Buenos Aires Basics

Buenos Aires Basics: Nightlife Etiquette

BA Basics

By | January 19, 2009


A night on the town in Buenos Aires is reliably fun-filled. But before heading out for your first night, here are a few guidelines to ensure that you enjoy the night as thoroughly as possible:

Don’t plan on arriving to a club before 2am. Although this is typically when bars and clubs close for the night in other countries, dance clubs typically don’t begin to get busy before this time in Buenos Aires.

Don’t balk at having to pay a cover charge (entrada) at major bars and clubs here in Buenos Aires. Often these charges will come with a free drink or two (consumisión). The cover charge is in response to the vast majority of club-goers only buying a drink or two if any at all.

Don’t hesitate to immediately hop onto the dance floor and start busting out some moves! Most visitors to dance clubs are there to dance (not just to drink). So get out there and enjoy yourself!

Tipping the bartender more than a peso or two is not standard practice in Buenos Aires. An exception to this rule, however, is a request for a stiff drink (bien fuerte or bien cargado). In these cases, be sure to be a bit more generous with your tipping.

Be aware of the fact that it is considered poor form to drink too much, especially in fancy night clubs. Sloppy drunkenness and scrappy bar fights are frowned upon entirely, and almost never occur.

Single women should be prepared to meet a myriad of interested suitors who seemingly won’t take no for an answer. Women should never hesitate to frankly tell an unwelcome on-comer to “beat it”. Don’t worry, it won’t be perceived as rude. For more on this topic, read either Kristin Dean’s “No Means Maybe” or Elaine Tannous’ “Buenos Aires Night Life: Pick-Up Strategies Compared“.

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