Shopping at The Bolivian Market in Liniers

It took me years before I ventured out of my comfort zone to the Buenos Aires Bolivian Market in Liniers at the western limits of the city.

Now it’s one of my favorite places in the city for authentic Bolivian restaurants, shopping, and exploring.

I do want to make the disclosure that this isn’t an area I recommend for tourists.

But if you live in Buenos Aires and are looking for something new to do or for where to bulk buy your dry goods at the absolute cheapest after enjoying a bargain basement Bolivian lunch, then please do keep reading.

This post is everything you need to visit Liniers and its Bolivian Market.

Visit the Buenos Aires Bolivian Market in Liniers

If you’re living in Buenos Aires then you need to visit the Bolivian market in Liniers.

Shopping here will get you the best prices in town and more variety than you’ll ever find in your neighborhood shops.

Quinoa, for example, costs a third of the price here than what it does at my local neighborhood dietetica.

I buy a kilo of chia seeds for the same price that 200 grams of chia seeds cost at the chino supermarket down the block.

The variety is also a drawing point and honestly, fun after monotonous Buenos Aires shopping (IYKYK).

There are hard to find fruits and vegetables that are more common in Bolivian and Peruvian cuisine, like Andean potatoes or hot peppers.

Keep your eye open and you’ll see offerings for Pachamama for sale and other brujeria items. You can even buy items to hang over your door to ward off “mala onda.”

And while you’re here, stay for lunch.

Bolivian restaurants offer lunch specials that cost less than the equivalent of U$7.

Or just eat street food like Bolivian empanadas, salchipapa, or api morado (a hot drink made from purple maize).

How to get to Liniers in Buenos Aires

📍 Where? José León Suárez 100-300 (between Ramón Falcón and Ventura Bosch streets) one block in from the main avenue at Rivadavia 11500.

🕓 When? 7 days a week, from around 8 am – 8 pm. Weekends are hectic. Try to go during the week before noon to have a more peaceful experience.

🚌 How to get to Liniers?

• From Saavedra/Nuñez in the north there are fast-service buses (lines 21 or 28) at Puente Saavedra that stop on the overpass of the General Paz.
• If you’re coming from Palermo/Villa Crespo, take the Metro Bus (lines 34 or 166) on Juan B. Justo.
• Coming from downtown, take the Sarmiento train line from the Estacion Once in Plaza de Misere (get off at the Liniers stop).
• Map your route out on the Google Maps or Moovit, the best apps to download in Argentina for getting around.

What else to do in Liniers?

What else to do besides the Bolivian market? Mostly? Eat.

Eat Steak at El Ferroviario

If you’re hungry for steak head across Rivadavia to El Ferroviario, a Buenos Aires institution and one of the best steakhouses in Buenos Aires.

This is a no frills, greasy spoon haven for locals. Come hungry, like fasted hungry.

If you have enough people they have a tenedor libre (all you can eat) option or you can just order a dish off the extensive menu.

If you go on the weekend go EARLY or make a reservation, it gets packed.

More food tips: It’s not IN Liniers, but it isn’t far from one of my favorite classic pizzerias El Fortin. Read about it in my guide to the best pizza in Buenos Aires.

El Barrio la Mil Casitas

Just a few blocks from the Bolivian market you’ll stumble into a series of short city blocks full of individual family houses.

In 1920, these two story houses were built to house railway workers after a major boom in the rail industry.

The houses were all 2 stories, built on 8.66 m by 8.66 m lots, and all follow the same plan. They were affordable and rail workers could pay them in with installments.

The “blocks” are actually narrow rows of two lines of houses back to back instead of a square block with a green space in the center.

Today it’s a quiet and peaceful oasis in an otherwise hectic part of the city.

Go to a futbol game

Going to a futbol game is one of the most iconic things to do in Buenos Aires. Everyone loves Boca and River, but the city has many other excellent teams.

Liniers is no exception, home to Club Velez Sarsfield and its massive stadium on Avenida Juan B Justo.

To go to a game, it’s always best (and often only possible) to go with a local fan who knows how to navigate the stadium safely.

I always go to games with Homefans, check out their Liniers experiences here. Use code SOLSALUTE to save 10%.

Read more – How to experience Futbol in Buenos Aires

Is Liniers safe?

If you’re used to Buenos Aires then you will feel ok in Liniers, but it is a place to be cautious.

Just use the same general precautions you’d use in any busy city. Keep an eye on your surroundings and be subtle with your wallet and phone (don’t be flashy).

I’ve been multiple times and have never had any problems whatsoever.

I also enjoy talking to the people working there and have nothing but great things to say.

Whenever I ask questions to learn about the offerings they sell or foods I don’t recognize, people are always happy to answer my questions. Once a friend and I were even offered a taste of aguardiente from a couple of girls working in one shop.

My verdict?

It’s not called fire water for nothing.