Buenos Aires
Polished, precise, civilised. Buenos Aires's best hotel-bar drinking — picked for craft, not concierge buzz.
Retiro · $$$$
Bar del Plaza Hotel draws a steady local crowd in Retiro. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Puerto Madero · $$$$
Faena Library Bar draws a steady local crowd in Puerto Madero. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Palermo · $$$$
The Harrison Speakeasy draws a steady local crowd in Palermo. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Palermo · $$$$
The Roof at Casa Cavia draws a steady local crowd in Palermo. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Retiro · $$$
The Roof at Park Tower draws a steady local crowd in Retiro. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Recoleta · $$$$
Alvear Roof Bar draws a steady local crowd in Recoleta. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Palermo · $$$
Frank's Bar draws a steady local crowd in Palermo. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Palermo · $$$
El Trapiche draws a steady local crowd in Palermo. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
San Telmo · $$$
Bebop Club draws a steady local crowd in San Telmo. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Recoleta · $$$
Blest Bar draws a steady local crowd in Recoleta. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Hotel bars solve specific problems. You need a bar near your room. You need somewhere quiet to take a meeting. You want the drink right the first time and you don't want to negotiate a wait. Every recommendation below clears those three bars. Most are open to non-guests; we've flagged any that aren't.
Best for: business travellers, late-checkout drinks, hotel-room negotiations made civilised, anniversaries that deserve a hotel jacket. Pricing skews higher than the city average — that's the trade. The rooms below justify it.
Civilised, polished, not pretending to be a club. Pick by neighbourhood and proximity to where you're sleeping.
Looking beyond Buenos Aires? See our guide to the best hotel bars worldwide, or compare hotel bars city by city.