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Social Profile
Food & Drink: North American, Continental and Middle Eastern cuisine is generally available, whilst local food is largely a mixture of Basque, Spanish and Italian. Beef is of a particularly high quality and meat-eaters should not miss out on the chance to dine at a parillada, or grill room, where a large variety of barbecue-style dishes can be sampled. Popular local dishes include empanadas (minced meat and other ingredients covered with puff pastry) and locro (pork and maize stew). In general, restaurants are good value. They are classified by a fork sign with three forks implying a good evening out. Hotel residents are usually asked to sign a charge slip.
Argentine wines are very good and inexpensive. Local distilleries produce their own brands of most well-known spirits. Whiskies and gins are excellent, as are classic and local wines. Caribbean and South American rum adds flavour to cocktails. There are no licensing laws.
Nightlife: Buenos Aires’ nightlife is vibrant. There are many theatres and concert halls featuring foreign artists. Nightclubs featuring jazz and tango are plentiful. Tango lessons and dancing can be enjoyed at lively milongas (tango parties), throughout Buenos Aires. There are also many intimate boîtes (clubs) and many stage shows. There are casinos throughout Argentina.
Shopping: Buenos Aires has traditionally enjoyed a reputation as a shopper’s paradise, possibly of even being the best shopping city in Latin America. Leather goods are a good buy, as are native crafts and souvenirs. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1300.
Special Events: For a full list of special events, contact the National Tourist Board. The following is a selection of the special events occurring annually in Argentina:
Jan Sea Festival, Mar del Plata; Jineteada (breaking in horses) and Folklore Festival, Diamante, Prov. Entre Ríos; Chaya (a musical instrument) Festival, La Rioja; Doma (breaking in horses) and Folklore Festival, Intendente Alvear, Prov. La Pampa; Folklore Festival, Cosquín, Prov. Córdoba. Feb Carnival, Esquina, Prov. Corrientes; Pachamama (Mother Earth) Festival, Amaicha del Valle, Prov. Tucumán; Trout Fishing Festival, Río Grande. Mar Grape Harvest Festival, Mendoza. Mar-Apr Holy Week, Salta; Festival of Our Lady Del Valle, Catamarca. Jul Poncho Week, Catamarca; Simoca Fair, Simoca, Prov. Tucumán; Santiago Week, Santiago del Estero; Dorado Fishing Competition, Formosa. Aug Snow Festival, Río Turbio, Prov. Santa Cruz; Jujuy Week, Jujuy; Dorado Festival, Posadas, Prov. Misiones; Snow Festival, Bariloche. Sep Chamamé Music Festival, Corrientes; Agriculture Festival, Esperanza, Prov. Santa Fé. Oct Fiesta de la Cerveza (beer festival), Villa General Belgrano. Nov Sea Salmon Fishing Contest, Comodoro Rivadavia; Tradition Week (gaucho shows), San Antonio de Areco. Dec Gaucho Festival, Gral. Madaria, Prov. Buenos Aires; Trout Festival, San Junín de los Andes, Prov. Neuquén.
Social Conventions: The most common form of greeting between friends is kissing cheeks. When invited to somebody’s house it is quite common to take a homemade dish or dessert. Dinner is usually served between 2100-2200. Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Dress is not usually formal, though clothes should be conservative away from the beach. Formal wear is worn for official functions and dinners, particularly in exclusive restaurants. Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and theatres. Tipping: Tips are theoretically outlawed but some hotels or restaurants will add 25 per cent service charge, plus a 21 per cent tax charge. In these cases, a minimal tip is still expected. Otherwise, ten per cent on top of the bill will suffice. The same applies in bars. Taxi drivers tend to expect tips from visitors.
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