Buenos Aires on Easy Mode: A Stylish Stroll Through Books, Bites & Bakeries

If I think of my brain as a travel database, Buenos Aires feels like a mix of Paris, London, and Budapest. It has Paris’s khaki-colored buildings, London’s elegant attitude, and Budapest’s street-side vibrance. When I arrived, two things really stood out: first, I didn’t know $200 could make me feel like a millionaire 😂 (I’ll share a short video on my instagram lol), and second, people there just seemed effortlessly stylish and sophisticated.

Visiting Buenos Aires doesn’t take much effort, so this article isn’t about an intense itinerary—it’s more of a light travel guide with recommendations you can explore smoothly since they’re close to each other.

Table of Contents

• How to get a Buenos Aires SUBE Travel Card

• 1. The most beautiful bookstore - El Ateneo Grand …

• 2. A pizza place - El Cuartito

• 3. Unique Architecture - Biblioteca Nacional Maria …

• 4. I bought 1 kg sweets! - La Casa de Gretha

How to get a Buenos Aires SUBE Travel Card

Before you start to explore the city, you’ll need to have a travel card. Because the city is big enough that I bet you wouldn’t want to travel on foot all the time, especially the tourist spots are spread out. Here’s the info you need to know about the card:

1. You can use the card to take a bus and a metro

2. The card can be bought in a “Kiosk” (newspaper stands on street). *Some people said you can buy one in a metro in 2025

3. But the card can’t be top up at a Kiosk. You have to go to some convenient stores for top-up (I just went inside and asked if I could top-up my card)

When I visited in 2024, I think the system is confusing - for using a travel card, I have to contact 3 agents:

1. A Kiosk to buy a card

2. A convenient store to top up the card

3. A metro to really use the card

Which makes me wonder if it’s because of the challenging economy that makes such simple thing be handled by 3 parties so everyone can get a cut from it?

1. The most beautiful bookstore - El Ateneo Grand Splendid 

El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a theater-turned bookstore and is rated as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. I learned it because of a magazine I read long long time ago that I don’t even remember its name lol. It’s on my bucket list ever since then.

Bookstores always has a charm that makes people act more elegantly. Sadly, that spell only lasts about 10 minutes on me before I get bored. Before I left, though, I saw something interesting: a couple making out in a reading room. It was so hidden you had to take a few extra steps to even see it. I guess they found a good spot… or got bored too? Ha.

2. A pizza place - El Cuartito

14 min walk from El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a pizza place that has good review and seem to often have a long line. I was lucky to get in really quick though. The highly stacked pizza boxes looked like some sort of quality assurance in my opinion. It turned out the pizza is not bad! (Ooops I have high standard) If you are craving for pizza when you are in Buenos Aires, I’d recommend you to try.

3. Unique Architecture - Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno

18 min bus from El Cuartito, a library that has unique design. I don’t particularly recommend it if you are not a bookworm, especially you have to checkin with your passport and are not allowed to bring your bags to the main reading area (they provide free lockers though). In addition, there’s a security at each floor, which may make people feel uncomfortable. But the neighborhood around the library, including the one near Recoleta Urban Mall is pretty nice for a walk. There are some bars and restaurants nearby, creating a chill vibe.

4. I bought 1 kg sweets! - La Casa de Gretha

6 min walk from Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno, a local bakery that sell super good choco honey cookie that I ended up buying 1 kg! Back then, I just wanted to find a place that I could sit and enjoy some sweets (Buenos Aires has so many bakeries that display tempting desserts 🤤) but ended up discovering this authentic place.

I’d recommend you come to explore the area around Recoleta Urban Mall and walk for 6 mins to the bakery and try some sweets. 😊