... one of them features some representative characteristics of the Porteños, their arts and their history.
We will start in Parque Lezama, where according to some historians the city of Buenos Aires was founded its first time by Don Pedro de Mendoza back in 1536. At the corner and Defensa St. and Brasil Ave, the Bar Británico frequented by the employees of the railway company and the Hipopótamo old outlet for liquors and spirits.
We walk along Defensa St. to reach Plaza Dorrego and the bar of the same name, a typical “cafetín” (small and basic coffee shop). From here, we will continue towards the San Telmo Market, where we will perceive the fusion of the old traditions and the actual life of the modern city that still nowadays keeps the tradition of coffee. A few meters on, and we will get to El Federal , one of the oldest bars of Buenos Aires. Back on our vehicle, we will pass by several other traditional bars such as Bar Sur , which only opens by night and is one of the pioneers in the Tango Show business, El Viejo Almacén, Bar Seddon and El Querandi.
Once in Avenida de Mayo, we will go by the London City and the Best known of all the old bars, the Café Tortoni . Moving along this avenue, core of the Spanish immigration in the city, we will have the chance to see some other bars and the one of the Castelar hotel, the Iberia Bar , and the 36 Billares . The tour continues along Callao Ave., passing by Bar Los Galgos. Afterwards we will walk to El Ateneo Grand Splendid , not one of the declared Notable Bars but an important asset to the city, this is a bookstore with a bar housed in the premises of an old cinema, which has been named by the British newspaper, the Guardian, as the second most important library in the word. We will then continue in our vehicle to Recoleta, to see La Biela, Mar Azul, and on to Corrientes Ave., the street that never sleeps. A walk along it will allow us to pass by El Gato , famous of its carried spiced cafes, La Giralda , and finally the Petit Colon , close to the well know opera house, which boasts a unique belle époque flavor.
We will enjoy a final treat before returning to your hotel. (Itinerary subject to change and drinks not included).
Dinner & Tango Show at Gala Tango
Early evening departure from your hotel to San Telmo, the cradle of Tango. Tango music was born in the late 19th century in the ” arrabales” (southern suburbs) of Buenos Aires, populated by “criollos” (Argentine natives), Italian and Spanish immigrants, some African descendants and people from many other countries. Their fights, their needs, their poverty, their passions, their pretense were the spark that created this mythical and passionate piece of Argentine culture. Its emotive lyrics are sometimes difficult to understand and almost impossible to translate but always deeply poetic. “Gala Tango” is one of the most exclusive tango venues in the city, due to its architecture and decor, in the French style of the 30s, with its Carrara marble bar and refined details. The a-la-carte gourmet 3-course dinner carefully designed by its exclusive chef should also be a distinctive highlight of the evening. Around midnight you return to your hotel.
