Buenos Aires offers some of the most sophisticated shopping in Latin America. The range and quality of goods is excellent - and is even better value for visitors since devaluation. Shopping malls have sprung up all over the city and are usually found in old buildings. They are exquisite, air-conditioned, pleasant places to walk around, even if you don't usually enjoy shopping. Two of the most popular malls are Galerias Pacifico, Calle Florida and Calle Córdoba, and Patio Bullrich, Avenida del Libertador 750 and Posadas 1245, which are brimming with boutiques of Argentine fashions and international labels. One of the best shopping streets for high-street fashions and leather goods is Calle Florida, a pedestrianised thoroughfare in the city centre. Palermo Viejo has been likened to New York's SoHo and is crammed with boutiques selling shoes and fashion.

Argentina is renowned for its leather products and the goods on sale in the capital are of a particularly high standard. Shoes are an almost essential purchase. Welcome, at Calle Marcelo T de Alvear 500 and San Martin, is one of the oldest and most traditional stores for leather. Dalla Fontana, Calle Reconquista 735, makes good quality made-to-measure leatherwear. Native crafts and souvenirs are good buys. Fair Trade (Comercio Justo) leather products, textiles and fashions from local communities are available from Pasion Argentina, Emilio Ravignani 1780, and Tierra Adentro, Arroyo 882, which also sells silver and furniture. South American crafts and textiles can be found throughout the city and at Arte Etnico Argentino, El Salvador 4656, Palermo Viejo, where goods are made with respect for the environment.

Maté, Argentina's national drink, has a whole ritual surrounding its drinking, with a special vessel and straw. These make good presents, as does jewellery - especially silver. Tango CDs and records serve as a fitting reminder of a visit to Buenos Aires. Zival's Tango Store, Avenida Callao 395, offers a wide variety of CDs, books and DVDs. Other book and record stores are located around Avenida Corrientes. Wines are always a great buy, as is the odd tin of dulce de leche (sweet, sticky caramelised milk), available in supermarkets.

Artwork can be found throughout the city on sale in galleries, especially in Retiro and Recoleta, while paintings of La Boca are 10 a penny in that area. The best place to search for antiques and colonial paintings is at and around the Feria de San Pedro Telmo flea market at Plaza Dorrego, on Sundays. The Hippie Fair in front of the Centro Cultural Recoleta (see Culture section) is a colourful place to browse for handicrafts, jewellery and artwork, all day Saturday and Sunday.

Shopping hours are Monday to Friday 0900 to 2000 and Saturday 0900 to1300, although malls are generally open daily 1000 to 2200. Purchase tax or VAT, known as IVA (Impuesto de Valor Agregado), stands at 21% and is placed on everything with the exception of medicines and food. Tax-free shopping is available at certain outlets; look for the 'Tax Free Shopping' logo or consult www.globalrefund.com. On purchasing goods costing 70 Pesos or more, visitors can receive a refund for the tax, minus an admin fee. On leaving Argentina, the goods with receipts should be presented at customs before check-in and the refund collected at a separate kiosk. Leave plenty of time, as it can be a lengthy process. Also, make sure the items you have bought are easily accessible in your luggage.