Buenos Aires Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Buenos Aires

In Argentina, the tango is - far from being a dry cultural relic - very much a part of everyday life. Nowhere is this truer than in Buenos Aires, where the passion and elegance of the national dance underpins so much of the city’s nightlife.

So, if it’s a slice of Argentinean culture you’re looking for, head to one of the highly-charged ‘milonga’ (tango club) across the city. There you can watch the social ritual of the ‘milongueros’ and ‘milongueras’ as they follow the ‘codigos’ – the rules of the dance.

For less assured dancers, the city is full of other great options. No one who’s been to Buenos Aires when River Plate and Boca Juniors are playing will ever forget the way in which a current of energy and excitement seems to course through the streets.

Although the city is hardly ever 'quiet,' many locals save up during the week to party away the weekend and it’s from Thursday onwards that it really comes alive. The area around the Recoleta cemetery has an especially healthy concentration of bars. As the night progresses, the streets fill up with increasing numbers of incredibly well-dressed people, eager to be seen in all their stylish finery.

Another hub of nightlife in the city is around the Arcos del ferrocarril (running from Av. Sarmiento y Casares to Libertador y Infanta Isabel) and tucked away underneath the railway arches are some of the very liveliest bars and clubs.

In Palermo Viejo, the area around Plaza Cortazar becomes jam-packed with revelers. Away from Palermo and the Recoleta, Costanera is home to many of the city’s best clubs. San Telmo, to the south of the city, is one of its more charming neighborhoods and has a host of pleasant places to enjoy a drink or three.

On Sunday evenings, after the markets have packed up, the Plaza Dorrego hosts a marvelously impromptu ‘milonga’ – the perfect way to sample a little of the real flavor of Buenos Aires.