-Celia
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About the venue area:
* General info: The Sheraton is located in an area called "Retiro", very close to a couple of train stations, and a bus station with the same name. It is located at the intersection of two avenues (Libertador Av. and Alem Av.). Alem Av. is where a lot of financial and multinational companies have their offices. The Sheraton is located close to one of the richest areas in town, and also to one of the poorest: (i) A few blocks away, in the direction of Alem and towards the river, there is a beautiful neighborhood named Puerto Madero, with the expensive restaurants, and new buildings. BUT (ii) in the direction of Libertador and towards the train station, there is a big shanty town called "Villa 31".
Therefore: I recommend not walking beyond the Retiro train station! Around the hotel, I suggest keeping an eye where you walk, watch your belongings and try not to "act like a tourist". Besides this, Buenos Aires is safe so no need to be worried otherwise.
Here are some tips from friends that work in the area: (map)
* Restaurants: from across the Sheraton (going on Alem) there's a street Reconquista until Viamonte/Tucuman full of places to eat, from $60 to $100 ARS (around 10 usd) depending on the place. For dinner, the nicest is to go to Puerto Madero, any restaurants there or to Piegari.
*Shopping: a good spot is the mall Galerías Pacifico, nearby at the intersection of Córdoba and Florida street. They have plenty of stores and a big food court.
*If you want to exercise, the Sheraton has a great gym but if you like to go for a run, the best place is around the Puerto Madero walk by the river.
*Supermarkets: There's few in the area, because its a very "downtown" place. But there's a mini market at Marcelo T de Alvear between Reconquista and San Martín, or a "Carrefour Express" minimarket at Paraguay y San Martín
*Places to go out at night in the area: all along Reconquista st. you have a lot of irish pubs (Killkenys, Down Town Matias) or any place in Puerto Madero (although more for dinner than for drinks).
*Banks: There's banks everywhere along Alem Ave.
Other general tips:
* Bring cash wherever possible, since many places do not accept credit cards.
* When you cross the streets do not expect cars or buses to stop if there is not a stop light. Be careful when crossing the streets in general.
* Do not put your cameras or cellphones in your pockets.
* In restaurants do not leave your personal stuff unattended, not even in the most expensive ones. The same recommendation applies for the restaurants and bars at the venue or at any other hotel you are staying. Please do not leave your computers unattended during the meeting as you might do in other ICANN meetings.
* It is safe to take taxis in the streets. Still, always prefer taxis that have a sign with the words RADIO TAXI. In case you have enough time, is better to call for a RADIO TAXI from the hotel than to take a taxi in the streets. Normally everything will be fine with regular taxis as well, but is better to avoid paying more or any other strange experience or language barriers. Taxis have a different rate during day and night (slightly more expensive at night). Still taxis are cheap in Buenos Aires.
General Information about restaurants:
* Dinner in Buenos Aires starts at 20,30 (or even 21hs) so do not expect to go to restaurants at 7 pm. If you want to eat dinner at 7 pm choose the venue restaurants or places that serve food 24hs. (there are many)
*Lunch starts at 1pm but you can eat lunch until 3 or even 4 pm particularly during the weekends.
*Tips are not possible to be made by credit card, but only in cash. We normally tip 10 to 15% of the check price. You will not find the tip included in the price, but you should pay it anyway. If you tip in US dollars or euros they will be very appreciative!
* Ask for the check in bars and restaurants at least ten minutes before you want to leave the place. InBuenos Aires, when locals ask for the check is because they plan to stay between 10 to 30 minutes more chatting in the table. You will not get the check fast, not even at the venue.
* If you pay with a credit card, is normal that it will be taken to the cashier and then brought back to you. If you don't trust that system, which is not the best, pay with cash.
* Your dollars in cash will be accepted everywhere but there is not a fixed price today for dollars due to currency restrictions, so the official price is 6 pesos for a dollar, but the "parallel" market is around 9/10 pesos for a dollar. So if you pay with dollars in cash, we are not sure how much they will consider for each dollar. If you pay with credit cards, the rate will be 6 to 1 usd.-
Here is a guide for restaurants in town (it´s in Spanish but I guess you will figure out how to use it)
Local Food to try: (not all as you won´t fit in your clothes!!)
- Alfajores de dulce de leche (recommended brands of Alfajores: Havanna, Cachafaz, Terrabusi), buy them in any kiosk.
- Dulce de Leche (you will find in the breakfast for sure, it looks like caramel but it tastes better)
- Medialunas, or even better: Medialunas with Jam and Cheese (they look like croissants but smaller and taste different, you will find them in every breakfast)
- Sandwiches de Miga (is a kind of sandwich with a very thick white bread, really tasty and popular, you can buy them in Confiterías and Panaderías all over the city). Also in any bar you can ask for a "Tostado Mixto" which is this same sandwich with Jam and Cheese but toasted. We eat it at breakfast or in the afternoon, not as lunch or dinner as it is not big.
- Icecreams from FREDDO, VOLTA or PERSICO (those are the best icecream shops in town, all italian of course)
- PIZZA (it is not the same pizza you had before!!). A very famous one in Corrientes Street is Guerrin, and another in the same area is "El Cuartito".
- EMPANADAS
- Cuts of meat to order in restaurants: ASADO DE TIRA (meat with bones); BIFE DE CHORIZO; OJO DE BIFE, BIFE DE LOMO (this one is tenderloin which tourists all order but just because they recognize the name... also ask for others, tenderloin is boring!!); VACIO (this is our favorite); ENTRAÑA, MATAMBRE TIERNIZADO, BONDIOLA (pork), CHORIZO (like a sausage from pork)
- Parts of the cow to order (for the brave ones): Morcilla, Chinchulin, Mollejas, Riñones (better to not know what each part is), these normally will come altogether in a big dish for two or more people called "Parrillada"
- Choripan (is our version of a good hotdog made with a CHORIZO)
- Patagonian meat: Cordero patagónico
In case you are staying more days these are places to visit and walk around:
Puerto Madero every day of the week, day and night): near the venue
San Telmo (specially nice on weekends during day light)
La BOCA (specially nice on weekends during day light)
Palermo (every day of the week, day and night) Special activities and "feria de artesanías" (crafts) on weekends
Las Cañitas (every day of the week, day and night): restaurant area
Centro (during the working days) - walk through Corrientes Street were all theaters and book shops are then cross the Obelisc, and four blocks later you will find Florida street, the most famous pedestrian street in town.
Outside of the City - whole day trip-:
San Isidro
Estancias (these are day trips offered to visit rural areas, have special food and ride a horse, watch gaucho´s perfomances, etc)
Restaurant Suggested Options:
La Cabrera Norte: The best in my view
La Dorita (for meat) / La Pescadorita (for seafood)
La Escondida: it´s a nice and not expensive parrilla with a free salad bar. Is a good place to go with a big group because is really big and you won´t need to wait for a big table.
Las Cholas (is not really in Palermo but near, in Las Cañitas): also a very local taste, not expensive, always full so go with time.
The Palermo area (Palermo Chico, Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Soho, etc) is the trendy area of the city, full of small shops, little parks, designers, art, and all kinds of bars and restaurants, some with special chefs, and you will find local food but also italian, spanish, brazilian, mexican, peruvian, french, japanese, indian, asian, etc. If you are interested in any tips there let me know.
Another trendy area to visit and eat is Las Cañitas, also full of restaurant options
La Viña del Abasto (in ONCE). The area is complex at night so go during day light.
Sarkis (arab and turkish food). Palermo
Touristic and expensive but great italian food and seafood: (quite near the venue):
Rodizio (you pay a fixed price and you can eat all the meat and food you want...)
La Caballeriza
La Parolaccia
Many more...
Hope you enjoy the city!