Buenos Aires nightlife: how a night out works

Buenos Aires nights start late: dinner around 10 pm, drinks at midnight, and boliches (nightclubs) getting going around 2 am. Start at a Palermo bar if you want options close together. Decide how you'll get home before the subte stops running.

What time does a night out actually start?

The local night-out timetable has dinner around 10 pm, drinks at midnight and a move to the club around 3 am. Bars come alive from 10 pm and boliches get going around 2 am. These are useful planning cues, not a booking time for every table or dancefloor. If you're used to an Australian night that ends before midnight, you can have a good Buenos Aires evening without waiting for a club to fill up.

A previa is the get-together before going out, often drinks at someone's place. Friends may meet at a home for drinks at 10 pm, with arrivals later than the invitation time. If you're invited, ask your host when they'd actually like you there. Make your own plans explicit too: '¿A qué hora nos encontramos?' means 'What time are we meeting?' For more of the everyday language you'll hear around town, see Argentine slang for Aussies.

Where can you spend the evening?

Palermo is the city's largest hub for bars and clubs. Have dinner, grab a drink and decide later whether to dance. For larger clubs, there's also Costanera Norte on the northern riverside; arrange your trip back before heading there rather than counting on a short stroll between neighbourhoods.

Clubbing is only one version of the night. Avenida Corrientes, near 9 de Julio, has theatres and places for a late pizza or coffee. For milongas (social tango dances), look in San Telmo, Constitución, Palermo and Villa Crespo. Choose the part you want rather than treating the 3 am club as a compulsory final exam. For more ways to spend a day or evening, see things to do in Buenos Aires.

What do people drink?

Fernet con coca is Fernet, a bitter spirit, mixed with cola and ice. It's a common party and club drink. If bitter isn't your thing, bars also serve cocktails and beer; order what you're keen on. Ask for 'un fernet con coca' if you want to try it, and order water as well if the night is running long.

How do you get home after the subte closes?

The subte runs in the evening, while colectivos (buses) run 24 hours. Don't plan a 3 am exit around an underground train. An overnight bus can work if its route serves your destination; look up your route before you leave, and carry a charged SUBE transport card if you plan to use one.

Licensed black-and-yellow taxis run on meters with fares in Argentine pesos. You can also use the city's BA Taxi booking app. Note your accommodation's address and nearest cross street before the evening starts. When tired, or if the route means a long walk from a stop, take a licensed taxi rather than trying to improvise directions at the kerb.

Follow the city's security advice: keep bags closed and belongings with you, choose well-lit streets in the evening and use licensed taxis. Keep your phone accessible for the trip home without leaving it loose on a table or bar. For more on city-specific precautions, see safety in Argentina for Australians. If you're in immediate danger, call 911.

Plan the way back while you can still read the address, then stay out as late as you actually want. Sunrise is an option, not a requirement.