Our Experts’ Choice awards are are based on recommendations from leading travel media. Winners are determined by taking into account placement in published “best of 2018” lists, as well as the quantity and quality of reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions. We’re pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s award for best South American destination is Buenos Aires.
From its sultry tango halls and Belle Époque architecture to its dynamic restaurants and timeless cafes, Buenos Aires has long counted itself among the world’s greatest cities. The city promises to become an especially sought-after destination with publications like Travel + Leisure and the Robb Report listing Buenos Aires as one of the best places to travel in 2018.
According to Travel + Leisure: “This year, Buenos Aires becomes a hub for art, sports, and politics: the inaugural Art Basel Cities program, the Youth Olympic Games, and the G20 will all take place in the city.”
Buenos Aires boasts world-class museums like the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes 9 , the MALBA, and the Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo 8 , as well as a vast collection of galleries and the multi-year Art Basel initiative reinforces the Argentine capital’s place in the international art scene.
Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires
In addition to art, Buenos Aires boasts a flourishing design community. Hot independent boutiques like Animaná (a fashion store located in founder Adriana Marina’s Palermo apartment), Vacavaliente (a leather goods showroom in up-and-coming Villa Crespo), and Tamara Lisenberg’s jewelry workshop in Palermo Soho showcase the vibrance of the city’s creative sector.
The culinary landscape continues to evolve, too, as a wave of hungry young chefs infuse new flavors onto Buenos Aires menus. Among this year’s most notable restaurant openings: Proper (featuring an ever-changing menu of small plates showcasing indigenous ingredients), La Alacena (an all-day restaurant-bakery serving sourdough croissants and fresh tagliatelle), and Los Galgos (offering Negronis on tap and contemporary twists on classic Argentine dishes).
Meanwhile, local food lovers continue to swear by Tegui 8 , an eight-year-old restaurant in the trendy Palermo neighborhood, which was recently named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants while La Cabrera Sur, a parrilla that serves what might be the best beef in BA is TripExpert’s highest-scoring restaurant in town.
La Cabrera Sur
If you’re a beverage enthusiast, you’ll also find a cluster of new craft beer bars (Buena Birra Social Club, Bierlife), speakeasies (Harrison, Victoria Brown) and coffee shops (Cafe Registrado, Lab) to satisfy your thirst.
The Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires boasts a trio of hotels with a TripExpert score of 90+: the Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires 9 , a Belle Époque mansion; the landmark Alvear Palace Hotel 9 ; and the massive and massively luxurious Faena Hotel.
The city also welcomed a new luxury property in 2017: the Alvear Icon Hotel, a five-star location with 159 rooms and 50 residencies in the waterside neighborhood of Puerto Madero is a sister to the Alvear Palace and the Alvear Art Hotel 7 . Across from the Faena Arts Center 7 , the stylish hotel features a high-end spa and fitness center and a bar with 360-degree views of the city — not to mention Glitter, South America’s first upscale kosher restaurant, which is set to open imminently.
If you’re searching for a city that blends old-world charm with a modern sensibility, look no further than Buenos Aires. Long considered the cultural capital of South America, the city continues to be one of the most exciting places to visit in the hemisphere.
