There’s nothing like the flea market at San Telmo on Sundays.  If you’re bent on doing some shopping in Buenos Aires, Head to Plaza Dorrego, located in the San Telmo area, for one of the best flea markets ever.  As with any flea market, you never know what you’ll find, but on one day, shoppers were able to find antique chandeliers, knit halter tops with metallic yarn woven in – disco ready- and vintage postcards worthy of the pickiest collector.

If you want new things but still want a crafty edge to your shopping in Buenos Aires, go to the Recoleta area of the city- known for antique shops.  There’s an artisans market at Plaza Serrano where you can get super deals on famous Argentine leather goods.  Look for boutiques Prune and Blaque, who sell handbags starting at $40.  Contemporary Argentine designers are showcased in shops in the Recoleta area, so it’s a good time to buy shoes, bags, and belts.

Buenos Aires is very hip right now, thanks to a blossoming of art and design culture.  Find examples everywhere from chic new hotels to street art.  The new scene in Buenos Aires has it roots in the financial problems of 2001.  Imports became expensive, so arts, design, and crafts took off.  Design is hot, thanks also to an international scene in this city, which is more vibrant than ever.

For the new design culture in hotels, check out the Home Hotel.  For examples around town, let’s take a look at Nobrand.

Nobrand is Buenos Aires shopping at its best.  This is not a tourist shop, but a store full of unique whimsical designs based on traditional Argentine symbols.  Take the cow:  Nobrand’s logo is a cow, which symbolizes so much about Argentina: the rough wild areas of Patagonia and the reputation for exporting superb quality beef.  The logo is a simple, deco modern cow face, great design.  They have gaucho espradrilles, but with a modern twist: there’s a cow motif printed on them.  And of course there are Che Guevera T-shirts, but with a new, stylized Che face on them  Tres Chic.

Shopping Palermo Viejo is as upscale, sophisticated, and hip as any shopping destination in New York or Europe, with its own brand of charm to boot. There are sidewalk cafes and juice stalls for when you get tired of shopping or walking.

Shopping fanatics will love this charming upscale-yet-downbeat district of Buenos Aires, whose charm includes cobblestone streets and boutique shopping featuring top designers from Argentina. Palermo Viejo is in the northeast part of Buenos Aires, and taxis from the center of town to this shopping district run less than $5. That’s a bargain!

The best way to see the area and get into the best shops is to walk, once you exit your taxi. Start on Avenue Armenia, where you should stop in Trosman. This boutique carries cotton separates and shimmery swimsuits do die for. To get the same quality of design in the US you would have to pay much more, but here in Palermo Viejo the cost is much much less.

Continue walking to Calle El Salvador, where you can check out superior quality leather goods at Humawaca. The leather here is especially unusual and beautiful, offered in a rainbow of colors like peach and pink! One designer at Humawaca is Ingrid Gutman. She comes from an architectural background so her bags are unusual as well as beautiful.

Stick with Calle El Salvador and you’ll run into another shop, this time featuring wonderful colorful underthings. This shop is called Juana de Arco. Take a peek just for the visual display, even if you’re not in the market to buy any undies.

On to Avenue Malabia, wehre you’ll find El Diamente for lunch. Ask for a table on the roof, where people-watching is the best around. All of Buenos Aires is visible from up here! Entrees are reasonable at $7 to $20. Along the same street head for Mariano Toledo for some couture…museum quality clothing!

A little more ways down the street make sure to stop into Ferroni, where shoe designer Josefina Ferroni makes exquisite shoes…only about a dozen of each design so you can pretty much bet that once you get back home, you’ll be the only person around wearing that shoe. The shoes are top design but reasonable prices. Ferroni is reason enough to visit Palermo Viejo.

Just a few streets away, on Calle Uriarte stop in for a drink at the hippest place in town, called Casa Cruz. Finally, a little further away, so maybe take a cab or get ready to walk a lot, is Celedonio Lohidoy. They sell one-of-a-kind jewelry in a rainbow of colors. You’ll think of wildlife and flora when you look at their pieces. Have fun here, it’s a very unusual jewelry shop, and worth the extra walking to get here. Well worth it.

Shopping Mecca

Get ready for serious shopping in Buenos Aires Argentina. Bring your credit card and head for the Alto Palermo mall, conveniently located in the center of the city, in the upscale area called Recoleta. This mall has every shop you’ll want to hit, all under one roof. Styles are current and chic and prices are so very reasonable, thanks to a 2002 economic crisis. Argentina is recovering from that crisis, but in the meantime, you will find prices to be very good. 

Another spot to hit for trendy shopping is Calle Florida, especially for Argentina’s trademark products: leather items. Calle Florida also hums with dozens of cafés. Treat yourself to café con leche, or anything with dulce de leche on it.

Alto Palermo mall and Calle Florida are full of beautiful items you’ll feel immediately attracted to, and there’s a good chance you’ll end up needing to make room in your luggage for purchases! Look for great bargains on quality, chic items like:

vintage lamps
upscale fashionable clothing
home furnishings
European-style leather shoes
leather jackets
leather handbags