Gijón — Authentic Spanish Fare in Monserrat

If you’re looking for Spanish food in a unpretentious bodegón de barrio try Gijón in the oft overlooked the Monserrat neighborhood, right next door to San Telmo. With brash lighting, a boisterous family atmosphere and borderline rude but efficient Galician waiters (including the owner, José), Gijón delivers good food, cheap house wine and abundant portions. [...]

Spanish Schools in Buenos Aires

If you’re going to spend anytime in Argentina it is a great opportunity to study Spanish, if you don’t already know it. Even if you already speak Spanish, you may want to take a couple of classes to learn about the regional use of ‘vos’, Argentinismos and a bit of Lunfardo, the unique slang used [...]

Libros del Pasaje — A Hip, Cozy Bookstore & Cafe

If you’re looking for a cozy spot to relax or nourish the brain after a wild night of partying in Buenos Aires, check out Libros del Pasaje in Palermo. This is a charming bookstore and café with high ceilings and dark wooden bookshelves displaying carefully chosen literature. In Spanish, you can find highbrow genres such [...]

Argentinismos

  The most Argentine word in existence is che, a filler word that was maladapted from the native Mapuche language and has since become widely used across the country. It’s commonly used to call someone’s attention, express surprise or emphasize a statement; it oddly seems to resonate with the English word ‘hey!’ Although used to [...]

¿Spanish, Castellano, Lunfardo? — Intricacies of the Argentine Idiom

Those who come to Argentina to learn the language will find that its interpretation of the Spanish language is every bit as unique as the country itself. Visitors quickly find out that those textbook Spanish classes can serve as a comfort but not a compass when trying to navigate this country’s Italian-flavored version of Spanish. Argentines [...]