Best bars to visit in Buenos Aires | Our tip picks

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Buenos Aires offers one of the most diverse and dynamic bar scenes in South America. In recent years, the Argentine capital has embraced global trends – from experimental speakeasies hidden behind unmarked doors to a booming craft beer culture rooted in neighborhoods like Palermo and Villa Crespo.

At the same time, traditional corner bars continue to thrive, serving ice-cold litre bottles of Quilmes in no-frills settings that prioritize atmosphere over aesthetics. It’s this balance of old and new – classic bodegas alongside cutting-edge cocktail labs – that makes the city a standout for nightlife.

Whether you're after natural wines, inventive mixology, or laid-back local spots, this guide to the best bars in Buenos Aires highlights where to go now.

1. Café San Juan, San Telmo

This neighborhood favorite serves some of the best vermouth in Buenos Aires. At the bar out front – separate from the restaurant tucked in back – you can order vermouth a la casa on tap, mixed with Cinzano 1757 and house blends. Small plates come with a twist: Korean pork bao with kimchi pairs surprisingly well with the bitter aperitif. With only a dozen stools, space is tight – expect to squeeze in beside locals, office workers, and curious tourists. Arrive early to secure a seat.

2. Florería Atlántico, Retiro

One of the most acclaimed cocktail bars in Latin America, Florería Atlántico is hidden behind a flower shop – but don’t be fooled by the quaint entrance. Below street level, the bar delivers inventive cocktails rooted in Argentina’s immigrant history, with drinks inspired by Spanish, Italian, and British traditions. The setting is intimate, the lighting low, and the bartenders some of the best in the city. While it’s not exactly a secret anymore, it still feels like a find – and the drinks live up to the hype.

3. Strange Brewing, Colegiales

For craft beer, head to Colegiales – just west of Palermo but with a more low-key, local vibe. Strange Brewing may have a ridiculous logo (a raccoon riding a dog), but the beer is anything but a joke. They specialize in hoppy, West Coast–style IPAs and keep the taps rotating with small-batch experimental brews. The space is industrial and packed most nights, especially weekends. No reservations – turn up, grab a beer, and find a spot if you can.

4. Verne Club, Palermo Viejo

Sophisticated and quietly theatrical, Verne Club is one of the best bars in Buenos Aires for serious cocktails served with style. Bartenders in white shirts and black ties mix classics and house creations with precision, while deep leather sofas, dim lights, and red carpets set an elegant, old-world tone.

The menu is inspired by Around the World in 80 Days – expect inventive, travel-themed drinks. The Royal Pear – with Beefeater gin, Carpano Dry, and pear nectar – nods to London, while a bolder mix of Talisker 12-year, Fernet Branca, and curry-spiced tonic takes cues from India. Pull up a seat at the bar to watch the team in action or come later in the week when they host themed cocktail nights.

5. Vico Wine Bar, Villa Crespo

Vico Wine Bar helped shift the city’s wine culture, offering a rare by-the-glass format in a city still dominated by house reds and bottle-only menus. The draw here is the self-serve Enomatic machines: you grab a card, choose a wine, and pick your pour size – from a sip to a full glass. It’s a smart way to explore Argentine varietals without overcommitting.

The setting is relaxed but polished, and the bar also turns out excellent cocktails – the gimlet, in particular, stands out. Pair it with a cheese and charcuterie board featuring brie, blue cheese, salami, mortadella, and candied figs. Wine-first, but not wine-only.

6. Café San Bernardo, Villa Crespo

Café San Bernardo is the kind of place that never tries to be cool – and ends up being just that. Open since 1912, this cavernous bar is pure Buenos Aires: fans on the walls, tiled floors, battered pool tables, and crates of Quilmes stacked in the corners. Prices are low, beer comes in litre bottles, and the food – hearty Argentine minutas like Milanesa or tortilla – is as classic as the waiters, most of whom have worked here for decades.

Locals come for games of truco – Argentina’s beloved card game – and to catch up without the buzz of modern nightlife. If you want to experience the city’s bar culture before it gets dressed up, this is the place.

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Recoleta, Buenos Aires @ Shutterstock

7. Tres Monos, Palermo Soho

One of the most acclaimed cocktail bars in Buenos Aires, Tres Monos is known for its playful creativity and down-to-earth vibe. The name means "Three Monkeys" – a nod to the founding trio – and the bar fuses punk energy with mixology precision. Expect original cocktails using Argentine ingredients, a rotating menu, and a team that knows how to keep things fun without compromising quality. It’s small, it gets loud, and it’s very, very good.

8. Nápoles Bar, San Telmo

Part vintage showroom, part bar, Nápoles is one of the most visually striking places to grab a drink in the city. Think antique furniture, motorcycles, taxidermy, and chandeliers – all spread across a cavernous ex-warehouse space. The bar serves well-crafted cocktails and a solid wine list, alongside pizzas and small plates. Come for the aesthetics, stay for the drinks – it’s a perfect mix of eccentricity and atmosphere in historic San Telmo.

9. On Tap, multiple locations (Palermo, Colegiales, San Telmo)

If you’re after craft beer, On Tap is one of the safest bets in Buenos Aires. With over 20 rotating taps from independent Argentine breweries, it’s ideal for trying local IPAs, sours, stouts, and more. The vibe is casual and sociable, with a young crowd, shared tables, and a short menu of burgers and bar food. They’ve also expanded into other neighborhoods like Colegiales and San Telmo – but the Palermo location is the most popular.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Shutterstock

10. Nicky Harrison, Palermo Soho

Behind an unmarked door at the back of Nicky NY Sushi lies one of the most exclusive cocktail experiences in the city. The Harrison Speakeasy isn’t easy to get into – you’ll need a dinner reservation, and even then, access depends on availability. But if you manage to get in, you’ll enter a dimly lit, wood-paneled bar that channels 1920s New York without feeling like a theme park.

The drinks are complex, polished, and served by bartenders who treat mixology like an art. Think aged spirits, clarified juices, and seasonal herbs. The music leans toward jazz, the crowd is well-dressed, and the service is sharp. If you're after one of the best bars in Buenos Aires for serious cocktails, this is it.

11. Bar Los Galgos, San Nicolás

Bar Los Galgos blends classic Buenos Aires bar culture with just enough modern flair. Once a neighborhood café notable, it’s been carefully restored to preserve its tiled floors, vintage signage, and wood-panel bar, while updating the menu to suit a new generation.

You’ll find an excellent vermouth selection, small Argentine producers on the wine list, and a short but thoughtful menu with Spanish and Italian nods – croquetas, empanadas, jamón crudo with figs. Come in the late afternoon for a quieter drink or join the evening buzz when the tables start to fill. Among Buenos Aires bars, this one nails the balance between tradition and trend.

12. Presidente Bar, Recoleta

One of the most celebrated cocktail bars in Latin America, Presidente is a staple of any serious Buenos Aires nightlife guide. Located in an elegant townhouse in Recoleta, the bar combines classic glamour with cutting-edge mixology. Think brass accents, chandeliers, velvet banquettes – and some of the most technically precise drinks you’ll find in the city.

Led by star bartender Sebastián García, the cocktail menu blends Argentine ingredients with international flair. There’s a dedicated martini room, limited-edition seasonal menus, and an extensive spirits library behind the bar. It’s lively but never sloppy, and an ideal stop if you're looking for one of the best bars in Buenos Aires to see the city at its most refined.

San Telmo neighborhood buildings and San Pedro Telmo Church - Buenos Aires, Argentina © Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

San Telmo neighborhood buildings and San Pedro Telmo Church - Buenos Aires, Argentina © Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

13. Desarmadero Bar, Palermo Viejo

If you’re into beer, Desarmadero is one of the best bars in Buenos Aires to explore the local craft scene. With more than 20 rotating taps from independent Argentine breweries – including IPAs, sours, porters, and seasonal releases – it’s a goldmine for anyone chasing new flavors.

The setting is casual and buzzy, especially on weekends when tables spill onto the sidewalk and the crowd gets loud. The food is straightforward and filling: burgers, fries, and charcuterie boards designed to soak up the hops. It’s a top spot for an unpretentious night that’s all about the beer.

14. Uptown & the Bronx, Palermo Hollywood

This bar doesn’t do subtle – and that’s the point. Uptown is built to look like a New York City subway station, complete with tiled walls, neon signage, and a train door at the entrance. Once inside, it shifts into a full-blown party venue with booming music, DJs, and high-energy cocktails.

The drinks are creative and Instagram-friendly – foams, smoke, and unusual garnishes are standard – but there’s substance too, with bartenders able to mix a solid classic if you want to skip the theatrics. It’s loud, it’s flashy, and it’s not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a full-on night out, this is one of the most lively Buenos Aires bars around.

15. Pain et Vin, Palermo Soho

Part wine bar, part artisanal bakery, Pain et Vin is a relaxed yet deeply curated spot for exploring Argentina’s small-batch wines. It’s run by a French-Argentine duo – she’s a sommelier, he’s a baker – and the pairing of crusty sourdough with natural reds or Patagonian whites is as intentional as it is delicious.

The wine list changes often, spotlighting organic and low-intervention producers from across the country. There are guided tastings if you want to go deeper, or you can grab a glass and settle into the leafy courtyard out back.