Alejandra Rodriguez from Buenos Aires, Argentina...
In Buenos Aires there's a lot of neighborhood restaurants which are really interesting for women. During daylight all these places are located in what are considered safe areas of the city. In my own neighborhood of Las Ca�itas, I recommend Las Cholas (Arce 306. Tel: 054 11 4899-0094), a bustling place that gathers young people and also families -- where you can appreciate "criollas" specialties and grilled meats at fair prices. There are also good sandwiches, also sausage (chorip�n), regional stews and empanadas on offer. Open noon-close (usually very late) Mon-Sun.

Not far from there, in Palermo neighborhood, Hermann is a nice spot just in front of Botanical Garden (Av. Santa Fe 3902. Tel: 054 11 4832-1929). It only keeps a few specialties from its German origins and serves traditional Porte�a food in abundant portions at reasonable prices.

La Escondida, in Nu�ez neighborhood (Campos Salles 2109. Tel: 054 11 4701-1648) is also located off-downtown. This rural-style restaurant is very popular and usually crowded on weekends, and its specialty is grilled meat (open noon-3.30pm & 8pm-3am, Mon-Sun).

In the downtown business core, I recommend El Claustro, a low-priced restaurant chosen by office workers for lunch. Located in an old convent in the middle of the financial district (Reconquista 269), it serves traditional porte�os� and during spring and summer there are tables around the garden to have lunch "al fresco." Not open for dinner. On Sundays, the Convent hosts an Antique Fair.

And finally, in Buenos Aires you shouldn't miss a typical "bodegon," as humble barrio eateries are known in our city. Visit Miramar (Av. San Juan 1999, San Crist�bal neighborhood, Tel: 054 11 4304-4261), a bar and restaurant, at an out-of-the way location with a menu mostly based on Spanish and Italian immigrants' cooking. The place preserves another Argentine peculiarity: a wine and take-out food store at the front and, on Sundays, at 10 pm, bandoneon player Julio Pane offers a show (open 11am-11pm Wed-Mon). P.S. Miramar is probably not so well located for solo women travellers, but calling a radio taxi is enough precaution at night.