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[title]Once a year, the city raises its glass to honor those bars that are part of its soul. On The Night of Historic Bars (“La Noche de los Bares Notables”), on October 16, more than a hundred historic spots — bars, cafés, and billiard halls that, due to their age, design, or cultural relevance, hold a special place in the city — open their doors from 5 p.m. to midnight, offering music, traditional dishes, and that unique spirit that blends past and present like nowhere else. We spoke with the people behind Almacén Bar Lavalle, Café Cortázar, Hipopótamo, and Miramar, who told us how they live this tradition, what challenges they face, and what makes these temples of porteño identity truly unique.
Almacén Bar Lavalle
With 95 years of history, located on the very site where Florencio Molina Campos was born, Almacén Bar Lavalle came back to life thanks to a group of friends determined to rescue a piece of Buenos Aires. “Being a Bar Notable means taking care of the city’s spirit,” say its owners, who take that mission seriously: preserving history, providing excellent service, and keeping alive the customs that make Buenos Aires’ bars meeting points for all generations.
“Being a Bar Notable means taking care of the city’s spirit”
Their “manifesto” says it all: be part of the neighborhood, cook with your own recipes, serve generous dishes at fair prices, and always stay open. And they live by it. Upon reopening, they went door to door inviting neighbors with a small platter and two beers, bringing the bar back to its rightful place as the neighborhood’s heart. Today, surrounded by clerks, composers, students, and poets (whose names are engraved on the chairs), Lavalle pulses as it did in its golden years.
For this year’s Night of Historic Bars, they’ve prepared a full evening: boleros with Susan Ferrer, a jazz band arriving in a vintage car, signature cocktails by Fede Cuco, a DJ set on the sidewalk, and the launch of their own charcuterie line. Everything is designed so the bar can be lived — and danced — from the corner outwards.
If it’s your first visit, order apebete sandwich with draft vermouth. It’s their emblem — and a statement of intent: reclaiming thepebeteas Buenos Aires’ signature bread. Though beware: their 20-item platters,tortilla vaga, andflamenquín andaluzare strong contenders for a lasting memory.
Where: Lavalle 1699, San Nicolás.
Café Cortázar
At the corner of Cabrera and Medrano, a restored 1889 mansion fulfills a promise: a literary café where Julio Cortázar himself might have sat down to write. Since opening in 2015, Café Cortázar has been a haven for readers, the curious, and fans of the writer — but also for anyone seeking that unique magic only Buenos Aires cafés possess.
Being part of the city’sBares Notables, they say, means preserving a story that runs through all of us. Here, literature mixes with vermouth, toasted sandwiches, and long-table chats. There’s a library with Cortázar’s complete works (which many regulars use as their own), quotes from the author everywhere, and an atmosphere that invites you to linger.
“In a café notable lives each one of us — and our shared history”
During The Night of Historic Bars, this corner of Buenos Aires comes alive with activities, music, and special dishes, though the café’s spirit thrives year-round with exhibits, workshops, talks, and even backgammon tournaments that have become local tradition.
If you visit for the first time, try theCortázar platteror the“Flanel” breakfast(named after one of the writer’s cats) and take your time to look around. Between caricatures, quotes, and open books, you might feel — as when readingHopscotch— that the everyday can suddenly turn extraordinary.
Where: Cabrera 3797, Palermo.
Hipopótamo Bar
In the heart of San Telmo, the Hipopótamo roars again. Founded in 1909 and lovingly restored, this century-old bar is a living piece of Buenos Aires’ history — marble, wood, skilled waiters, and that unmistakable murmur of unhurried conversations. Reopened in 2024, it remains a meeting point for locals, tourists, artists, and lifelong regulars.
For ownerSantiago Duránand managerJulieta Tello, being part of theBares Notablesis both an honor and a mission: to preserve the customs, flavors, and soul of the place.
“We are custodians of a story that transcends generations”
On The Night of Historic Bars, Hipopótamo transforms into a celebration of lights, music, and toasts. But beyond the festivities, what truly captivates is its timeless blend of past and present — tradition without becoming a museum, history without solemnity.
If it’s your first time, go for amilanesaor acold cuts platterwith aged hams, paired withdraft cider or cellar beer. Everything is served with a smile — and that feeling that, for a moment, time stands still on San Telmo’s most porteño corner.
Where: Brasil 401, San Telmo.
Bar Miramar
Since 1950, Bar Miramar has been a classic where Buenos Aires is served in every dish — and at every table. Time-honored tablecloths, waiters in white jackets, and recipes passed down through generations make this bar a true sanctuary of porteño tradition.
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For manager Milagros Carro, being part of the Bares Notables is both an honor and a responsibility:
“We safeguard more than 70 years of history, recipes, and customs. We want our guests to feel the continuity between past and present”
That continuity comes alive in the mix of neighbors, artists, and journalists who share the space, swapping stories, laughter, and emblematic dishes.
During The Night of Historic Bars, Miramar opens its doors to showcase its timeless magic: great food, live music, and an atmosphere that blends tradition with warmth. First-time visitors shouldn’t miss the Galician-style octopus, snails, Spanish omelet, oxtail stew, or buseca, always paired with draft vermouth.
More than a meal, Miramar offers a ritual: sitting down, listening to stories, soaking in the hum of the room, and feeling part of a Buenos Aires postcard that remains unchanged generation after generation.
Where: San Juan 1999, San Cristóbal.
The Night of Historic Bars is more than an excuse to go out for a drink — it’s a journey through the living history of Buenos Aires. From the traditional flavors of Almacén Bar Lavalle, through the literary magic of Café Cortázar, to the warmth and identity of Hipopótamo and Miramar, each spot tells its own story and keeps the culture of its neighborhood alive.
Visiting these bars means diving into a Buenos Aires that defies time, where every dish, every counter, and every corner tell stories that span generations. Music, food, and good company come together to offer an experience that goes far beyond a night out — it’s about feeling the city with all your senses, and discovering that in every sip and every bite beats a piece of Buenos Aires’ collective memory.