The Rio Times

Isla de la Recoleta in Buenos Aires, Argentina La Isla de la Recoleta is an elevated, Paris‑inspired pocket of Buenos Aires designed in 1906 by French landscape architect Joseph Bouvard, with diagonally laid streets, staircases with balustrades, period lampposts and French‑style apartment buildings around Plaza Mitre. In the early 20th century it filled with petit hôtels and mansions for the city’s elite, of which only the former Madero‑Unzué residence survives today as the British Embassy, while the surrounding streets and terraces still offer one of the capital’s most elegant, European‑feeling walks between the Biblioteca Nacional and Avenida del Libertador.

Mexico City, A Design‑Lover’s Playground in Mexico Mexico City has become a magnet for architecture and design fans, especially in neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa, where restored Porfirian mansions, Art Deco façades and leafy boulevards host galleries, cafés and concept stores. Over the past years, many travelers have built detailed, architecture‑focused guides to the city, curating 70‑plus pages of buildings, museums and creative spaces that showcase why CDMX is now considered a global capital for art, design and urban energy.

Niterói, Rio’s Scenic Neighbor in Brazil Niterói, across Guanabara Bay from Rio de Janeiro, offers a mix of beaches, cliffs and skyline viewpoints that look back toward Sugarloaf and the South Zone, making it a favorite subject for short drone reels at sunrise and sunset. Neighborhoods along the waterfront combine calmer local beach life with striking modern landmarks like the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, so even a 10‑second aerial clip usually hints that there is much more city and coastline still to explore.

Afternoon Tea at Palacio Sans Souci in Buenos Aires, Argentina Palacio Sans Souci, in Victoria (San Fernando), is a French‑style early 20th‑century mansion with grand salons and formal gardens that now hosts films, events and a refined “Casa de Té” afternoon tea. On two Sundays per month, visitors can book a combined guided tour and full tea service in the palace for about 58,000 Argentine pesos, with 2025 dates running until 14 December and resuming in February 2026.