Buenos Airescosmopolitan chic

Learn the architectonic dance from some of Argentina’s best milongueros. Fernando Galera and Vilma Vega at Estudio La Esquina are highly recommended for both beginners and advanced students, as are the Tangueros at the Academia Nacional del Tango. If you have as much as a week in town, you should be able to learn the basics—mastering simple moves like the Llevada and the Ocho, though the more complicated Trabada and Boleo poses may have to wait until your next trip to the tango capital of the world. If the dance speaks to you, a pilgrimage to Barrio de La Boca is a must, as the brightly painted clapboard façades near the city’s docks birthed the Argentine tango. There are a number of cafés where dancers treat diners to sets throughout the day. As you stroll along Calle Caminito, you won’t be impressed with the architecture or the shape the neighborhood is in, but this is where tango history was made. For the grander settings, take in a show at the Café Tortoni or the El Viejo Almacén, which is housed in one of the oldest buildings of the city. You’ll likely feel the spirits stirring when the show begins, as all the greatest tango singers, musicians and dancers have performed here.