Buenos Aires: Mate & paint experience with pastry tasting

Mate is more than a hot drink in Argentina: it is a daily ritual of preparation and sharing. In this three-hour class, Jazmin brings that custom to the table alongside a creative project, a wooden cup you paint yourself and take home.

I like two things in particular: you get a friendly introduction to mate, including how to prepare it, and the painting gives you a personal souvenir rather than another shop-bought trinket. The pastries add a tasty local touch, with facturas, alfajorcitos de maicena and biscochitos de grasa on offer.

One practical drawback: the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, and acrylic paint means you should wear clothes that can get dirty. The usual meeting point is near Salta Street and Independencia Avenue, though the class may move to a picnic setting in Lagos de Palermo if the weather is good.

Key points to know

• You paint a wooden mate cup and take it home with a bombilla.
• Jazmin explains mate customs and preparation, with time to taste it if you wish.
• The pastry tasting includes facturas, alfajorcitos de maicena and biscochitos de grasa.
• The group is limited to 10, making this a small, social activity.
• Coffee, tea and mate cocido are available, so drinking mate is optional.
• The setting may shift outdoors to Lagos de Palermo when the weather is good.

Start with mate, not a paintbrush

The class begins with a brief introduction to mate, a hot, caffeinated infusion made from yerba mate. Jazmin explains why it matters in Argentina, what it symbolizes and some of the curiosities and folklore tied to it. For a first-time visitor, this gives the drink context beyond its taste: you learn why it is a familiar part of everyday life and how people share it.

Then comes the practical part. Jazmin shows you how to prepare your own mate infusion, so the tasting is not just a sip of something unfamiliar. If you would rather skip mate, you can have coffee, tea or mate cocido, a tea made from yerba mate. That choice makes the activity welcoming to cautious drinkers, though the heart of the session is still mate culture.

The experience is designed as a relaxed introduction, not a formal lecture. Jazmin’s warm, conversational style is a recurring part of the class, and she has answered questions about mate’s history, traditions and legends. Her English has been praised as clear, and she also speaks Spanish, French and Italian.

Pastries bring local flavor to the table

The tasting pairs the drink with a selection of traditional Argentine pastries: facturas, alfajorcitos de maicena and biscochitos de grasa. These are familiar favorites in Buenos Aires, and trying several in one sitting gives you an easy way to explore local tastes without planning a separate bakery stop.

There is no need to know the names or customs beforehand. You can ask what you are eating as you go, and the food gives the conversation a natural focus. The pastry spread is included in the price, along with coffee, tea or mate cocido.

If you have dietary restrictions, contact Jazmin by email or WhatsApp before the class so she can try to arrange something special. The information provided does not list specific substitutions, so do not assume every request can be accommodated.

Paint a cup you can actually use

Once you have chosen a design, it is time to draw and paint. You can pick from options Jazmin provides or create your own idea. She guides the process, so you do not need painting experience or a polished plan. The materials include acrylic paints, brushes, jars, paper, pencils and napkins.

The project is more than a brief craft break. Painting gives you a chance to slow down, chat and make something personal while mate and pastries are served during the session. It also makes the souvenir meaningful: each participant gets a wooden mate cup to decorate and take home, as well as a bombilla.

The class is suitable for families as well as adults. Children aged 6, 10, 11, 12 and 14 have enjoyed the activity with their families, according to the host’s past sessions, so it can work across a range of ages. Still, it is hands-on and uses acrylics. Bring clothes you do not mind getting dirty, especially if younger painters are joining.

Meet near Salta Street, with a possible picnic setting

The standard meeting point is Bonnie and Clyde bar at the corner of Salta Street and Independencia Avenue. The atelier is about 50 meters away, a short walk from the corner. The activity details identify Buenos Aires as the location, but do not provide a full street address for the atelier, so confirm the meeting instructions when arranging your visit.

If the weather is good, Jazmin may run the experience picnic-style in the Lagos de Palermo area instead. That offers a different setting for the same mix of mate, pastries and painting. If you are the only person booked for that day, the activity will be held as a picnic there, so keep the possible change of location in mind.

The group is capped at 10 participants. That is small enough for conversation and individual help with the painting, while still giving you the chance to meet other people. Solo visitors are welcome; if you happen to be the only booking, the outdoor format provides a change from the usual atelier setting.

What $62 buys you over three hours

At $62 per person, this is best understood as a hosted cultural activity rather than a quick cup of mate or a basic painting session. The price covers three hours, mate instruction and tasting, a wooden cup and bombilla for each participant, all drawing and painting materials, a pastry selection, and coffee, tea or mate cocido.

The value comes from the combination. You leave with a souvenir you made yourself, a basic understanding of how to prepare mate and a taste of several local pastries. If you were to arrange each part separately, you would miss the host-led context that connects the drink, food and creative activity.

It is not the right pick if you want an in-depth history course, a full meal or a strictly art-focused workshop. The mate explanation is brief, and the painting is intended for beginners. But if you enjoy relaxed, hands-on activities and want a closer look at Argentine daily customs, three hours gives you time to ask questions and make something without rushing.

Jazmin’s personal touch is part of the appeal

Jazmin is both the host and an artist, and her presence shapes the experience. She is described as attentive and welcoming, with an easy conversational manner. The class has also been a comfortable first-day activity for solo visitors, who appreciated having a friendly introduction to Buenos Aires and receiving suggestions for other places to visit.

The personal element can make the session feel more like time spent with a local host than a standard demonstration. Past participants have also seen some of Jazmin’s own artwork after class. That is an extra, not a promised part of the formal activity, so book for the mate, painting and pastries rather than counting on an art viewing.

The small group and range of languages help keep the experience accessible. Instruction is offered in Spanish, English, French and Italian. If you are booking as a family or group with mixed language needs, check that your preferred language is available for the session you choose.

Who should book this class

I would recommend this for curious first-timers who want to understand mate before buying supplies or trying to prepare it on their own. It is also a good fit for solo visitors, families with children, and anyone who likes pairing a cultural introduction with a simple creative project.

It suits a rainy afternoon particularly well if the class is held indoors, though the outdoor option depends on good weather. You should be comfortable sitting down for a three-hour activity, sharing a social setting and getting paint on your hands or clothes. The venue is not wheelchair accessible, so wheelchair users should choose another activity.

If your main aim is to make a detailed or technically challenging artwork, this may feel too casual. The value is in the mix: mate customs, local pastries, friendly conversation and a cup you have decorated yourself.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want an easygoing way to learn about mate and bring home a personal keepsake. Jazmin’s explanations, the included tasting and the beginner-friendly painting make the three-hour class more than a souvenir workshop.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, want a full meal, or prefer a structured art course. For most visitors who are curious about Argentine food and everyday culture, the combination of mate, pastries and painting makes this a distinctive use of an afternoon.

FAQ

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts three hours. Check the available starting times when you book.

What is included in the price?

Each participant gets a wooden mate cup to paint, a bombilla, drawing and painting materials, a mate introduction and tasting, and a selection of traditional pastries. Coffee, tea and mate cocido are also available.

Do I have to drink mate?

No. You can choose coffee, tea or mate cocido instead. The host explains how mate is prepared, and tasting it is part of the experience if you choose to.

What should I wear?

Wear clothes that can get dirty. The activity uses acrylic paint, so splashes are possible.

Where does the class meet?

The usual meeting point is Bonnie and Clyde bar at the corner of Salta Street and Independencia Avenue. The atelier is about 50 meters away. In good weather, the class may take place picnic-style in Lagos de Palermo.

Can the activity accommodate dietary restrictions?

Contact the host by email or WhatsApp before the activity to discuss your dietary restriction. She can try to arrange something special.