BA's Best Tango Venues
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Ideal (La)
Contact:
- 54 11 4326 0521 / 54 11 4326 1515
- visit website
Location:
- Suipacha 384
- First Floor
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Map
Description:
Visited by tourists and nostalgic 'Porteños' (people from Buenos Aires) alike, this establishment keeps alive the ritual of tea with cakes. The furniture carries its trademark carved fleur de lis from the turn of the century. Original pieces such as the Czech armchairs, French chandeliers, Italian stained glass and Slovenian columns are still present. The place has a permanent melancholic clientele, with a preference for spacious and classic rooms. The first floor is a dance area, where on Thursday afternoons experienced dancers, tourists and students gather for tango lessons or simply to dance.
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Café Tortoni
Contact:
- 54 11 4342 4328
- visit website
Location:
- Avenida de Mayo 825
- At Piedras
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Map
Description:
This café has formed part of the Porteño landscape since 1858. A shrine to local tango culture, it houses the Academia Nacional del Tango and stages performances as well as literary events in the basement. Legendary literati such as the disquieting poets Argentine, Alfonsina Storni and Spanish Federico García Lorca gathered here. Porteño bohemia and nostalgia fuse here over a game of chess, domino and billiards. Chocolate con Churros (hot cocoa and deep fried batter) are a traditional Argentine breakfast.
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Viruta Tango (La)
Contact:
- 54 11 4774 6357 / 54 11 4779 0030
- visit website
Location:
- Armenia 1366
- At Cabrera
- Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires1414
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Map
Description:
This is one of the most interesting milongas. It is authentic, but it attracts a very young crowd of Porteños and expats who have come from all over the world to dance their lives away in Buenos Aires, where the living is good and cheap. Many nights it is just a milonga. Other nights host shows and competitions, many involving tango, folkloric, and modern dance. La Viruta is in the cellar of the Armenian Community Center. When decorated with balloons for some events, it looks a little like a high school prom from the 1970s.
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Beba (La )
Contact:
- 54 11 4854 9226
- visit website
Location:
- 1462 Alvarez Thomas
- Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires1427
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Description:
This is a neat dance hall in the district of Villa Ortúzar, in front of where composer and pianist Osvaldo Pugliese used to live. His daughter supports the meetings with suburban gracefulness. Patrons' ages are around the 40 years, although the inclusion of tango classes draws young people. Everything moves to the rhythm of the two by four, presided over by disc jockey Néstor Farkas (recognized operator of Radio del Mundo) who also knows to mix some waltzes, milongas and several jazz classics.
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Bar Sur
Contact:
- 54 11 43626086
- visit website
Location:
- Estados Unidos 299
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Map
Description:
In the San Telmo area, this is the quintessential "tanguería" from the Buenos Aires of yesteryear. They offer some of the best selections in music and dance. The style of the show is rather intimate; visitors can listen to the best tangos and view the world-famous dance steps while the live band performs the classics. The ambiance is always lively with amusing exchanges between locals and foreigners. At an old corner of the city, Bar Sur features all-you-can-eat pizza, and exotic tango performances.
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Viejo Almacén (El)
Contact:
- 54 11 4307 6689 / 54 11 4307 6919 / 54 11 4307 7388
- visit website
Location:
- Avenida Independencia y Balcarce 1064
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Map
Description:
A classic in the tango circuit, this spot offers unique shows of authentic 'Porteño style' tango. From 10p you can enjoy the show with the cost of your drinks included in the cover charge. For those who wish to have both dinner (8pm) and show, the cost is about double. You will enjoy international cuisine dishes like loin Carpaccio, Gruyere cheese, Crêpe flambéed with cognac, and for dessert, Kiwis with mint. The 'Gran Show del Tango' performance can be viewed throughout the year.
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Academia Nacional de Tango
Contact:
- +54 11 4345 6968 / +54 11 4345 6967
- visit website
Location:
- Ave de Mayo 833
- Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires1084
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Description:
This academy is located in the palacio Carlos Gardel, on top of the Café Tortoni. It is one of the 18 national academies of tango. It also has various franchises in the provinces the USA, and Europe. The Liceo Superior of the Academia offers 24 different courses during three years, at which end students get a Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent) in Tango. At the same time, it offers tango dance lessons. An intensive theoretical and practical course in Tango is also available for foreigners visiting Buenos Aires.
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Salón Canning
Contact:
- 54 11 4342 4794 / 54 11 4832 6753
- visit website
Location:
- Scalabrini Ortiz 1331
- At Gorriti
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Map
Description:
This is among the most authentic of all of the milongas. At the end of a long hallway, spectators crowd around the main dance floor to watch couples make their way around it. Salón Canning is known for its extremely smooth, high-quality wooden parquet floor, considered one of the best for dancing in all of Buenos Aires. This tango hall is among the few things left in Buenos Aires that still bear the name of George Canning -- a British diplomat who opened relations between Argentina and Great Britain after independence from Spain.
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Círculo Bailable de la Armada
Contact:
- 54 11 4903 6531
Location:
- Avenida José María Moreno 355
- Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires1424
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Description:
The tango and the 'milonga' [a term for a place or event where the tango is performed] of the Forties finds itself in the 'Círculo Bailable de la Armada'. This place is one of the most popular dancing joints that satisfy the most orthodox followers of the tango. An enormous wooden hall and ample music welcomes Vals [an Argentinian tango style]. This place is ideal for experts or mature couples who have a flair for the art. In addition to this, on weekends various orchestras play live music to the tunes of which graceful dancers do their thing! With the music, dance and drinks, this is one great place to be at!
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Ventana (La)
Contact:
- 54 11 4331 0217
- visit website
Location:
- Balcarce 431
- At Venezuela
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Map
Description:
This show is held in the atmospheric brick-lined cellar of an old building in San Telmo. Performances are a mix of tango, folkloric, and other Argentine styles of dance and music. One of the highlights of the night is a schmaltzy rendition of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" complete with a movable balcony and rather glamorous descamisados (shirtless ones) holding Argentine flags.
Buenos Aires
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Dance of the Heart
Contact:
- +1 303 938 0716
- visit website
Location:
- Citywide
- Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires
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Map
Description:
Learn to tango from the master, Luciana Valle, in the heart of Buenos Aires. Along with Brian Dunn and Deborah Sclar of Colorado-based Dance of the Heart, Valle is offering six days of intensive study in the art of tango. Students receive expert guidance, four hours a day, five days a week with three hours of structured review on the final day. Sign up quickly as the program is only offered to 20 participants. Check website for further details including prices.
