Buenos Aires is arguably the hottest South American city travel destination right now. Jetsetters and fur-loving fashionistas are flocking here to buy up property as well as fur coats and home accessories. With easy overnight flights, long weekend commutes from LA & NY are entirely do-able and entirely affordable -what you save on a fur coat will pay for your air fare!

And it's not just the property market that is booming - Buenos Aires has the feel of European city but the hip-ness of New York and London. Fashion is king here. Boutique hotels are opening. The restaurant scene is stylish, innovative and multi-ethnic. There is a hip new generation of fur coat designers, and furniture designers bringing new life to old neighborhoods. For years, Buenos Aires has been the fashionistas best kept secret for buying fur and cowhide furniture and accessories, hand-tooled suitcases, decorative fur home accents and the most up-to-the minute style of designer fur coats. Now the secret is out!

For fur, fun and fashion Buenos Aires has never been more exciting.

Below, the editors of furs.com open their address book to share their insider finds in our new favorite city.

Furs.com black book guide to Buenos Aires

Breeders
This is where you'll want to go for furs. The latest designer fur styles (you'll swear it's Cavalli or a Fendi coat but at Argentine prices). Their throwback to the fur stole is totally unique - longer, lighter and wider and thin but decadently soft fur. (breeders@fibertel.com.ar)

Cat Ballou
This chic bohemian hangout is popular because the owners dye velvet themselves by hand in a huge pot. Known for dyed rabbit fur, their coats and vests are slightly bohemian looking but also elegant.

Santesteban Disegno
Has the most gorgeous and unique selection of animal skin and fur handbags. (santestebandisegno.com)

La Totora
A very stylish home accessories boutique with great fur and cowhide home items from decorative fur baskets to modern fur cowhide lounge chairs, fur cups and chairs. Everything you could imagine for the most decadent designer home. (latotora.com.ar)

Additional Buenos Aires fashionable attractions:

Designer Clothes

Designer Martin Churba
Whose dresses have lured fashion editors from London to LA to his very groovy studio in BA is now into knits. Worth the trip alone to see what he's up to next. (tramando.com)

Jazmin Chebar
This is the place to shop for cashmere sweaters and trendy designer clothes.

Boutique Hotel

Phillip Stark
Opens his boutique hotel and residential complex this Christmas El Porteno Apartments Ltd. (cosmiccarrotgroup.com)

Bel Air Hotel
Arenales 1462 in BA is one other very cheap hip hotel

Designer Suites
At Marcello T de Alvear 1683, are a bit more exclusive

Luxe Hotels
Alvear, Cesar Park, Plaza or Four Seasons if you want the very best.

Neighborhood Palermo Viejo

Think Elizabeth Street in Soho meets the lower east side in downtown NY. Lots of little shops that sell clothing and home accessories and furniture. This is where you'll want to go out - the most happening restaurants and bars in the city:

Restaurants

LOMO
LOMO restaurant is the scene for fantastic food and the most fantastic display of fur interiors and exteriors ANYWHERE!. The sign out front has the name - LOMO written in fur and bar is entirely covered in fur. It's the most chic restaurant in Palermo Viejo and very hip - dress appropriately (fur, of course!)

Central
Open and slick restaurant-bar-café-home accessory shop with great ambience, good food, good music, nice bar and a chic little vegetable store at entrance (in Palermo Viejo)

Bar 6
Very Wallpaper with great ambience and beautiful people

Mark's Deli
The best coffee scene in Palermo Viejo (the art-y/hippie neighborhood)

Dancing

Asia de Cuba
The place in Puerto Madero to dance to 80's tunes. Fantastic.

Furniture and Accessories

Laura O
Fantastic wood horn accessories like chopsticks made of horn and fashionable toothbrush holders for the bathroom. Everything here is basic and chic and timeless.

Gropius
Has excellent vintage original furniture from the forties to the 70's. They recently started making reproductions.

La Pasionaria
Is the other shop for vintage furniture Santorini Modern furniture and accessories for 'chic on a budget'.

Velas de la Ballena
Is THE place for candles - - you name it they have it.

Note: One word you must learn in Spanish --liquidaciones-- that means sale.
Additional Reporting: Willy Troglia/Trace design 212 349 5998

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