Buenos Aires Lures Jet Set With Weak Peso

Where to shop: Astute shoppers look for clothing and furniture in Buenos Aires. Skip the malls and department stores, and look for unusual boutiques in Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho. Men should hit Felix for Bueno Aires's version of Marc Jacobs. Woman should visit Lupe a few streets over, by the same owners.

For decadent housewares, hit Paul in Palermo Soho, where you'll find high-end kitchen ceramics and silver furnishings. For something older, don't miss the San Telmo Flea Market on Sundays at Feria de San Pedro Telmo. Also check out antique stores, which offer Victorian relics at decent prices.

Where to eat: Tranquil cafes line the streets of Buenos Aires. Mott is a sexy eatery in Palermo Soho that attracts local fashionistas and Hollywood expatriates with its sidewalk terrace and front lounge. For something edgier, hit Oui Oui a few blocks away in Palermo Hollywood, a bakery popular with 30-something skateboarders and graffiti artists.

For dinner, make a 10 p.m. reservation at a new hot spot like To Sushi, which offers rotating sushi bar and a fusion menu that combines French and Japanese cuisine.

For more of a Madonna vibe, hit Tegui, which has replaced Casa Cruz as Buenos Aires's top restaurant. Chef German Martitegui dazzles with a mix of adventurous Argentine cuisine that marries homemade terrines, wild meats and exotic seafood in a glittery dining room hidden behind a crusty urban facade.

Those looking to dine under a little less white light will find culinary paradise at Casa Felix. The private home of chef Diego Felix offers a five-course vegetarian and seafood menu Thursday through Saturday in the evening. You'll fine homemade empanadas stuff with ingredients from an on-site organic garden and grilled fish presented in a checkered-floor dining room that seats no more than 13 guests and often fills up weeks in advance.