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Preparing for a night out in Buenos Aires has an element of marathon training to it. Rest up with a siesta, fortify yourself with some protein, and drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after. That’s right, the key to porteño nightlife is longevity—after all, an early night means hailing a cab at 6 am.
The scene here rivals that of any capital city, so you’ll find something to suit every taste. Trendy cocktail bars, secret speakeasies, classic tango haunts, artsy watering holes, and packed dance floors await. To make the most of them, try following the locals’ lead.
Painting Buenos Aires red means looking sharp, going with the flow as you bar-hop, and not challenging your new B.A. buddies to raucous drinking games. Porteños adore going out with their friends, but it’s not uncommon to see a large group sharing a liter bottle of beer and swigging from the same glass. Latino lightweights? Not at all. This is just how Argentines roll—and once a night gets really rocking, they'll move onto their favorite tipple, Fernet y Cola.
Hours are relaxed, but there are general guidelines. The smartest bars kick off an evening with happy hours that begin around 8 pm and often stretch way beyond 60 minutes; downtown drinking establishments start even earlier to lure workers to part with hard-earned pesos, spawning the "after-office" across the city, which is now a nightlife fixture almost any day of the week. Theater performances begin around 9 pm and the last movie begins after midnight. By that point, lines to get into popular bars have started forming, but clubs aren’t buzzing until 4 am. If in doubt, turn up later than you consider reasonable when you’re meeting a local (30 minutes after the appointed time is the norm). The subte (subway) closes between 10 and 11 pm, depending on the line and day. Monday through Saturday it reopens at 5 am; on Sunday, however, trains don’t start running again until 8 am. So taking a cab to and from home is a good idea—it’s also quicker than waiting for a colectivo bus very late at night.
Owned by an Irish father-and-son duo, this vibrant downstairs nightspot is popular with expats and young upwardly mobile porteño party people. Stop first for a pint at the ground floor Shamrock pub, where you can yap away in English and easily forget you’re in South America; then, following the techno beats, descend to the dance club where Argentina’s finest DJs burn up the decks.
One of the classiest speakeasies around, the Harrison is inspired by the Prohibition-era and the time-warped cocktails have earned a cluster of awards, so you're in expert hands. Membership is required; alternatively, you can dine at the shop-front sushi restaurant, then ask “to see the bodega” to gain access.
From the folks who brought Gibraltar and Bangalore to B.A. comes this hatrick establishment. Less dark and woody and certainly more spacious than its traditional siblings, the Dragon has the air of a modern London pub and serves up draft beer as well as a tasty Chinese menu.
The best porteño jazz bands (and occasional foreign imports) play at this upscale spot. Arrive early for a good seat, as it's a long, narrow bar and not all tables have good views; on weekends there are usually two shows per night.
There's nothing really special about this corner bar-restaurant except for its location at the epicenter of Palermo Hollywood, close to the TV studios and an array of great eateries. A funky mix of rock, rap, and electronic music pumps up the hard-core clubbers who stop to whet their whistles on large draft lagers before a night of debauchery. This place is always packed, so come early for a seat.
Steampunk is the name of the game at this Palermo bar named for England's venerable Queen Victoria. Pass through the storefront, enter the cute café of the same name, bang on the secret door, and discover one of 2014’s top new hot spots. A vast and sultry space awaits—the decor evokes the Industrial Age, but the elaborate drinks list is definitely up to date.
This is an intimate art deco venue for local jazz maestros and appreciative audiences. It's a great space and you can get up close and personal with the musicians, who draw from a deep well of talent and cover a lot of ground, from improv to standards and experimental.
The self-styled club and music warehouse on the cool northern edge of Palermo Hollywood offers up a large dance floor and plenty of European beats, as well as Britpop, indie nights, and digital cumbia. Fresh from a face-lift, Voodoo aims to strike a balance between trendy cocktails and move-inducing music.
A superb whiskey bar close to Plaza Italia, Wherever carries 160-plus brands of scotch, both blends and single malts. Elegant with a touch of British pub, it’s a fine place to settle in for a civilized evening.
This intimate wine store and bar stocks an array of vintages carefully curated by sommelier and owner Juan Casarsa. Drop in for a bottle of Criolla, a light red, to take home or let Juan and his team serve you a glass of what’s open, and stay for some tasty snacks that go beyond charcuterie. There's also a second branch in Mercado de Belgrano indoor food market on calle Juramento.
Half a block from the very cruisey section of Santa Fe, between avenidas Callao and Coronel Díaz, Zoom offers a lounge bar, a maze, video cabins, and plenty of dark corners. It can get pretty intense, but there's good security.
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