Palermo

Palermo, Buenos Aires, home to some of the chicest bars, restaurants, and shopping boutiques, abounds with cosmopolitan flavor. Palermo is located north of Recoleta and south of Belgrano. The name Palermo most likely comes from the name of Sicily’s capital, also Palermo.  Palmero Viejo (Old Palermo), the oldest part of the Palermo neighborhood filled with antique houses and shady tree-lined streets, is actually one of the most modern as well and is where new Argentine fashion boutiques and ethnic restaurants open.  Also for shopping is the huge Alto Palermo (literally “Tall Palermo” in English) mall filled with all sorts of international brands. Also within Palmero are some of Buenos Aires’ best green spaces such as the Jardin Japones (Japanese Garden), complete with koi fish and pagodas, and the Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays (Carlos Thay Botanical Garden), a massive garden with 8,000 types of plants. The Rosedal (Rose Garden) is also very picturesque with over 15,000 rose bushes. Renting paddleboats in the Rosedal is a popular activity. Plaza Armenia (Armenia Plaza) is another open green space. The large Zoo Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Zoo), located north of the Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays, houses many South American animal species from toucans to llamas.  The Museo Evita (Evita Museum), dedicated to one of Argentina’s idols, Eva Peron, houses everything about and relating to her: photographs, videos, writings and letters, dresses, shoes, jewelry, perfume, and more (see Politics and History of Argentina section in Argentine Culture).  The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires MALBA (Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires) exhibits classic and contemporary Latin American artwork in a new and sleek building. Key artists include Argentina’s Alejandro Xul Solar, Mexico’s Diego Rivera, and Uruguay’s Rafael Barradas. Accommodations include (from least to most expensive) Casa Jardin (Charcas 4422 http://www.casajardinba.com.ar/), Casa Alfaro B&B (Gurruchaga 2155 http://www.bandb.com.ar/), and Magnolia Hotel Boutique (Julian Alvarez 1746, http://www.magnoliahotel.com.ar/). Restaurants include Sarkis (Thames 1101), La Cabrera (Cabrera 5099), Olsen (Gorriti 5870), Buenos Aires Verde (Gorriti 5657), L'ecole (Thames 1795), Miranda (Costa Rica 5602), and Sudestada (Guatemala 5602). Palermo is known for their elegant and hip bars such as 878 (Thames 878), Mundo Bizarro (Serrano 1222), and Koh Lanta (Gorriti 4647). 

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