Hidden pubs in Buenos Aires and Where to Find Them

Secret, hidden and mystical places where access is part of the plot, passwords are the norm and stories come to life with a narrative that brings it all together: characters, atmosphere, drinks and even the menu. Storytelling plays a fundamental role in speakeasies, which take their name from the 1920s in the United States, where alcoholic beverages were illegal under the famous Prohibition law. Several hidden places used to sell alcohol and that is where the current name of these closed-door and very exclusive pubs came from. 

Buenos Aires, known for its vibrant nightlife, also has its own hidden pubs scattered in various parts of the city. Themed on famous destinations around the world, hidden behind flower shops and full of stories that take you back in time. Some even have the atmosphere of a nightclub. A must when the sun goes down in the Argentine capital and all the hidden secrets are revealed.

1) Florería Atlántico

The spot? The basement of a flower shop in the heart of the Retiro neighbourhood. Their speciality? Creative signature drinks, such as ‘Huarpes’, made with Calavera pisco, Mendoza river water, quinoa, pumpkin and yellow corn. The theme? Buenos Aires as a city of immigrants. The brilliant mind behind it? Tato Giovannoni, world-renowned bartender. Established in 2013, Florería Atlántico is a true example of a hidden pub: on the outside a flower shop, but on the inside a speakeasy that made it to the top spot in the ranking of the 50 Best Bars in 2019. You enter through a metal door that leads to another realm, the underground world of drinks and food. An 18-metre bar is the star of the show where many are waiting to be served and delighted by this iconic local pub. The drinks' menu is divided by stories of the native peoples, grandfather's negronis, tonics from Apóstoles (the gin brand also created by Giovannoni), clericós and other classics. As for the food, there are starters ranging from anchovies, burrata, fried squid and octopus to main courses such as pork roulade, fresh fish and more.

• Where? Arroyo 872, Retiro.

2) La Calle Bar

Yet another place hiding behind another shop, but this time a pizzeria. And it is not just any pizzeria, but one of the most popular in the city, La Guitarrita, an ideal place to eat on the go. Once you've passed through the restaurant, you enter a world where Prohibition is the common thread: so much so that neon lights attract all eyes under the hashtag #ChauLeySeca (Goodbye Prohibition). This is La Calle Bar, a place where the decoration works perfectly to create the ideal atmosphere where the music, as the night progresses, becomes the star together with the bar. That is another of La Calle's distinctive features: when the night falls, the place reacts with excellent music and a dance floor to have a night of pure fun.

There is also a second venue called La Calle Bar 2, where visitors are taken on a tour of different countries through the setting and the drinks menu. Street art, posters, and benches are some resources used to transport the visitor to faraway places.

• Where? Niceto Vega 4942 (Palermo Soho) and Gurruchaga 732 (Villa Crespo).

3) Uptown BA

New York has never been this close. Just a trip to Palermo Hollywood is enough to get to a pub that awakens all senses and makes you fall in love. Simulating a New York underground, the entrance is downstairs and, as you go down the stairs, the sparkles of The Big Apple become more and more evident. Graffiti, benches, underground signs and something that places you right in the Bronx: an underground carriage that, symbolically, takes you inside the pub. A large bar surprises you with unique drinks, and a lounge with leather armchairs. American classics are on the menu and are perfectly matched with the cocktail menu.

• Where? Arévalo 2030, Palermo Hollywood.

4) Puerta Uno

A hidden gem in Belgrano's Chinatown. Neat design, decor that does the job, and a black door that goes unnoticed in a crowded area. Yet if you find that doorway to the inside, then the experience guarantees good food and drinks. An outdoor patio, plants, comfortable armchairs and the feeling of being at home invite tourists to immerse in a universe where relaxation is a given and fun is everywhere.

• Where? Juramento 1667, Belgrano.

5) The Hole

Eccentric, original, and creative. This hidden pub located in Palermo recreates one of the most famous prisons in the world, Alcatraz, and everything inside reminds you of a penitentiary: bars, prisoners' clothing, barred windows, the streets of San Francisco and even a prison officer welcoming you to the most secure prison in the world. The mug shot is a must and the setting is perfect for social media content, and the icing on the cake are the drinks, inspired by the prison's most popular inmates: Al Capone, Dillinger and George Barnes, among others.

• Where? Armenia 1743, Palermo Soho.

6) Nicky Harrison

This is another place that honours the era in which speakeasies were born: Prohibition. Since 2013, it is a pioneer in the field and its high level of cocktails led it to be ranked as one of the 50 Best Bars in 2016. It was refurbished and the art deco décor came to the fore, creating a chic atmosphere worthy of that New York era. To get there, you have to dine at the Nicky NY Sushi restaurant and, after you've finished, ask to see ‘the cellar’. That is the secret word to enter Nicky Harrison's world. On the other side is a place with plenty of amazing signature drinks: the Monkey Powder and The Butcher are not to be missed.

• Where? Malabia 1764, Palermo.

7) J.W. Bradley

This journey begins with a train. More specifically, in an Orient Express carriage on its way to an ancient Europe. The story it tells dates back to glorious times: atmosphere, music and drinks invite you to travel through the old continent on the express. The culinary offer? International signature cuisine in a mix of classic and innovative cocktails that will surprise you. From Patagonian lamb to hamburgers, and from reversed classics to sophisticated drinks. The main thing at J.W. Bradley is to let yourself be carried away on a magical journey into unknown lands. And the task is quite easy thanks to the careful decoration that is part of the place: modern and antique artefacts side by side, old railway station clocks, vintage ticket booths and more items that set an ideal environment. It was also the winning bar of Latam Bombay Sapphire 2017, Latam Angostura 2017 and Arg. Chivas 2018.

• Where? Godoy Cruz 1875, Palermo.

8) Frank’s

This hidden pub boasts the most creative gate of all: a phone box where, by picking up the phone, the person has to dial the password that allows them to enter. This code is obtained through social networks and changes every week. Yep, it's pure mystique. The idea of a New York pub is kept intact in the furniture details and objects, and the drinks honour the international awards Frank's has earned: one of the best pubs in Argentina according to World's 50 Best Bars, TOC, Bar&Drinks and The Fork.

• Where? Arévalo 1445, Palermo Hollywood.