Buenos Aires is at its most exciting after dark, when food, music, and nightlife take over the city.
We list the 10 best things to do in Buenos Aires at night, from feasting at parrillas and watching tango in all its forms to sipping cocktails at world-ranked bars and discovering nightlife spots that locals love.
After exploring the city late into the night, these are the experiences that stood out most.
10 Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires at Night
1. Feast at an Argentine parrilla for dinner
Parrilla Don Julio
One of the best things to do in Buenos Aires at night is dine at a parrilla, an experience that feels more like a lively social event than just dinner.
Across the city, grills fire up, filling the air with the smoky aroma of beef sizzling over wood.
We booked dinner at Don Julio, ranked the 10th best restaurant in the world. The portions were huge, our bone-in tomahawk steak was flawless, and paired with Malbec, it turned into the perfect feast.
Reserve your table well in advance since it's a popular spot.
2. Practice tango late into the night at La Catedral
La Catedral
La Catedral Club is one of the city’s coolest secrets - a bohemian tango hall set inside a former milk factory.
The mismatched furniture, colourful murals, and soaring ceilings give it a gritty, Berlin-like feel, and the crowd is younger and eclectic compared to traditional milongas.
It doesn’t really get going until after 2 am, when people take to the floor to dance until dawn.
We loved how welcoming it was - you can dance without the pressure or formality of other tango clubs.
3. Watch tango masters at Rojo Tango
If you’re not quite ready to step onto the dance floor yourself, Rojo Tango is the most glamorous way to experience tango at night.
Held inside the visually striking Faena Hotel, the cabaret setting is intimate and dramatic with red lighting, world-class dancers, and a live ensemble that fills the room.Paired with a three-course dinner, it was one of the highlights of our trip and worth the splurge.
Just be sure to book early and request a table with a clear view of the stage.
💃🏻 You can easily book your Rojo Tango show through Viator or GetYourGuide. They have free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.4. Feel the rush of an evening football match
Argentinians live and breathe football, and nothing matches the intensity of a rivalry game.
We went to a River Plate vs. Racing Club clasico at El Monumental, and the energy was unlike anything we’d ever experienced.
As tourists, we booked through a local group (LandingPadBA) who handled everything, from the tickets to getting us safely to our seats.
We never felt unsafe, and it ended up being one of our most exciting nights in Buenos Aires.
⭐ Read LandingPadBA's reviews.5. Dine at one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants
Dressed up for a night out at Niño Gordo
Buenos Aires’ dining scene goes far beyond steak, and some of our favourite meals in the city were at restaurants on the Latin America’s 50 Best list.
Aramburu wowed us with an 18-course tasting menu where every plate was inventive and delicious. It's also the only two-Michelin star restaurant in Argentina.
Niño Gordo felt like a Tokyo night market collided with a surreal art installation, with glowing red lanterns, a hip-hop soundtrack, and flavourful Japanese-Argentine dishes.
At Mishiguene, dinner felt like a celebration, with a lively dining room and Argentine-Israeli dishes made for sharing.
See more restaurants on the list.
6. Drink world-class cocktails with a punk edge at Tres Monos
Tres Monos cocktail bar
Buenos Aires has no shortage of sleek speakeasies, but Tres Monos feels totally different.
With graffiti-splashed walls, neon lights, and a punk edge, it’s ranked #7 on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list and still manages to feel unpretentious.
We had fun ordering off their cheeky cocktail menu (the Britney Spritz and Chimi Hedrix made us laugh), but my favourite was the Bananita Mona - a silky mix of banana, vanilla, and chocolate.
Pair it with their mini sausages and mustard for the perfect salty late-night bite.
See more fun things to do in the Palermo neighbourhood.
7. Dance to a state-of-the-art sound system at Artlab
Artlab blends art, music, and technology in a converted warehouse, making it one of the most forward-thinking night spots in Buenos Aires.
What makes it unique is the sound - quadraphonic HiFi with Altec Lansing speakers that make vinyl sets and live DJ performances feel alive.
We were in heaven hearing 90s house legends like Larry Heard played on vinyl.
See what events are on. On weekends, they typically have album listening parties followed by DJs that play into the night.
8. Listen to folk music at El Boliche de Roberto
Dating back to 1893, El Boliche de Roberto feels frozen in time.
The tiny Almagro bar fills at night with locals singing along to guitar-led folk songs, surrounded by dusty vintage bottles and faded photos on the walls.
We squeezed into a spot by the bar and felt like we stumbled into someone’s living room jam session. It’s crowded and very authentic.
9. Start your evening with sunset cocktails at Alvear Roof Bar
Alvear rooftop bar for sunset drinks
We sipped cocktails, people-watched, and soaked in the view - it was the perfect prelude to a night out in Buenos Aires.
Book your table at Alvear Roof Bar.
See more fun things to do in the Recoleta neighbourhood.
10. Join the late-night burger craze at Pérez H
Buenos Aires has fully embraced the burger craze. We couldn’t believe how many burger joints lined Palermo’s streets at night.
Our favourite late night spot is Pérez H. Their molten cheddar-drenched burgers are legendary, and they are open on weekends until 6am.
We hope you enjoyed these unique things to do in Buenos Aires at night!
Don't miss our 1 Week Argentina itinerary and our list of 23 fun things to do in Buenos Aires.
Get started on booking your trip to Argentina
- 🛏️ Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🤠 Book your tour: browse local highly-rated tours through Viator or GetYourGuide.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Save and pin these things to do in Buenos Aires at night for later:
