El Establo rocks!
 

If you want good food and a real porteno experience I second the recommendation of El Establo near the Calle Florida tourist shopping. It is a humble hole in the wall but was our unanimous favorite on our April 2005 trip to 2005; we went there 4 or 5 times. The bife de lomo (tenderloin) was unbelievably tender! But I am a baby boomer and my kids have assured me that I am not hip, so for something hip you twentysomethings may want to head to the Palermo Viejo neighborhood and just walk around. Also the Gran Bar Danzon will appeal to the twentysomethings.

We also agreed that Cabana Las Lilas was overpriced and nothing special.

Bobo

Cabana las Lilas does not have the most attractive restaurant nor the best, most attentive service. But it has the most consistently good meat preparations around Buenos Aires of all the restaurants I've been to there.

Bice in Puerto Madero I've been to dozens and dozens of times. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. If it weren't for a bunch of out-of-towners thinking it's a sister of the Bice in DC or in NYC, I wouldn't be dragged there and would be all the more content.

Vis-a-vis Cabana las Lilas, Bice is to be considered somewhat overpriced on the more than rare occassions where the food is not the same as last time when ordering even the same dish. (The menu at Bice is radically different than Cabana las Lilas, and you don't go to one expecting to get what you get at the other.) Consistency in the meals is important, and Bice falls short there way too often.

.... and Cabana las Lilas is in the same area as Bice -- namely, Puerto Madero. If staying at the Hilton there, then walk across the short bridge toward the center of the city (i.e., the Customs House, Casa Rosada, etc.); as soon as you get across, Cabana las Lilas is due right while Bice is due left, a brief walk each way.

Any fan of meat who thinks Cabana las Lilas is not worth it is not a fan of consistently good meat, consistently prepared (or it must have been a very off day with ordering cuts of meat that the person is unfamiliar with). It's truly a bargain compared to any good steakhouse in the US and tastes better than most all, nearly always.

plcaes to find masks/marrionettes (puppets)?
 

I will be in BA next week and have a request from my wife to look for a mask and/or marrionette to add to her collection. Where should I look?

Can someone tell me if ATM machines in Argentina accept cards processed through Cirrus, Maestro, or Star?

dup post

For ATM Locator for Maestro/Cirrus Star is a domestic network.

I've had no problem finding ATMs in Argentina taking US cards. Between Citibank in Recoleta and the BNP near the Hilton in Puerto Madero, I've never had a problem getting cash because of an ATM network. (A problem I've had is empty ATMs a couple of years ago.)

Hotel Lancaster
 

The suites at Hotel Lancaster were recommended to me but I can't find out anything about the hotel other than the hotel website. I am looking for a traditional European style hotel in a safe location within walking distance to some shopping / restaurants / places of interest. I am looking to spend under USD $120. I want something with some character, and don't care for the sleek, modern hotels. I don't need room service, conference rooms, etc. Has anyone stayed at Hotel Lancaster or know anything about it? Is it what I'm looking for?

We stayed at the Loi Suites Recoleta, which is close to the cemetary and lots of shops & restaurants. The hotel is terrific and the staff is great. We got a rate of $144 US (includes VAT) through our travel agent.

You may have overpaid (depending on what room you got). If you booked Loi Suites Recoleta or Loi Suites Arenales at the airport, you'd get most of their rooms for cheaper.

I hope to spend under $120 USD. Loi Suites lowest rate is 151. I can get a suite at Hotel Lancaster for $81USD. Does anyone know anything about this hotel at Av. Cordoba 405. It was listed in Fodors and Moon guides but I have found no reviews.

Where is everyone booking the various Loi Suites for US$120+ and for what kind of room type? The various Loi Suites hotels can be booked much cheaper than that.

I am heading back for the 6th time since January and this time of year it is easy to get deals. My advice is to actually call around, the int'l long distance charges will be gained back ten-fold if you work the conversations right and talk to hotel managers. Let them know that you will be there and that you plan to come back often and are looking for a "home" hotel. I have settled in at the Park Tower in Retiro for far less than any published rates and I just jot the hotel manager an email when I want a room and my rate has stayed good for almost a year.

Excellent advice. I like to see people get a good deal and return to Argentina several times like you have. If the lodging is more affordable, the more time (and money) visitors can spend there in the whole.

My trips are mostly business based but even so I try to treat every penny wisely. I would be going back as often as possible anyway as Bs As is fantastic. The downtown area is so ripe with competition though that I really maintain the concept of getting to know (either in person or via phone) some people by name and making deals. While this won't work in a lot of US cities, I have had great luck with it in Bs As and made a few friends along the way! Let me know if you want any suggestions for places to go...