Practices and Customs

TIPS
It is a habit to leave a tip for a waiter service in a restaurant, bar or café. The tip it is never included in the cost of what we had had, so it is not added in the bill that we received. Usually, we leave it on the table.
The tip it is between the 10 and 12% of the bill value. This sum it is like a “social agreement”. It can be more if the service was excellent, or in the other hand; it can be very little or nothing, if the service does not deserve it.
It is an habit in tourism area to reward the services of porters in the airport or port, bellboys, bus or car drivers, tour guides, travel assistants, etc.
In taxis, it is common to leave as a tip to the driver the cents or few pesos that round off the sum that appears in the taximeter.


MEALS
Argentineans, we love eating … and also sleeping!
This make that the working day, it begins at 9 or 10 AM, having breakfast at that time or a little earlier. The most traditional to have is the “mate”, coffee with milk or tea; with “medialunas”, bread toasts, butter and jam.

Lunch time it is usually between 1 or 2 PM. During week days we give it less importance, since in general, we have lunch while we are working. So, we eat something light like a sandwich, salads or not very big dishes. However, on sundays, time for family meeting, the lunch gains prominence. It is hold by an “asado”, after a “picada” and a good wine. Also, the “nona’s pasta” (nona is Italian word for grandmother), if the family has any Italian background.
The “merienda” it’s what we call the tea time. It is usually between 6 or 7 PM, after leaving work. It can be at home, in a bar, with friends, with family … and it changes a lot depending on personal tastes. For ones that prefer salty food the winner is the “tostado” or the “bizcochitos”. For ones that love sweet food, the best are the “facturas”.
Dinner it is between 9 or 10 PM. The food it is extremely varied. But, meat it is always the favourite one. The Argentineans, we eat per person, more beef that any other country in the world.

Buenos Aires it is a city where you can find all kind of cuisine. Certain neighbourhoods are traditional gastronomic centres. At Puerto Madero, for example, we find on the docks chic restaurants, very well known because of their « parrilladas » (grilled beef), like at Costanera Norte. Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood and Las Cañitas became in recently years trendy gastronomic areas, with restaurants of traditional and ethnical cuisine. San Telmo offers a colonial style with more traditional restaurants. At Recoleta we find places of very high level for national and international cuisine. Corrientes Avenue it is the ideal place to have very good pizzas, and on the May Avenue we find several Spanish restaurants.

Visit the section of this blog called “Traditional Food & Dishes” where I explain you the culinary wonders of my country!


THE SIESTA/NAP
A custom brought by the european immigrants that made the greatness of this country.
In the city, we do not do it any more like in old times; so, the stores, the offices, the restaurants and commercial areas are open all day, usually, between 10 AM and 8 PM.
Yes, this tradition it is respected in the countryside. All the inhabitants take their nap or siesta after having lunch. So, if you need something between 2 and 4 PM, be patient; because you will have to wait till the town wakes up again.


FAMILY & FRIENDS
Argentineans, we love to be with the family. May be, it is also a habit brought by the countries that originated us, that being in the same poverty conditions in a distant new land; turned to the family meeting to become strong together and solve problems. And later on, the friends began to join the family. Friends from childhood, from school, from work, from the neighborhood, from the club …
It is very common to find ourselves in bars, cafés or restaurants to spend hours talking about everything and everybody … men, women, children, mothers-in-law, brothers-in-law, politics, religion, music, economy, present times, books, etc. Never better said, we always tried to “arrange the world in a coffee table”.
And that is why the “asado” it is not only a beef cut or a way to prepare it; if not, it is the social meeting and have a good time with family and friends.
Receiving family or friends at home, many times with no specific purpose, it is something that we enjoy a lot and they are welcome with “some mates”.


SOCIAL HABITS
At time of introductions, it is usual to address someone that we don’t know as “señor” (Mr.), “señora” (Mrs.) or “señorita” (Miss). We can shake hands, although it is more common to kiss on the cheek (just one kiss).
Giving a hug and a kiss on the cheek it is a greeting between ladies, men or a man and a woman. It is very usual to find couples kissing each other on the streets. It’s something very well accepted by society.
“Hola” (Hello), “Buen día” (Good Morning), “¿Cómo estás?”/ “¿Qué haces?”/ “¿Qué contas?” (How are you?), “¿Todo bien?” (Everything ok?)… they are expressions that we use to say hello.
“Chau” (Goodbye), “Nos vemos” / “Hasta luego” (See you later/ see you soon) … they are usual expressions to say goodbye.
Looking into the eyes it is consider an important fact, and it is not strange for the Argentineans, to touch each other or stay very close while we are chatting.


NIGHT LIFE
The cultural variety of BA covers all tastes: art, music, cuisine, cinema, theatre, parties, flea markets, design fairs, concerts and festivals, meetings at cafes, pubs, discos or bowlings, etc.
The famous "noche porteña" begins at 7 PM. First, we have a dinner, but not before 9 PM.
Among young people (and not so young), the most traditional Friday and Saturday night activity it is going to dance: go to the “boliche” or “bolichear” are typical expressions. We call “boliche” the discotheque. And there is for everybody: assorted music, international, latin, only for salsa or caribbean dances, electronic, tango, only for homosexuals, etc.

In general, we do “la previa” (previous, prior). This activity is going to have dinner or to have a drink before going to the disco, which began to be crowded between 2 or 3 AM. They open at midnight.
The night ends between 6 or 7 in the morning of the following day. That is why you have to consider other verb or expression very common: “trasnochar” (stay out late at night or not going to bed).
You can find young people going to different parties the same night, and having breakfast before going to sleep.
Among the most popular diners, the pizza with a good beer is the winner. Anyway, the latest cooking trends open the market to new savours. So, they were open several restaurants offering typical cuisine of the world: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, from India, from Europe, Peru or Colombia, etc.
Among bars and clubs, there is a huge variety of options: karaoke, with live music, thematic, Irish pubs, jazz clubs, etc.
Restaurants, bars and discos are mostly located in Palermo, Recoleta, Centro and Puerto Madero neighborhoods. But, in each neighborhood of the city you will find a good place to have fun.
Come here and enjoy them!