Back in 2024, I stepped foot in Argentina for the first time. My journey took me to the city of Mendoza, which lies just east of the Andes mountains. While that trip was focused on my mountain expedition to Aconcagua, I promised myself I would return to Argentina to explore more cities there. And thanks to a friendship formed there, I later had the chance to experience Buenos Aires through a local’s eyes.
And so, in the summer of 2025, I booked my tickets to Buenos Aires from my home in Santiago and set out to create new memories. I went with no itinerary, only the hope to reconnect with my friend. There are many reasons to travel to Buenos Aires: the beautiful European architecture, the vibrant art culture, the impressive food and drink culture, and the intense clubbing scene. But, as it would turn out, none of that is what stayed with me after I’d left this magnetic city.
A Blind Dog, An Asado, & Argentinian Ice Cream
Stumbling around the tiled floors of my friend’s lodge-style home in the suburbs outside Buenos Aires was a fluffy white dog who had been blind since my friend had adopted him years ago. When I met this friend, Fer, on the mountain of Aconcagua the year prior, this little blind dog was a frequent topic of conversation, so meeting him in person was such a joy.
On a hot summer day, what better activity than to go for a cold cup of ice cream? In Argentina, the creaminess and rich flavors of helado are on a whole other level. We went to the famous ice cream shop, Freddo, where I wholeheartedly enjoyed my favorite flavor: dulce de leche. At this ice cream shop, there were several dulce de leche flavors, and I only regretted not having enough room to try them all.
That evening, we had an asado, which is more of an event than just a barbecue. Steak, sausages, chicken, fresh bell peppers, and whole onions were slowly roasted over a wood-fueled fire. It was a cozy gathering with just a few close friends and plenty of drinks (wine and fernet) to go around. It was a reunion for the books, and the meat was perfectly tender and juicy, just what I expected from an Argentinian asado.
Museums & Pristine Streets in Recoleta
Inside a huge, classical building is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, which, as Fer explained to me, is one of the most important museums in Latin America. As we found parking on the quiet streets of this gorgeous area of Buenos Aires, I was impressed by how clean and bright the streets looked. Trees lined the avenues, and people strolled along the shady sidewalks.
Fellow museum visitors wore a wide array of summer outfits and eclectic fashion. The mix of new exhibits and permanent ones was refreshing and vibrant. Fer was a generous host and a good sport about going to that art museum with me—if not for me, he’d never set foot in such an artsy place.
Just a short drive away, near the green landscape of Parque Centenario, is the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales. We had to blast the car’s air conditioning to prevent heat stroke; summer temperatures were upwards of 32°C (89.6°F), compounded by coastal humidity. And after parking and stepping through the large entrance doors, I realized that this museum had no air conditioning; the warm air hung stagnant in the outdated interior.
There were no modern digital displays or flashy exhibits in this science museum. Because of that, the old dinosaur bones on display behind simple railings were truly the highlights of this place. We meandered through old hallways, spotting ancient Patagonian dinosaur bones here and fossils there. After walking through a slightly dreary Antarctic exhibit, we decided to head out and grab a light lunch on a nearby block.
A Failed Night of Clubbing in Buenos Aires
I’d heard that Buenos Aires has a wild nightlife, and I wanted to see for myself. My friend’s daughter, who lived in another part of Buenos Aires, was ecstatic to take me out. On Friday night, we dressed up in classic clubbing outfits. When I started putting on the heels I’d brought, she nearly choked on her pregame drink and pulled out a more practical pair of black boots for me to wear for the next 4+ hours.
The Uber ride into the city from her residential area felt far too long, but we finally made it to our first venue: a rooftop bar called Trade Sky Bar, located on one of Buenos Aires’ most famous streets, called Avenida Corrientes. This section of downtown Buenos Aires is packed with well-known bars and restaurants, and is also home to famous landmarks like Teatro Colón and the Obelisco, which we saw lit up that night. And the skyline from Trade Sky Bar was breathtaking: city lights surrounding us, tiny cars traveling on the streets below.
After the rooftop bar, we moved to an electronic music club. We arrived at midnight, but as my friend told me, we were still very early by Argentinian standards. The nightlife scene, as she explained, was an entirely different animal, and sounded like a shifted reality to me. Midnight was still considered the “previa,” or pregame hour, and others might not arrive at the clubs until after 1:00 am. Sure enough, as the clock inched toward 1:00 am, the electronic club started filling up more. While we enjoyed our time there, she wanted to show me another iconic club, so we changed locations once again.
Many club-goers in Palermo have connections that grant them access, and during the off-season, entry can be even more restricted. And sure enough, we arrived at the club but were stuck outside, behind a barricade, waiting with dozens of others. As the time neared 3:00 am, we opted to head back downtown for burgers and give up on clubbing entirely. After enjoying juicy burgers at a well-lit, extremely clean 24-hour convenience store, we headed home.
More Than Hospitality
My experiences in Buenos Aires were shaped less by the sights themselves and more by my generous hosts, who showed me not only hospitality, but friendship and meaning beyond a simple weekend getaway. It seems that I can never set foot in Argentina without creating some kind of meaningful relationship, thanks to the openness of the people I’ve met there. Because of that, I felt at home in Buenos Aires in a way I may not have as a solo traveler, only seeking to witness the typical landmarks. I missed some of the iconic sights in this grand city, but I gained something more valuable: connections and a sense of belonging.
