Travel Archives

The Best of Buenos Aires

March 17, 2017

El Caminito in La Boca

After spending twelve days in Buenos Aires this month, my body finally feels back to normal from the jet lag, 32 hour trip back (a total of four flights) and the copious amounts of red meat and Malbec I consumed while I was there. It took equally as long to get from Seattle to Buenos Aires (Seattle > LA > San Salvador > Lima > Buenos Aires), but it was well worth it to be reunited with one of my closest friends, Natalie, cocktail goddess and the bad ass chick behind Beautiful Booze. This was my first trip to South America, and I totally fell in love with this city. The food, the streets, the people; everything about this place just intoxicated me and I hope one day I get to go back.

All the steak and Malbec

Well, there’s no denying what my favorite part of Buenos Aires was: all the incredible food and wine and more specifically all the steak and Malbecs. Parrillas (steakhouses) are extremely popular with literally hundreds throughout the city to choose from. We ate our way through several extravagant steak lunches and dinners. (There is nothing like a late lunch of ojo de bife, which is ribeye, and a good bottle of Malbec, swoon.) I miss the steak, y’all. Truly the best I’ve ever had.

Sunday Market Street Fair in San Telmo

The colorful neighborhood of San Telmo has traditionally been known as Buenos Aires’ antiques neighborhood, with shop after shop and a vibrant Sunday market street fair. We walked for hours through the street fair that was lined with every kind of vendor you could imagine – from food to glass soda water bottles to hand made leather bound books. Jewelry, antiques, toys and pipes – they are selling everything here. Natalie does a lot of her shopping for glassware for photo shoots here and picked up some striking crystal whiskey glasses for just 40 pesos ($2.47 USD). This is a perfect way to spend a Sunday. Go get lost in the San Temlo street fair and then find yourself a cafe or restaurant for a late lunch; the food in this neighborhood is wonderful.

Cemeterio de la Recoleta

Would you believe that the top tourist attraction in Buenos Aires is a cemetery? Well, it is – Cemeterio de la Recoleta. I’ll be totally honest, I really had no desire to go into a city of coffins and tombs, but when it’s the number one attraction, you kind of just have to do it anyway. So into this city of the dead we went. Creepy? Definitely. I don’t believe in ghosts or the supernatural but I would not want to be here at night. It was also amazingly beautiful, though. Old statues of angels, gargoyles and crosses rise above ornate tombs in an eerily awesome way.

El Caminito in La Boca

El Caminito means “little path”, and it’s a darling street in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires that is famous for its brightly painted houses and lively restaurants and art vendors lining the streets. This may have been my favorite part of the city. Sit and enjoy a Quilmes (a local beer that I have dubbed the Coors Light of Argentina) and take in a tango show, another must do on your Buenos Aires list.

The Soho Neighborhood of Buenos Aires

I absolutely adored the Soho neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The street art is fantastic (and abounding!) and the food in this neighborhood is top notch. We spent hours on multiple days exploring the streets, shops, cafes and cervecerias of Soho after our daily morning coffee and work sessions (Natalie has turned me into a coffee drinker, thanks Nat.) More than one of my favorite meals was in this part of the city, and a fantastic wine shop as well. Stay tuned for my next blog on the Best Bites and Sips of Buenos Aires to find out what they were!

Beautiful Booze’s Favorite Bars in Mexico City

November 28, 2016

Hanky Panky

Hola, y’all! I am Natalie from Beautiful Booze! Stephanie and I have been eating and drinking our way through Seattle for the past couple of years. Given that we are both from the south we love sharing and exploring everything that has to do with eating and drinking. Recently, we have both been doing some heavy traveling and are anxious to share some of our favorite places to eat and drink abroad. Today I am sharing my favorite bars in Mexico City!

The Inside Manhattan from Fifty Mils Bar at Four Seasons

My first stop after I land in Mexico City is the one and only Fifty Mils located in the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. This sleek and cozy bar offers creative and locally sourced cocktails made by the friendliest bar staff in Mexico City. Some of my favorite cocktails include the infamous Inside Manhattan made with bourbon, vermouth and Angostura bitters, served inside a hollow ice sphere and the Bugs Bunny made with carrot juice, Tanqueray gin and three-chile bitters. Pull up a chair and enjoy a cocktail or two made by the talented bartenders Mica Rousseau and Axel Pi.

The La Aurora from Hanky Panky

Another imbibing institution to add to your “must do booze” list in Mexico City is Hanky Panky. Hanky Panky is an awesome speakeasy in the back of a run down taco shop in the up and coming neighborhood of La Juarez. When you enter this beautiful space of red leather bar chairs you will feel like you have been transported to another time and place. As for the cocktails they match the ambience of classy and magical. My favorite cocktail is the La Aurora made with gin, Cinzano, Campari, rose water and garnished with white chocolate with pistachios and rose petal.

As their hashtag implies this venue is located #somewhereinmexicocity so make sure to reserve your spot in advance for the experience and access to the address!

Huset

In the trendy neighborhood of Roma lies the prettiest restaurant and bar you ever did see called Huset. At this venue cocktails can be enjoyed inside at the bar or al fresco in the amazing courtyard that is laced with beautiful greenery and lights. I recommend ordering one of their amazing gin and tonics. Pair this light and fresh cocktail with one of their beautiful smoky appetizers and say salud to a boozy afternoon in Mexico City.

The Spiced Negroni from Paprika

To really get some flavor and spices in your mouth stop by Paprika a Middle Eastern restaurant in the La Juarez barrio. They specialize in beautiful food and cocktails that showcase unique spices, flavors, and colors that are native from the Middle East. I stopped by this bar craving a negroni, which is not typically on their cocktail menu, but the bartender was able to whip up a spiced version that I will not long forget. Stop by this venue for the perfectly seasoned and unique food options but stay for the distinctive cocktails and atmosphere.

Go Get Lost In Macau

October 4, 2016

I’m in the midst of a three week trip to Asia and so far it’s been pretty epic. I have to say that, so far, my favorite experience has definitely been visiting the region of Macau. Located on the south coast of China, Macau was a Portuguese territory until 1999 and because of that there are some pretty rad things going on here culturally. I had no plan when I took the ferry over from Hong Kong except to eat good food, but I found so much more than that. Here’s my day in photos.

It takes a lot to leave me speechless (if you’ve ever met me, you know it’s true). Macau did it.

The contrast of Asian and Portuguese architecture was surreal.

I found an amazing Portuguese restaurant – Dragon Portuguese Cuisine – and I totally fell in love with it. This is the feast I had for lunch (there is no shame in ordering and consuming enough food and wine for three people, don’t judge me). Here’s the lineup of the food:

“Bacalahau” Rolls (Bacalhau is a salted fish and these were like very light and airy fish fritters, so good y’all – SO good.)

Portuguese Style Baked Crab Meat with Mozzarella. Um – Crab? Cheese? YES!

Mussels Baked with Portuguese White Wine.

Fried Rice Portuguese Style

Also known as “the Gate to Nowhere”, the Ruins of the Church of St. Paul was a Jesuit church built in the 17th century. This is all that remains today, but it was truly awe inspiring.

One more look at streets of this unique little city. It really stole my heart. Big, big thanks to my pal Rocky who recommended it to me. GO HERE!