8 Places to Enjoy Aperitifs in Buenos Aires

In Parque Chacabuco, Casa Bellucci combines a menu of handmade pastas, small plates and contemporary Buenos Aires-style pizzas with an identity rooted in the traditions of the porteño table. The restaurant also operates as a moscato bar, with different expressions of moscato alongside wines, beers and cocktails, in a concept that brings back flavors and rituals associated with Buenos Aires cuisine.

In this context, on Saturday, September 19, Aperitivo Day, visitors will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of aperitivo. The initiative revives the habit of starting a meal with a drink before moving on to handmade pastas, slow-fermented pizzas and the small plates featured on the menu.

The tip: Open Tuesday to Friday from 7:30pm to midnight; Saturdays from 11am to 4pm and 7:30pm to midnight; and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.

Where: Del Barco Centenera 1699, Parque Chacabuco.

In Villa Devoto, El Aperitivo lives up to its name: wine, vermouth, cocktails and something tasty to nibble on at a neighborhood bar where the idea is to linger for a while. The menu includes tapas and dishes designed for sharing, while books, vinyl records and music provide the soundtrack to the wait.

The plan is simple: arrive as the afternoon begins to fade, order a drink and let the night start without rushing. The music spills out onto the sidewalk and the atmosphere invites you to stay a little longer, especially when it’s still too early for dinner.

The tip: Follow the bar on Instagram to find out about its events, news and constantly changing plans.

Where: Marcos Paz 4563, Villa Devoto.

Malasangre opened in Belgrano with one mission: to make vermouth the star of the show. Five years later, the bar remains a meeting point for good cocktails, small bites and jazz or DJ sets. Its distinctive bar helped put vermouth back at the center of the Buenos Aires scene.

Malasangre has five house vermouths: Mítico, Torino, Rojo, Blanco and Rubí, made with different wine bases and botanicals. The collection ranges from spicy, deep profiles to more citrusy and refreshing ones, and Mítico was recognized at the 2023 World Vermouth Awards. At the bar, the five labels form the basis of a signature cocktail program that reinterprets the classic Buenos Aires aperitivo.

The tip: Tuesdays feature live jazz to accompany the night with improvisation, good cocktails and a different rhythm. An ideal plan for kicking off the week with a drink in hand and music in the background.

Where: Av. Cramer 2704, Belgrano.

On a historic corner, Almacén y Bar Lavalle brings back one of Buenos Aires’ most traditional rituals: vermouth hour. This Notable Bar of the City of Buenos Aires operates on the site where illustrator Florencio Molina Campos was born and preserves the spirit of the old general stores that served drinks and groceries in the 1930s.

Between 11am and 1pm and from 5pm to 8pm, the star is the house-made vermouth on tap, produced in Avellaneda and served especially during those hours. You can order it classic, with soda, or try versions such as the Ferroviario, with Fernet; the Americano, with Campari; the Vermutidina, with Hesperidina and tonic; or the Jamaica, with hibiscus and soda.

The tip: To accompany your vermouth, each drink comes with a trio of potato chips, peanuts and salted breadsticks, or you can add the version with chacarero salami, cheese and olives.

Where: Lavalle 1699, San Nicolás.

Le Rêve sets out to reclaim the moment before dinner with a French touch. The bistro, whose name means “the dream,” has spent six years creating an experience that combines French culinary tradition with a warm, elegant atmosphere without too many formalities. Among its offerings, there is one especially designed for those who enjoy sitting down for a drink and a bite: aperitivo from 6pm to 8pm.

During those two hours, cocktails take center stage with a selection of international classics such as Negroni, Martini, Dry Martini, Old Fashioned and Mojito, which can be paired with a menu of small plates and a selection of cheeses. The concept invites guests to enjoy a drink and something to eat before dinner, in an atmosphere designed for lingering conversations.

The tip: The aperitivo is an introduction to the cuisine of Ramiro Hernández, executive chef trained at Gato Dumas with experience in restaurants in Argentina, Spain and Austria.

Where: Nicaragua 5001, Palermo.

On a corner in Villa Crespo, Suma operates as a bar-restaurant with the spirit of a cantina and the soul of a social club. The idea is to sit back without rushing, order a drink and let the night unfold over music, food and conversation. At the bar, the cocktail program focuses on classic recipes and includes vermouth and Pirlo among its aperitivo options, as well as classics such as Negroni, Garibaldi and Fernet and Coke.

To accompany the drinks, the menu focuses on familiar dishes made with quality ingredients: there are Mar del Plata anchovies, braised beef croquettes, homemade pasta, Neapolitan-style milanesa and the famous Suma lomito, served on a potato bun with smoked provola, homemade mayonnaise and shoestring potatoes. There is also a selection of wines from small and medium-sized producers, with labels from different styles and regions. The result is a laid-back bar with dim lighting and a neighborhood feel, equally suited to a date or meeting friends over a drink.

“Our cocktail program follows the same line as everything we do: traditional flavors with the focus on the product. That’s the foundation of our identity, which is reflected in the food menu, wine selection and cocktail offering. We have classic, simple and well-made aperitifs and cocktails, served in the appropriate glassware,” says Tomás Romero, partner, sommelier and head of Suma’s food and beverage offering.

The tip: Music is a central part of the plan: vinyl DJs, live jazz and playlists from friends of the bar accompany the nights, while the sidewalk adds tables where you can stay for hours.

Where: Julián Álvarez 890, Villa Crespo.

At Costa 7070, Aperitivo Day is celebrated by the river with a cocktail selection created by bartender Inés de los Santos. The menu takes classic cocktails and reinterprets them with a personal touch. On September 19, Costa 7070 joins the Aperitivo Day celebrations with three cocktails to enjoy by the river.

The Spritz da Costa, made with Aperol, lemon and pineapple cordial and Chandon Extra Brut; the Sbagliato de Menorca, with Campari, white vermouth, apple, raisins and cider; and the Negroni del Barco, combining Tanqueray gin infused with preserved lemons, Montaña vermouth and pistachio Campari. “We want aperitifs to be part of the complete experience. For someone to be able to arrive, order a drink and for that drink to already start telling part of the story of what happens at Costa,” says Inés de los Santos.

The tip: This selection reflects Costa 7070’s approach of taking recognizable references from cocktail culture and reinterpreting them from its own perspective, right by the river.

Where: Av. Costanera Rafael Obligado 7070, Belgrano.

In Cruz Godoy, the cocktail program follows the same logic that runs through the kitchen: ingredients, seasonality and familiar flavors given a distinctive twist. The menu moves between aperitifs, sparkling wines, citrus fruits, fresh fruit and seasonal cordials, with refreshing drinks designed to accompany the experience around the fire.

Among the options is the Rosso Julep, combining Lombroni Rosso with grapefruit, lemon, muscovado syrup and soda. The result is a fresh, balanced cocktail with citrusy, refreshing and slightly bitter notes. Another option is the Tónico Cruz, made with Bosque Gin, seasonal cordial, lemon and tonic water. Aromatic, vibrant and light, it combines the gin’s orange notes with the acidity of lemon and the flavors of the cordial.

The tip: To accompany the cocktails, the menu includes options such as grilled bread with a selection of sauces, escarole salad with Basque blood sausage, beetroot and Parmesan, river chistorra with pacú, fruit and herbs, provoleta with fruit and vegetables, and leeks with bacon and coffee.

Where: Godoy Cruz 1725, Palermo.