160 Best Places to Shop in Argentina

Pine floors, pine walls, pine cabinets: it's all very country at Cardon, where you can get the estancia look at reasonable high-street prices. The horsey set comes here for no-nonsense sheepskin jackets and riding boots. Cowboy hats and other traditional gaucho-style leather items from the talabartería line make great gifts.

Argentina's favorite underwear brand does cute cotton panty and bra sets in bright colors as well as plenty of sexier fare. Although the stuff sold here is fun for flopping on the couch or spending the day in bed, don't come looking for support, whether it's structural or from the sales staff. Assistants look on, unsympathetic to the fact that bras have no cup size.

As its name suggests, this spot specializes in supersoft, stippled carpincho leather from the capybara—the world's largest rodent, native to Argentina. Gloves (which also come in more conventional kidskin) are the main attraction, and there’s a wide variety of lengths and colors to choose from.

A hotel-boutique hybrid, this charming housewares haven specializes in rustic chic. There's an emphasis on lace, velvet, and crocheted textiles; snap up a woolen rug or wonderfully potent handmade lavender soap.

Don't let the drab storefront put you off: you're as likely to find a trouser suit in floral-print suede as a staid handbag for grandma at this two-part shopping spot. The right-hand store (No. 658) has totes in chestnut- and chocolate-colored leather, as well as classic jackets. More unusual fare—including fur sacks with wool fringe, black cowhide baguettes, and tangerine purses—are sold next door at No. 640.

Right by the tourist office on the waterfront is Casa Rabal. Originally built in 1901, this dry-goods store is one of the oldest in the area and has everything from locally made cheese, shoes, and camping and fishing gear to drywall tools, diapers, and bridles for your horse.

A skill that’s taught from generation to generation, Celeste Valero Jujuy learned to weave, embroider, sew, and two-needle knit from her parents. Today the young weaver runs a collective with other jujeños from around the Quebrada and the Puna, whose llama and vicuña wool ponchos, scarves, and rugs express landscapes and emotions. Every piece is unique. 

For foxier-than-thou footwear that's kicking up storms on milonga floors worldwide, head to Comme Il Faut; dedicated dancers love its combination of top-notch quality and gorgeous, show-stopping colors like teal or plum, usually with metallic trims. Animal-print suede, fake snakeskin, and glittering ruby take-me-home-to-Kansas numbers are some of the wilder options.

Whether it's a Panama hat for the blazing sun or a flat cap complete with ear flaps for a rough winter, this store has your headwear needs covered. For an authentic Argentine touch, get the urban gaucho look with a tartan boina.

Complot. "Ready to Rock!" screams Complot's labels, and the clothes live up to the claim. Teenage rebels and older festivalgoers flock here for the signature T-shirts with lyrics or photos of Bowie, Sid Vicious, Blondie, or Radiohead. There are skinny jeans, animal-print leggings, and denim microminis to (mis)match them with. The anoraks are a porteño fashion must come winter.

Veined pinky-red rhodochrosite (Argentina's national stone) comes both in classic settings and as diminutive sculptures at this second-generation goldsmith's shop. Cousiño's sculptures of birds in flight are also exhibited in the National Museum of Decorative Arts.

A heady mix of coconut and board wax fills the air in this surfwear store: they don't care that the beach is hundreds of miles away, so why should you? Look for Brazilian-made gear from Billabong and Quiksilver, plus local surf brands like Y Tú Quique? Skaters and snow boarders will find their spiritual home here, too.

Set up like the 19th-century home it once was, Cualquier Verdura gives the otherwise antiques-dominated neighborhood a much-needed kitsch injection. Check out furniture designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell, fun animal-shaped placemats, vinyl records, glow-in-the-dark toys, old-yet-functioning kitchen implements, and books by local photographers and artists calling out for a coffee table.

Known to regulars as the DUC, this artsy spot combines a terrace café and a tiny music venue with a terrific bookstore. Browse the ground floor for artistic tomes and local literature while tapping your toes to some live jazz.

Quirky prints are the standout feature at DAM, a small boutique led by designer Carola Bessasso. Stylewise, you can expect feminine cuts and 1950s flair (the halter dresses are especially flattering); best of all, since Bessasso mixes unconventional materials with vintage finds, every piece is truly one of a kind.

Check out this popular women's wear brand for light and airy shirts, dresses, and tees. The well-cut jeans are merciful on the wallet—and on the hips (they're available up to a size 12, that's an Argentine 5).

When you fancy trying something other than wine, head to this Tolombón distillery to sample an array of grappas—one even made from coca leaves—and gin. The former warehouse is covered in vintage signs and distilling memorabilia; snap up local produce from nuts to olive oil and preserves that make for great gifts. 

An imposing theater dating from 1919 provides a fabulous backdrop for this bookshop. The former foyer holds a small selection of CDs and DVDs; the orchestra seating area has art books and fiction (including some English works); specialist subjects are arrayed in the circle; and you pay at the box office. Argentine cookbooks, illustrated gaucho classics, and coffee-table tomes are some of the weighty souvenirs. There are similar offerings at the less dramatic store on Florida.

From natty suits to slick leather jackets, the togs here appeal to thoroughly modern men who appreciate a touch of old-school class. The polos are a smart buy, as are the tailored cotton shirts; pair them with chinos in the traditional palette or more outrageously hued ones that seem geared to the golf course.

Keep it casual at El CID, a men’s store that covers most bases, from well-cut linen trousers to attractive button-down shirts. Hipster gentlemen will love the animal print pants, floral bowties, and flamboyant cotton scarves.

Mannequins and merchandise are displays for mere mortals: at Etiqueta Negra, owner Federico Álvarez Castillo's vintage racing cars take pride of place. If you can't afford such a vehicle, chances are you can't afford the clothes either. But the classic suits and Italian-cotton shirts ooze old-school Hollywood glamour and the beautiful finishes are worth breaking the bank for.

This small boutique has enough accessories to make the rest of your outfit a mere formality. Berry-size beads go into chunky but affordable necklaces, which take flora and fauna as their inspiration, while all manner of handbags line the back wall. Need a royal seal of approval? Argentina-born Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has been photographed wearing their fun, oversize earrings.

There's no love lost between Argentina and its neighbors, but when this Chilean department store opened, the affordable prices soon had locals swallowing their pride. The busy corner store's ground floor contains accessories, perfumes, and cosmetics such as MAC and Lancôme. Falabella also has three clothing lines: Sybila does low-cost (and low-quality) street wear; University Club is preppier and harder-wearing; Basement includes better-quality casual and work clothes. The overworked staff at both Falabella and its nearby home-wares branch, Falabella Hogar, don't give much guidance, but the prices make up for it. Avoid lunchtime, when it is packed with office workers looking for retail diversion.

A block away from Falabella (the excellent Chilean department store) is its home-ware branch, Falabella Hogar. It does a roaring trade in cheap 'n stylish crockery, kitchenware, and textiles, mostly imported from China and India. The store is crowded with office workers from noon to 2:30.

Every Sunday, on Balcarce Street between Ríos and Ameghino, around 200 local artisans get together for this weekly handicrafts market. It's considered to be the most important in the north. Pick up ceramics, knitwear, rugs, shawls, and even furry llama toys. On Saturdays there are similar if smaller markets: Feria de la Plaza Güemes and the Paseo de Arte y Diseño, located at Paseo de los poetas.

Each weekend, artisans sell handmade clothes, jewelry, and housewares as well as traditional crafts at this sprawling open-air market that winds through several linked squares outside the Recoleta Cemetery.

Some of the finest tango shoes in town—including classic spats, 1920s T-bar designs, and glitzier numbers for men and women—are all handmade and custom fitted at Flabella.

It makes perfect scents to visit Fueguia's perfume and candle-making laboratory to create your own eau de. Named after the nine-year-old native Patagonian girl who was abducted by HMS Beagle captain Robert FitzRoy, Fueguia has more than 100 fragrances to choose from, including Uruguayan jasmines, Tucumán lemons, and Neuquén roses.