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Palermo is B.A.’s largest barrio and, befitting its size, offers the broadest range of nightlife. You can sample a veritable buffet of after-dark options here. Milongas and oh-so authentic folk music halls appeal to traditionalists, while wine and jazz fans will both find bars that cater to their tastes. Prefer to amp things up? Opt for an underground speakeasy or go over the top at an all-night dance club.
BA’s original speakeasy has spawned a spate of followers over the past few years, but it remains a classic for cocktail lovers: 878 has an extensive drinks list, many made with its own line of spirits, armchairs to sink into, plus a supercool clientele. Be sure to stick your head around the more private back bar.
Decadence meets southeast Asia at this award-winning cocktail bar helmed by Buenos Aires’ mixology queen Inés de los Santos. Enjoy one of her signature Umami Martinis streetside, in a cozy booth or at the bar itself (made from egg shells). Watching the cool team slinging drinks makes for the best seats in the house. The food menu is equally tempting; try the lacquered pork bao. Still thirsty? Snap up one of Ines' ready-to-drink cocktails from the boutique for the walk home. Book a table at Arriba, the upstairs bar, to try the tasting menu paired with cocktails.
Themed around Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Verne Club runs a tight ship thanks to it's top-notch mixologists. This old-school cocktail bar serves innovative offerings that are often inspired by the eponymous author’s characters, including a Phileas Fogg Martini.
A classy speakeasy, the Harrison is inspired by the Prohibition-era and the time-warped cocktails have earned a cluster of awards. Dine at the shop-front sushi restaurant, then ask “to see the bodega” to gain access.
Glamour is the name of the game at Isabel, one of Palermo’s posher watering holes. You can feel like a star sipping a cocktail under the twinkling ceiling lights, while actually star spotting if you're up to date with your Argentine models and polo players. Hip DJs spin tunes for a bling-y crowd, so booking is essential—as is a bottomless wallet.
