Alongside its stunning architecture and rich Latin culture, one of the things Buenos Aires is most famed for is its world class shopping destinations.
Known as the Paris of South America, this cosmopolitan capital more than lives up to its reputation in its many wonderful places to shop.
On a holiday to Buenos Aires, you’ll find all the high end malls and stores you’d expect, featuring the world’s most prestigious international brands.
Alongside more upmarket retail experiences, you can also find some wonderfully unique items in one of their many flea and street markets.
Let’s take a look at some of the best stores and markets that you can expect on your Buenos Aires holiday, from high end to budget, with everything in between.
Mercado de San Telmo
Address: Defensa 1098, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Opening Hours: Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00
From the highest of high end to a much more rustic place to shop, Mercado de San Telmo may feel a million miles away from the perfectly painted ceiling of Galerias Pacifico, but the sense of being one with Buenos Aires’ rich cultural heritage remains the same.
In fact, you could argue that being amongst the hustle and bustle of this flea market is a more authentic local experience.
Regardless, this is a terrific place to grab a bargain with everything from antiques to furniture being flogged here.
You might not want to take a sofa back home with you, (imagine the baggage fees for a start), but it’s certainly interesting to see the sheer variety of knick-knacks being sold at this vibrant market.
Galerias Pacifico
Address: Av. Córdoba 550, C1054AAR CABA, Argentina
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10.00 – 21.00, Sunday: 12.00 – 21.00
Unlike any other entry on our list, this shopping mall is perhaps best known for the incredible building itself.
Thought up by architects Roland Le Vacher and Emilio Agrelo in the late 19th century, it was redesigned in 1945 with additional contributions from a dozen of the nation’s best artists.
Their visions line the ceiling with stunningly painted frescos.
Not only is it an awe-inspiring sight to behold, it’s also an important piece of history, having been made a national historic monument in 1989.
Today the building plays host to high end brands from Ralph Lauren to Christian Dior. Where else can you buy the latest fashion while surrounded by exceptional art in a living piece of history?
Recoleta Mall
Address: Vicente López 2050, C1113 CABA, Argentina
Opening Hours: Daily: 10.00 – 22.00
Recoleta Mall offers an array of mid-range shops, suitable for most visitors’ tastes and budgets.
It features some of the best Argentinian brands, along with a great selection of restaurants and delectable places to get a quick bite to eat.
If that wasn’t enough, here you’ll also find an onsite cinema, which regularly plays English movies.
With so much under one roof, this charming retail destination is a fantastic place to spend an hour or three.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid
Address: Av. Santa Fe 1860, 1123 CABA, Argentina
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 09.00 – 22.00, Sunday: 12.00 – 22.00
It would take something very special indeed for an individual shop to snatch a place on our list, especially considering the great selection of malls and markets that Buenos Aires has to offer.
Well, El Ateneo Grand Splendid is just that special. This old theatre was transformed into an elegant and quirky bookshop back in 1919.
If there’s one place that oozes culture out of every pore, it’s right here. Even if you leave without buying anything, the atmosphere alone is worth the trip here.
Unicenter
Address: Paraná 3745, Martínez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Opening Hours: Daily: 10.00 – 22.00
One of the largest and most expensive malls in the city, the sleek and modern Unicenter may not have the cultural or historic punch of some of its rivals, but it makes up for that in sheer variety.
We’re not just talking about shopping either, although we doubt even the most ardent shopaholic could find themselves running out of options here.
The mall also includes a food court, a hypermarket (a combination of supermarkets and department stores), a cinema and bowling facilities.
Whatever you are searching for on your tailormade holiday, you’re sure to find it in this impressive shopping and entertainment complex.
