Abasto Shopping Center

Description:

• The Abasto Shopping Center is one of the largest in all of Buenos Aires. It was built over a market where the famous tango crooner Carlos Gardel got his start, singing as a child to the fruit and meat vendors who had stalls there. They would give him a few centavos to entertain them, and from this humble beginning, his fame spread. Only a classical stone arch outside of the main shopping center is left from the earlier structure. Now, you'll find an Art Deco-style building with several levels of shopping, mostly aimed at the middle and upper-middle class. This mall is a great place to bring kids, with its extensive food court, enormous arcades with video games, and especially the very fun Museo de Los Niños, located in the food court. In what used to be one of Buenos Aires's main Jewish neighborhoods, you'll also find the only kosher McDonald's in the world outside of Israel. There is also a large cinema complex here. The food court and cinemas here are open later than 10pm.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010