

Tipping is theoretically outlawed; nevertheless, it is still practised. In most cases a 10% tip is adequate, but some restaurants and hotels add on a 25% service charge to your bill.