|
Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires restaurants > Boutique del Libro Boutique del LibroThames 1762 (@ Costa Rica); Tel. +(011.54.11) 4833-0068
A combination of a traditional bookshop, a hip record shop and a really soulful coffee shop, Boutique del Libro is a great spot to stock up on Latin American literature, find out what’s happening in local music, or just hang. The book department has that classic library feel with shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling and clerks flying up and down old-fashioned wooden ladders. The subjects include poesía, filosofía, estudios culturales and other such highbrow matters, as well as a more disarming children’s book section. The record shop at the back of the building is very much smaller and offers an eclectic mix of local music, tango, jazz, electronic music, as well as brainy pop like The Velvet Underground, Radiohead and Iggy. Guests are welcome to listen to the collection. The coffee shop spreads across the music department, the mezzanine above, and its own airy space underneath a huge skylight. The latter section has the feel of a conservatory with an abundance of plant life and rickety whitewashed garden furniture. The walls are decorated with photos from book signings as well as lines scribbled by visiting authors. Boutique del Libro offers all the usual coffee variations, as well as smallish wine list and a choice of beers. Coffees are around $4AR, wines range from $15AR all the way up to $135AR for an Angelica Zagata Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas a small bottle of Quilmes is $4AR. The food menu includes a predictable choice of sandwiches and a far more interesting selection of picadas, featuring all sorts of hams, salamis, a few cheeses and, of course, olives. Prices vary from $15AR to $30AR depending on the size of the platter. —Boutique del Libro review by Johan Jensen
|
