The Argentinian capital is intense enough during the day, but after dark it lets out its wild side. Nightlife in Buenos Aires isn’t for the week: bars stay open until the wee hours, and clubs keep the stereos blasting till sunrise.
To help you navigate Buenos Aires when the sun is long gone, I’ll show you around the finest bars and clubs in the city, so you’ll know exactly where to head for an amazing night out.
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Coolest bars to discover the nightlife in Buenos Aires
1. BrukBar
BrukBar snatches the top of our list for a number of reasons. First, it’s open till 4 a.m., which is quite rare even in a night-loving city like Buenos Aires. Then you have its stellar and friendly customer service.
More importantly, this laidback cocktail bar concocts extravagant and luscious cocktails with stunning presentations. Plus, you’ll get to munch on scrumptious burgers and tons of decadent appetizers.
2. Crystal Bar
Hit this west-facing rooftop bar early in the evening to take in a breathtaking sunset over the whole city. Crystal Bar is the place to go if you want to see and be seen in the Argentinian capital
Perched atop the Alvear Icon Hotel in the ritzy waterfront district of Puerto Madero, it caters to dressed-up folks seeking a softly lit setting, an exclusive environment, and a flawless menu — what else could you ask for anyway?
3. Bar El Federal
El Federal is so old-school that it doesn’t have an official website and isn’t on social media. The oldest bar in the entire city has been sitting in the same corner in the heart of San Telmo since 1864.
Though that alone would have turned it into a Buenos Aires must-see, this legendary bar serves mouthwatering comfort food and superb draft beer. Given it’s open from 8 a.m., you can head there to savor a hearty breakfast.
4. Presidente Bar
Ranked among the 50 top bars on the planet, Presidente is nestled in Recoleta, Buenos Aires’ most elegant borough. Apart from all-time favorites like the martini, the old-fashioned, and the sidecar, it serves its own tempting creations too.
While Presidente is not exactly budget-friendly — drinks range between $8.50 and $12, whereas entrees go from $16.50 through $27 —, it’s worth every penny you’ll spend on a magical evening there.
5. Verne
Verne stands in sharp contrast with Palermo’s easygoing vibes, as this alluring cocktail bar is decorated with leather couches and Persian carpets.
Bartenders will put together unique cocktails, which revolve around a theme on special occasions (e.g. around the world or the greatest discoveries in history).
On weekend evenings, smooth jazz performances and lounge DJ sets perfectly match Verne’s speakeasy aura.
6. Sullivan’s Pub
Sometimes all we want from a night out is that it feels cozy and familiar. That’s exactly what Sullivan’s, the no. 1 Irish pub in Buenos Aires, will you treat you to.
Here you’ll find plenty of sports on TV, that extra creamy pint of Guinness (or an Irish car bomb if you’re looking for adventure), humongous burgers, and a heartwarming bowl of Irish pasta — a mere two blocks from Plaza Serrano in Palermo.
7. Vico Wine Bar
Vico is probably the best spot in Buenos Aires if all you need is a chill or maybe a romantic night out.
Located on a relatively quiet street in Villa Crespo right outside Palermo’s lovely chaos, it pairs the finest Argentinian and foreign wines with classics like risotto and a few bolder recipes.
It often comes up with special offers as well, such as a fabulous wine dinner with a three-course menu and four glasses of wine for about 50 bucks.
Hottest clubs to dance the night away in Buenos Aires
8. Niceto Club
Where stylish Palermo meets up-and-coming Villa Crespo, Niceto Club has built a loyal following. Buenos Aires’ most iconic club hosts regular parties like the exhilarating and colorful Bresh, which has spread to the rest of Argentina and even Peru and Spain.
Thursday and Saturday nights are busy there too: a scantily clad, LGBTQ(-friendly) audience takes it over for Club 69.
Between one big event and the next, Niceto Club is the stage of concerts and parties where everything from electropop to techno, to Latin pop is welcome on the dance floor.
9. Chana
Of course Chana had to be located in Puerto Madero. A glamorous pack gets together there for a toast to the good life.
The nicest thing about it is that Chana is not strictly a club. It hides behind the mask of a well-mannered restaurant and bar from lunchtime to 2 a.m. every day of the week, only to let loose on Fridays and Saturdays after 1 a.m.
The menu is centered on Asian fusion, but there’s plenty of good ol’ steak and yummy appetizers as well. As for the music, expect to dance to lots of both Latin and international pop smash hits.
10. Milonga Parakultural
On Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 p.m., you should attend Parakultural, by far the liveliest milonga in town.
Milonga is an Argentinian dance genre that predates tango and is also the name of an informal dance event where folks gather to dance to the two genres. This is Buenos Aires nightlife at its most authentic!
Parakultural is held at Salón Canning, which is a three-minute walk from the Florida stop of the subway. The historic dance hall hosts other events throughout the week, such as the milonga/tango class A Puro Tango on Saturdays and Fridays at 6 p.m.
11. Mandarine Park
The sprawling Mandarine Park complex is located on Costanera Norte Avenue, which faces the Río de la Plata and is home to the largest entertainment venues in the city like Bayside, The BOW, and Opera Bay After Work.
At Mandarine Park, you can lose yourself to dance in the craziest raves of Buenos Aires. If you’re early to the party, you’ll get to watch a movie at their drive-in-theater.
The venue’s event schedule usually runs from late August through early May. Most of the clubs on Costanera Norte close during the colder months.
12. Kika
Honduras Street is one of the busiest and hippest in Palermo. During the day, you can browse its countless art galleries, bookstores, and craft shops. Stick around till after hours to eat at one of its edgy restaurants and sip on a delectable cocktail.
Afterward, if you feel like clubbing, head out to Kika, which is mostly devoted to the contagious beats of reggaeton and Latin pop. (On Tuesdays, it plays a hip-hop set.)
Kika welcomes party-goers Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 to 7 a.m. The dress code is overall on the smart casual side, yet skimpier outfits are also common.
Best nightlife areas in Buenos Aires
Palermo is hands down Buenos Aires’ no. 1 nightlife district, simply because it has it all. The surroundings of Plaza Serrano, which were fittingly nicknamed Palermo Soho, are jam-packed with restaurants, cafes, bars, and clubs, all within walking distance from one another. It’s no wonder half of the spots I’ve listed above are within its boundaries.
If you’re down for a glamorous night out instead, head to Puerto Madero. The waterfront neighborhood is home to the tallest skyscrapers and the most exclusive hotels in town. Its dining scene is fantastic too. Given there’s even a natural reserve within Puerto Madero, you can easily forget the rest of the city and end up spending your entire trip here.
San Telmo, with its historic townhouses and cobblestone streets, makes for a romantic and authentic evening in Buenos Aires. Though not as much of a night owl as Palermo or Puerto Madero, it has its fair share of excellent restaurants, trendy bars, and charming tango clubs. You can get things started in San Telmo and head somewhere else for the nightcap.
Last but not least, Villa Crespo is Palermo’s lesser-known neighbor to the south. Famous for its popular outlet stores, the borough has been rising as a hipster mecca and now features delicious food in places like the Armenian Sarkis and pastrami sandwich hub La Crespo, as well as first-rate bars such as the whisky-specialized 878 and the cozy Vico Wine Bar.
Tips for enjoying the nightlife in Buenos Aires
Dive into Buenos Aires’ speakeasy culture.
The capital’s secret bars are always trying to one-up one another. Victoria Brown Bar is hidden behind a street art mural, while others have chosen flower shops and even fake subway stations as their hideouts. El Purgatorio, in turn, only reveals its address after you book a table.
Try Fernet Cola
Argentinians are strangely obsessed with Fernet, an Italian bitter that the rest of the world widely ignores. Stirring the spirit into a glass of ice-cold Coke, an Argentinian classic, makes it way tastier for palates that are unfamiliar with the drink.
Pregame for as long as you can.
Many clubs in Buenos Aires don’t open before 1 a.m., which means folks don’t show up until 2. So enjoy a couple of drinks at the bar before hitting the dance floor.
Alternatively, there are countless fun activities across Buenos Aires for that gap between dinner and club time. I’ll list a bunch of them up next.
Watch out for counterfeit money, especially in cabs.
Security features for banknotes have evolved substantially in recent years, so scams are rarer these days. Still, cab drivers in Buenos Aires are notorious for targeting foreign visitors.
Try to break large bills in your hotel or a supermarket and carry smaller bills on you when you go out at night.
Other things to do in Buenos Aires at night
Don’t be fooled into thinking nightlife in Buenos Aires must be about drinking and partying. If you’d rather go easy and keep hangovers at bay, check out a few things you can do in Buenos Aires after sunset:
- Sink your teeth into the thick and juicy steaks of Hierro Parrilla, which has locations in Palermo and San Telmo;
- Shop until you drop at Abasto, a former fresh produce market repurposed as a shopping mall;
- Walk down the Paseo de la Historieta, a theme path through San Telmo that introduces visitors to Argentinian comics through cute statues of its most beloved characters;
- Catch a show at the Teatro Colón, one of the most prestigious opera houses on Earth;
- Stroll Avenida Corrientes, the avenue that never sleeps, to people-watch and grab a slice of pizza;
- Watch a tango performance at the historic Café de los Angelitos;
- Kayak on the Tigre River delta in greater Buenos Aires;
- Ride a bike around the city center and marvel at all the landmarks with no crowds to bother you;
- Observe the sky with a telescope at Parque Centenario on Friday and Saturday nights.
Now that you know all the perks and quirks of nightlife in Buenos Aires, just put on that killer outfit and dive in headfirst!
