160 Best Places to Shop in Argentina

The official light-blue-and-white shirts worn by the Argentine soccer team, the Pumas (the national rugby team), and the Leonas (the women's field hockey team) are bestsellers and make excellent souvenirs. You can also pick up Converse, Nike, Adidas, and Puma clothing and footwear as well as uber-trendy Gola sneakers at this sporting megastore.

Bored of drab utility-wear? Rethink has, well, rethought the issue. Grown-up skaters and sophisticated rockers love its well-made jeans, hoodies, and tees. Simple in cut, they come alive with graffiti-inspired designs, which spill over onto the shop walls.

The cuts of their tank tops and sweatpants aren't quite as spacey as Nike or Reebok, but then this classic Argentine brand's prices are more down-to-earth, too. Tennis wear is a strong player, not surprising given that Topper sponsors '70s legend Guillermo Vilas as well as younger superstars such as Facundo Arguello and David Nalbandian. There's also off-court action: the black Converse-lookalike sneakers have been a fashion staple for teenage gig-goers for decades.

Light, butter-soft leather takes on modern forms, with geometric stitching the only adornment on jackets and asymmetrical bags that might come in rich violet in winter and aqua-blue in summer. The top-quality footwear includes teetering heels and ultrasimple boots and sandals. Denim, leather boots, and tops complete the look.

Every organic Merino wool garment created by Ursa has a story behind it, starting with sourcing wool in Patagonia to the all-female knitting collective from a local shantytown weaving it. This showroom mostly stocks women’s and kids’ wear, and every piece is unique.

Plenty of wine stores have popped up of late in Cafayate but Vinoteca La Escalera is one of the more established ones. It carries a solid selection from around the valley.

Rather than do the rounds collecting labels at wineries, an array of vinotecas (wine stores) has opened up in Cafayate. This one carries a solid selection from around the valleys, from the biggest and most well-known to smaller boutique projects.

A peaceful sanctuary away from the busy Sunday street market, Walrus stocks more than 4,000 good quality books in English. American owner Geoff and his English-speaking staff are helpful yet unintrusive when it comes to selecting a translation of local masters or some contemporary fiction. Slide open the bargain drawer at the front of the store to uncover more reads perfect for flight delays or long bus journeys.

An olive oil factory that offers tastings, Yancanelo also sells local olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and other regional foods.

It may be easy to pass by this unprepossessing Recoleta shop, but there's no way Fabián Zitta's evening dresses could go unnoticed. Local starlets love his bold designs, notable for their volume: picture balloon skirts, puffball sleeves, or organic-looking ruffled tubes snaking over severely tight bodices. Each collection includes black, white, and one other (usually blinding) color. Brides-to-be must give his wedding collection a whirl.