Quick answer
Buenos Aires boasts a world-class cocktail scene, with drinks ranging from 1,800 to 6,000 ARS, making it an affordable destination for cocktail enthusiasts; Florería Atlántico is a top recommendation for its unique Argentine botanical cocktails. The city has quietly built one of the best cocktail scenes on Earth, competing with London, Tokyo, and New York at a fraction of the price.
- Best overall
- Florería Atlántico
- Top pick
- Florería Atlántico
Top verdicts
- Florería Atlántico: Reservations are required and book out 2+ weeks ahead; weekday early seatings are easiest.
- 878 Bar: Door is unmarked — look for 878 on Thames; ring the buzzer.
- Tres Monos: Walk-ins work earlier in the evening; later it becomes a list-only room.
Buenos Aires has quietly built one of the best cocktail scenes on Earth. A city that runs on fernet-cola, late dinners, and early-morning empanadas has somehow also produced world-ranked cocktail bars that compete with London, Tokyo, and New York — at a fraction of the price.
Area map
1. Florería Atlántico
All 15 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florería Atlántico | world's-50-best-bars-#46 | budget | Arroyo 872, Retiro, Buenos Aires |
| 2 | 878 Bar | villa-crespo-hidden-bar | budget | Thames 878, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires |
| 3 | Tres Monos | latin-america-award-winner | mid | Av. Córdoba 4999, Chacarita, Buenos Aires |
| 4 | Doppelgänger | san-telmo-bohemian | mid | Av. Juan de Garay 500, San Telmo, Buenos Aires |
| 5 | Verne Club | jules-verne-speakeasy | mid | Medrano 1475, Palermo Hollywood, Buenos Aires |
| 6 | Presidente Bar | recoleta-elegance | mid | Recoleta, Buenos Aires |
| 7 | The Harrison Speakeasy | 1920s-prohibition-style | mid | Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires |
| 8 | Gran Bar Danzón | wine-+-cocktail-institution | mid | Libertad 1161, Retiro, Buenos Aires |
| 9 | Kiboo Cocktail Bar | palermo-craft-focus | mid | Palermo, Buenos Aires |
| 10 | Nola | new-orleans-vibe | mid | Palermo, Buenos Aires |
| 11 | CoChinChina | paris-meets-saigon | mid | Palermo, Buenos Aires |
| 12 | Alvear Roof Bar | recoleta-rooftop | mid | Alvear Palace Hotel, Av. Alvear 1891, Recoleta |
| 13 | Victoria Brown Bar | library-speakeasy | mid | Palermo, Buenos Aires |
| 14 | Rey de Copas | wine-bar-+-cocktails | mid | Buenos Aires |
| 15 | Bar 6 | palermo-soho-classic | mid | Armenia 1676, Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires |
1Florería Atlántico
World's 50 Best Bars #46
Verdict: Reservations are required and book out 2+ weeks ahead; weekday early seatings are easiest.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- International-tier cocktail experience
- Strengths
- Known for World's 50 Best Bars #46 · Arroyo 872, Retiro, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 3,000–4,500 ARS per cocktail (~$3–$4.50 USD)
- Why it made the list
- Renato Schmid and Tato Giovannoni's flower-shop-fronted basement bar in Retiro is the most internationally awarded room in Latin America, regularly inside the World's 50 Best Bars list. The 4.2 rating across 7,700+ reviews understates the international consensus.
- What to order
- Try a Negroni Balestrini or any of the immigrant-themed cocktails on the seasonal menu.
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🕐 Opening hours
Fri11:00 – 02:00
Sat16:00 – 02:00
Sun16:00 – 01:30
2878 Bar
Villa Crespo Hidden Bar💴 2,500–3,500 ARS per cocktail (~$2.50–$3.50 USD)📍 Thames 878, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires📌 Google Maps →
Verdict: Door is unmarked — look for 878 on Thames; ring the buzzer.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Speakeasy-style serious cocktails
- Strengths
- Known for Villa Crespo Hidden Bar · Thames 878, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,500–3,500 ARS per cocktail (~$2.50–$3.50 USD)
- Why it made the list
- The hidden Villa Crespo speakeasy with a buzzer-only door that became an entry point for the modern Buenos Aires cocktail scene. 4.4 across 4,200+ reviews keeps it on every Porteño cocktail list.
- What to order
- Order off the rotating chalkboard menu, or ask the bartender to make you a stirred classic.
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🕐 Opening hours
Sun19:00 – 02:00
3Tres Monos
Latin America Award Winner
Verdict: Walk-ins work earlier in the evening; later it becomes a list-only room.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Cocktail-industry pilgrimage
- Strengths
- Known for Latin America Award Winner · Av. Córdoba 4999, Chacarita, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,500–3,800 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- Multi-time winner of Latin America's 50 Best Bars list — Tres Monos's Chacarita room is run by some of the most decorated bartenders in the city, with a tightly edited menu.
- What to order
- Pick the bartender's pairing or a stirred drink off the seasonal list.
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🕐 Opening hours
Sun18:00 – 02:00
4Doppelgänger
San Telmo Bohemian
Verdict: Best on weeknights when the room is calmer and you can talk to the bar.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Classic-cocktail purists
- Strengths
- Known for San Telmo Bohemian · Av. Juan de Garay 500, San Telmo, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,000–3,200 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- A San Telmo bar focused on classic cocktails — Negronis, Old Fashioneds, sours — done with technical precision. 4.7 rating across 1,800+ reviews puts it among the most beloved smaller bars in town.
- What to order
- A stirred classic of your choice; the bartenders know the canon cold.
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5Verne Club
Jules Verne Speakeasy
Verdict: Sit at the bar to watch the prep; tables get music-heavy later in the evening.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Themed atmosphere with real craft
- Strengths
- Known for Jules Verne Speakeasy · Medrano 1475, Palermo Hollywood, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,800–4,000 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- A Jules Verne-themed Palermo bar with steampunk decor and a serious cocktail program from Fede Cuco. 4.5 across 3,600+ reviews.
- What to order
- One of the menu signatures — the program leans inventive but technically solid.
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🕐 Opening hours
Sun19:00 – 02:00
6Presidente Bar
Recoleta Elegance
Verdict: Dress code leans dressy by Buenos Aires standards; smart casual is the floor.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Dressy classic cocktail evening
- Strengths
- Known for Recoleta Elegance · Recoleta, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 3,000–4,500 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- Recoleta's elegant cocktail-club room with a buttoned-up service style and a deep classics list. 4.4 across 5,100+ reviews.
- What to order
- An elegant stirred cocktail — Manhattan, Boulevardier, Vieux Carré.
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🕐 Opening hours
Tue20:00 – 02:00
Wed20:00 – 02:30
Thu20:00 – 03:00
Sun20:00 – 02:00
7The Harrison Speakeasy
1920s Prohibition Style
Verdict: Reservations are essential — the door does not admit walk-ins.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Theatrical speakeasy night out
- Strengths
- Known for 1920s Prohibition Style · Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,500–3,800 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- Hidden behind a working sushi restaurant in Palermo Soho, the Harrison runs a 1920s prohibition theme with a tight reservations-only door. 4.6 rating across 2,900+ reviews.
- What to order
- A stirred cocktail off the era-themed menu.
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8Gran Bar Danzón
Wine + Cocktail Institution
Verdict: Dinner here gets you the full bar experience without the late-night queue.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Wine-lovers' cocktail bar
- Strengths
- Known for Wine + Cocktail Institution · Libertad 1161, Retiro, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,800–4,200 ARS per cocktail or glass of wine
- Why it made the list
- A long-running Recoleta wine-and-cocktail institution above Libertad — equally serious about its wine list and its cocktail program. 4.4 across 4,300+ reviews.
- What to order
- An Argentine Malbec by the glass alongside a classic cocktail.
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🕐 Opening hours
Sat20:00 – 03:00
Sun20:00 – 01:00
9Kiboo Cocktail Bar
Palermo Craft Focus
Verdict: Lower-key than the 50 Best rooms; suits a calm second-stop in a Palermo crawl.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Calmer Palermo cocktail stop
- Strengths
- Known for Palermo Craft Focus · Palermo, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,200–3,500 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- A small Palermo room focused on craft cocktails with a relaxed neighborhood feel rather than the buzzer-door speakeasy mood. 3.5 rating across 1,400+ reviews keeps it under the radar.
- What to order
- A bartender's-choice cocktail — describe what you like and let them work.
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🕐 Opening hours
Sun09:00 – 03:00
10Nola
New Orleans Vibe
Verdict: The kitchen does proper Cajun snacks; pair them with the drinks.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Sazerac and Vieux Carré fans
- Strengths
- Known for New Orleans Vibe · Palermo, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,000–3,200 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- A New Orleans-themed Palermo bar from a New Orleans expat — Sazeracs, Vieux Carrés, and Cajun snacks. 4.4 rating across 4,900+ reviews.
- What to order
- A Sazerac or Vieux Carré — the Crescent City classics are the point.
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🕐 Opening hours
Mon12:30 – 00:00
11CoChinChina
Paris-Meets-Saigon
Verdict: Reservations make weekend nights smooth; door is calmer on weekdays.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Asian-influenced cocktail program
- Strengths
- Known for Paris-Meets-Saigon · Palermo, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,500–3,800 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- Inti Garcia's Paris-meets-Saigon Palermo bar pulls in regional Latin and Asian flavors and has been a fixture on Latin America's 50 Best lists. 4.3 rating across 4,500+ reviews.
- What to order
- A signature cocktail off the menu — they lean tropical and aromatic.
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12Alvear Roof Bar
Recoleta Rooftop💴 4,000–6,000 ARS per cocktail (hotel pricing)📍 Alvear Palace Hotel, Av. Alvear 1891, Recoleta📌 Google Maps →
Verdict: Hotel pricing applies; the visit is about the room and view as much as the drink.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Grand-hotel rooftop drinks
- Strengths
- Known for Recoleta Rooftop · Alvear Palace Hotel, Av. Alvear 1891, Recoleta
- Price / value
- 4,000–6,000 ARS per cocktail (hotel pricing)
- Why it made the list
- The rooftop bar on top of the Alvear Palace Hotel in Recoleta — old-school grand-hotel formality with one of the better central views. 4.5 across 1,000+ reviews.
- What to order
- A classic Martini or a glass of Champagne to match the room.
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13Victoria Brown Bar
Library Speakeasy
Verdict: Walk through the cafe entrance and head to the back hidden door.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Library-vibe speakeasy
- Strengths
- Known for Library Speakeasy · Palermo, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,500–3,500 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- The library-styled Victoria Brown speakeasy hidden behind a Palermo coffee shop — wood, leather, and classics-leaning cocktails. 4.4 across 4,000+ reviews.
- What to order
- A classic Sazerac or Old Fashioned — the room is built for them.
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🕐 Opening hours
Thu20:00 – 03:00
14Rey de Copas
Wine Bar + Cocktails
Verdict: Smaller crowd than the 50 Best rooms; works well early evening before dinner.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Wine-and-cocktail flexible evening
- Strengths
- Known for Wine Bar + Cocktails · Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 2,000–3,200 ARS per drink
- Why it made the list
- A wine-and-cocktail bar that bridges both programs, with a 4.5 rating across 6,000+ reviews — broadly liked for its menu balance and approachable prices.
- What to order
- Try one cocktail and one Argentine wine by the glass to see both sides.
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🕐 Opening hours
Sun20:00 – 02:00
🌐 Website
15Bar 6
Palermo Soho Classic
Verdict: Better as a casual-stop in a Palermo Soho crawl than as a destination cocktail bar.
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Casual Palermo Soho neighborhood night
- Strengths
- Known for Palermo Soho Classic · Armenia 1676, Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires
- Price / value
- 1,800–2,800 ARS per cocktail
- Why it made the list
- A Palermo Soho neighborhood classic on Armenia that has been part of the local bar scene long before the modern cocktail boom. Listed for context as a casual-room option.
- What to order
- Beer or a simple cocktail — keep expectations on the casual side.
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Frequently asked questions
When do cocktail bars open in Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires runs on a dramatically later schedule than most cities. Cocktail bars typically open around 8–9pm but don't get lively until 11pm–midnight. Peak hours are midnight to 3am on weekends. Clubs and late-night bars often operate until 6–8am. If you arrive at 9pm, you may be the only person there. Dinner in BA starts at 9–10pm, so plan your cocktail bar visits accordingly — go after a late dinner, not before.
What cocktails are Buenos Aires known for?
Buenos Aires has a strong cocktail culture centered on fernet-cola (the national drink — Fernet Branca mixed with Coca-Cola, consumed in enormous quantities), Aperol Spritz, malbec wine, and craft gin & tonics. The city's top cocktail bars have moved well beyond these classics into sophisticated house cocktails using Argentine botanicals, South American spirits like pisco and singani, and vermouth (which has had a massive revival). Craft cocktails typically run 1,500–2,500 ARS ($1.50–$2.50 USD at the official rate, though rates fluctuate significantly).
How much do cocktails cost in Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires cocktail prices are extremely favorable for international visitors due to the peso's exchange rate. At cocktail bars, expect to pay 2,000–4,000 ARS per cocktail (roughly $2–$4 USD at official rates, potentially less at blue-dollar rate). A full night of cocktails at a world-class bar like Florería Atlántico might cost what a single cocktail costs in London or New York. Always check the current ARS/USD rate before your trip as it fluctuates significantly.
What is the best neighborhood for cocktail bars in Buenos Aires?
Palermo (particularly Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood) has the highest concentration of cocktail bars and is the most accessible for visitors. San Telmo has a grittier, more bohemian vibe with Doppelgänger as the standout. Villa Crespo has the beloved 878 Bar. Retiro has Florería Atlántico and Gran Bar Danzón. For a bar crawl, Palermo Soho is the easiest starting point — multiple good bars within walking distance.