Top 6 Hidden Bars of Buenos Aires

Discovering the best hidden bars of Buenos Aires. Here is a comprehensive guide to Buenos Aires’s best speakeasies, each of which offer a classic, cosmopolitan drink behind a culture of closed doors. For those travelers passing over the equatorial line or you Porteños who are just trying to get a drink in a cool spot let’s get acquainted with the best speakeasies in Buenos Aires.

1. Florería Atlántico

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Anyone with decent knowledge of the city will point you directly to Florería Atlántico when confronted with the question of where to find the best speakeasy (or the best bar for that matter). Fronted as a flower and wine shop, this Retiro spot is as chic as it is private, offering a tasteful ambiance to anyone who should try to seek it out. Enjoy the perfectly-executed drinks and be sure to try something including their own gin brand “Apostales,” or house-made ginger ale, “Pulpo Blanco.” Sophisticated and secret, this is the spot to sit down with just about anyone, and for any occasion. But be sure to make a reservation though.

2. Frank’s

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Have you ever used a phone booth to get into a bar? Want to? Get the password, dial it in and then descend into what feels like a seemingly different era. The crowd tends to be mixed in age, but all are patient, as the elegant drinks are made at a leisurely pace. With a live performer almost every night (this is also a hint at the password), enjoy a couple of their famous Negronis or “Sour Grapes” drinks with a small group in this classy Palermo speakeasy. World-renowned, and somehow also a secret, Frank’s might be a tad expensive, but it’s well worth it.  

3. Uptown

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New York City has found its way to Palermo…by subway it would appear. Trendy and hip only scratch at the surface of this phenomenal bar, whose dramatic entryway and debonair drinks have been made locally famous by word of mouth. Alongside the flashy cocktails, such as their “Banksy sour”, Negroni or their “Harry & Marv,” much attention has been given to the music on scene, as a DJ spins all night. The music playing makes it the best speakeasy to dance in, and depending on your preference, to drink in, too. It might be New York prices, but you might as well snag a reservation in advance and try a sip.

4. 878

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With a name meant to be pronounced in Spanish, “ocho siete ocho” can be found in what looks like a house in Villa Crespo. Regarded as the first speakeasy in Buenos Aires, the cocktail list changes nightly and is always delicious. The bar also offers up some well-selected Argentine wines, and given the bar’s versatility, you will be happy with any type of drink you order. Getting in is also easy; just nod to the security guard standing beside the door of what looks like a house and enter into what is, by contrast, a leather-studded bar to enjoy a well-priced night on the town.

5. Harrison’s Speakeasy

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While all speakeasies are somewhat exclusive, Harrison’s is by far the most select. Disguised as an upscale, modern sushi restaurant, Nicky NY Sushi, a member of the wait staff will lead you towards the back, quietly explaining a bit of history about the place and then, voilà you’ll be sitting at a fully-stocked bar and hopefully enjoying their “Union Pacific,” which fuses nice vodka and earl grey. If you like swing music from the 1920s and drinks emulating the era, you’ll be happy at this place which, for a fleeting few hours, feels like a time capsule. It is in Palermo so prices will be high, but the antiquated experience and quality of drinks are what anyone would be looking for.

6. Victoria Brown

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With an extensive menu and impeccable décor, Victoria Brown is almost like a secret eatery camouflaged as a speakeasy. Known for their ability to make anything from an alcoholic beverage to an iced-coffee refined and scrumptious, Victoria Brown is an underground enclave of high society in Palermo. After pushing open the brick door in the back of their above-ground café, it is a great spot to pay tribute to Queen Victoria by ordering the famous and fruity “Latin Lover.” Whether you want booze or brunch, Victorian Brown offers it up, and they take reservations—don’t miss out.

And if you’re still at a loss for what to order when you visit any of these places, check out this helpful guide about drinks to try in Argentina.