Daniela Puyos 
If you are looking for the best speakeasy in Buenos Aires for a great night out, you are in the right place!
I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, and I know my city like no other! So I gathered for you the best secret bars in Buenos Aires, so you can enjoy the city’s nightlife like a local would!
As you may know, speakeasies became a thing during the prohibition era back in 1920 in the USA. And even though there is no dry law nowadays, speakeasies in Buenos Aires are big, you can find some of the best ones in the world here!
Without further ado, let’s check out the best 11 speakeasies in Buenos Aires I chose for you!
If you are in a hurry
If you don’t have a lot of time to read the whole article, here are the top 3 speakeasies in Buenos Aires you cannot miss visiting!
Here, you have a map with all the speakeasies in Buenos Aires’ exact locations if you want to jump to the one that’s closest to you quickly!
Contents
- If you are in a hurry
- 1. Discover a hidden world in Florería Atlántico
- 2. Feel like a royal at Frank’s
- 3. Have a wholesome evening at Bar 878
- 4. Go into The Hole, a prison-themed speakeasy!
- 5. Go into NYC underground with Uptown bar
- 6. Travel back in time to Victoria Brown
- 7. Enjoy the cool and moody ambiance at Luzmala Bar
- 8. Have a proper night out in La Calle
- 9. Uncover a secret world at Puerta Uno
- 10. Hop on the amazing J.W. Bradley LTD
- 11. Try your luck at Nicky Harrison Speakeasy
- BONUS: Where to Stay in Buenos Aires
- FAQs best Speakeasies in Buenos Aires
- What to try: Sangrada drink (Atlantic wines, mate, and citric)
- Prices: from US$8 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +541139847849.
Floreria Atlántico is one of the coolest and most iconic speakeasies in Buenos Aires. It is located in Retiro, super close to Recoleta and Microcentro. The bar from outside looks like a flower shop and a wine cellar store, where you can, of course, actually buy flowers and wine. But there is a secret door inside the shop!
Inside the flower shop, there is a fridge door, which is a facade! Tucked behind it, you can find the speakeasy! The inside is super cool. It has a lot of mythological creatures paintings on the wall and the space looks like a very long hallway with tables and a long bar!
The speakeasy serves from wine, gin, and specialty drinks, to delicious food, including empanadas and burrata!
2. Feel like a royal at Frank’s
- What to try: Potato churro and Godzilla drink
- Prices: from US$6 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site.
Frank’s is one of the first speakeasies in the Buenos Aires scene, so this one is super popular! It is located in the trendy neighborhood of Palermo, and when you reach the location, all you can see is black doors with a bouncer waiting outside. They will ask you for a password, which you can find out by checking the speakeasy’s Instagram page where they leave clues!
Once you go inside the black doors, you will have to walk a bit through a cool hallway with nice vintage decorations until you get to a phone booth where you have to dial the password again to open the secret closed doors!
The speakeasy has a trendy old-world style; it is super sophisticated, and you can find all sorts of memorabilia. If you visit on the weekend there, the crowd will be bigger, which together with the music, it will feel like a party!
You can make reservations here.
3. Have a wholesome evening at Bar 878
- What to try: Mushroom empanadas and Floralis Generica drink
- Prices: from US$5 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +541147731098.
This one is located in Villa Crespo, super close to Palermo Soho, and has a more laid back vibe than the rest of the BA speakeasies and also one of the first ones. Some of the drinks are inspired by landmarks and attractions in Buenos Aires, for example, Little San Telmo and Floralis Generica drink (served with a miniature of the flower)! It also has a proper restaurant offering a wide range of dishes!
From the outside, it doesn’t look like a bar at all! All you can see is a wooden door with a plaque with the number 878. All you have to do is walk in and don’t be scared. You are not breaking into someone’s house!! The theme is super vintage and trendy, with loads of plants and exposed bricks!
4. Go into The Hole, a prison-themed speakeasy!
- What to try: Most Wanted, the cocktail
- Prices: from US$10 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +541148320143.
This one is definitely one of the most impressive ones. It is an Alcatraz prison theme speakeasy!!
It is located in Palermo Soho, within walking distance from Plaza Serrano. Before entering the speakeasy, another back door and bouncer waits for you and lets you into a room where you will start your journey as an inmate into The Hole! You better get your camera ready because you will be going through many hidden rooms, including the sheriff’s office, where you will get your mugshot!
The bar itself is the prison; it has cells with wanted photos on the walls, and the wait staff is dressed as a guard! The cocktails and food have names of famous robberies to get you even deeper into the mood!
5. Go into NYC underground with Uptown bar
- What to try: Oops!… I did it again
- Prices: from US$6 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site
Another one is located in Palermo! This one, as soon as you get to the entrance, all you see is a New York City train wagon; what you have to do is go inside and take the stairs that will transport you to a New York subway station. This speakeasy is a basement bar, so expect a lot of stairs, a turnstile, and another big subway wagon where you can take cool photos!
When you go through the wagon, the other side of the station is the bar, which looks so cool, with loads of copper decor and cool high ceilings. This place features great fun for an excellent night out with friends!
6. Travel back in time to Victoria Brown
- What to try: a Gordon Bennet with some Penicillin
- Prices: from US$7
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +5491124073412
Victoria Brown is located in Palermo Soho, on Costa Rica Street. From the outside, it looks like a cute café, and the building is like an abandoned warehouse. Inside the café, there is a door that takes you into the speakeasy.
The vibe is amazing. It has a super trendy 19th-century industrial vibe; there is even some big copper machinery that will make you feel like you are in a warehouse! There is also a lot of vintage furniture, which makes it super Instagramable!
Also, the drinks and food have names of medicine or personalities from the 19th century, which is fun!
7. Enjoy the cool and moody ambiance at Luzmala Bar
- What to try: Buñuelos and dark fashion
- Prices: from US$4
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +5491159306453.
Luzmala bar is located in Nuñez, very close to the Belgrano area. From outside, the bar looks like nothing but a narrow black door. Don’t be shy and go in. The bar is set in a huge old house, so the vibe and the ambiance are amazing. It will feel like you are in someone’s party mansion!
The candles, the dim lights, and the vintage furniture give it that unique touch! On Thursdays, they usually have live music, so you cannot miss out! Here, you can have anything from pasta to burgers, and cocktails are named after different poisons!
8. Have a proper night out in La Calle
- What to try: Chickpea and kale buñuelos and Campos Eliseos cocktail
- Prices: from US$6 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +5491127907741.
La Calle is located on Niceto Vega in Palermo, super central! This is the perfect one for a night out, drinking and dancing with friends! Also, this one is quite popular amongst celebrities!
First, you need to know that from the outside. It looks like a pizzeria, well it is a pizzeria called “La Guitarrita” (which, BTW, has the best pizza!). And inside the pizzeria there is a secret door that takes you to this massive industrial bar with cool graffiti on the walls.
The menu has a long list of cocktails, and you can order pizza from La Guitarrita inside or try some Argentinian food with a modern twist, such as corn ribs! After midnight, they pick up the tables, and the whole place turns into a dance club with DJs! Ideal for those looking to party in Buenos Aires!
9. Uncover a secret world at Puerta Uno
- What to try: Provoleta or Gyozas
- Prices: from US$6 per person
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +5491131848227.
Puerta Uno Speakeasy Buenos Aires is located in the heart of Chinatown, super close to the Chinese Arc. Once you arrive at the address, you will only see a black door. Ring the doorbell, and a bouncer will let you into this eclectic and fun speakeasy! The lights and decor will transport you to a world of fantasy.
They serve a lot of cold-pressed cocktails and have a nice mix of food on the menu. You can try from burgers to gyozas, or pizzas! This place is ideal for a fun Instagram session with friends!
10. Hop on the amazing J.W. Bradley LTD
- What to try: provoleta and a queen’s whim
- Prices: from US$7 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +541152638391.
This cool speakeasy is inspired by the Orient Express train! It is located in Palermo Soho, and from the outside looks like nothing special. When you go inside, the first stop is a room decorated like a train wagon from the Orient Express, yes super fancy!
Then, you will be taken to the actual speakeasy, which offers an amazing ambiance with colorful dim lights and nice music! You can have traditional bites here like provoleta and signature cocktails such as Sigmun Dream and a Queen’s Whim!
11. Try your luck at Nicky Harrison Speakeasy
- What to try: their amazing sushi
- Prices: from US$7 and up
- Open in Google Maps, Official site, +541148310519.
What is cool about this speakeasy is that it really is a speakeasy. You can only enter with an invitation or a secret code, so it is quite tricky! My recommendation is that you try to say all the right words to convince the waitstaff to let you into The Harrison! Some say that the secret password consists of asking “to see the winery” or asking them to let you go through the submarine door! Shh, keep it a secret!
The facade of The Harrison is Nicky, a super luxurious sushi restaurant, which you can only dine at with a reservation. So make sure you do this, because to see the speakeasy you need to have dinner here first!
| 🍝 Best speakeasy for dinner: | Bar 878 |
| 🦄 Top unique speakeasy: | The Hole |
| 🥂 Best speakeasy for a night out: | La Calle |
| ❤️ Most romantic speakeasy: | Luzmala Bar |
BONUS: Where to Stay in Buenos Aires
Just to help you arrange your whole stay in the city, here you have a few of the many amazing hotels in Buenos Aires.
To learn more about the areas and more great hotels, check out Where to Stay in Buenos Aires article!
- Luxury (from US$250 and up): Hotel Madero – Relax like others in this luxurious hotel! The accommodation comes with an indoor swimming pool and a fitness center. All rooms come with air conditioning, and some of them with views!
- Mid-Range (from US$100 to US$250): Blank Hotel Recoleta – Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Recoleta, you will have all the main attractions steps away! The hotel has a cozy vibe and offers spa and wellness center services.
- Budget (up to US$100): Patios de San Telmo – You will love staying in this modern hotel set in a traditional house with a patio! There is a rooftop swimming pool, and you can opt for a delicious breakfast every morning.
FAQs best Speakeasies in Buenos Aires
🤔 What is a speakeasy entrance?
A speakeasy entrance is a hidden door that takes you to the bar! Usually, it looks like something else, and it is hidden by a facade.
🍸 What’s the difference between a bar and a speakeasy?
The main difference between a bar and a speakeasy is that bars have their entrance open and visible to everyone, and speakeasies are hidden bars. You need to know about them in order to find them!
🎩 What should I wear to a Speakeasy?
None of the speakeasies I am mentioning have a dress code, but wear something you would normally wear on a night out! I am the type of person who wears sneakers and streetwear, and this would be okay, but if your cup of tea is shoes and fancy clothes, then go for it!
Conclusion
That is all for today, amigos! Those were the best speakeasies in Buenos Aires! I am a local so believe me when I tell you these are the top-tier options in town! I am sure by now you’ve chosen your favorite ones!
If you ask me, if you are into big themes, Uptown Bar and The Hole are definitely the stars of the show! One of my favorites is Victoria Bar. I just love everything related to the 19th century!
Which one of these Buenos Aires Speakeasies do you want to try out? Let me know in the comments!
Have a lovely time,
Daniela
Pin it for later!
Pin it for later!
