The rooftops of Buenos Aires: the Obelisco, the domes and the Río de la Plata seen from above
A capital facing the river
The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires (officially the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires) has a little over 3.1 million inhabitants, and more than 16 million in its metropolitan area, Greater Buenos Aires. First founded by the Spanish in 1536, then permanently in 1580, it stretches along the south-western shore of the Río de la Plata estuary, facing Uruguay.
The city is divided into 48 neighbourhoods, the barrios. In the centre, Avenida de Mayo links the Casa Rosada to the Congreso building, and the huge Avenida 9 de Julio runs past the foot of the Obelisco. To the north lie Recoleta and Palermo; to the east, Puerto Madero has turned the old docks into a district of towers. It is also the city where tango was born, at the end of the 19th century.
Reversed seasons
South of the equator, the southern-hemisphere summer, from December to February, is hot and humid, punctuated by storms; winter, from late May to early September, remains mild. Most high-rise bars, covered or glass-enclosed, open all year round; some open-air terraces only operate in spring and the southern-hemisphere summer.
Where to head up high in Buenos Aires
In the Microcentro, around the Comega
On the corner of Avenida Corrientes and Leandro N. Alem, the Comega building, one of the city's first skyscrapers, is home to two venues. Right at the top, the Trade Sky Bar spreads over two indoor levels and an open-air roof, with a 360° view of the Obelisco, Puerto Madero and the river. Four floors below, the Piso 15 Sky Bar pairs signature cocktails with cigars on a terrace under a glass roof looking out over the Río de la Plata.
Facing the Obelisco and towards Plaza San Martín
On the roof of the Grand Brizo hotel, the Cielo Sky Bar looks out over the Obelisco and Avenida 9 de Julio. Further north, near Plaza San Martín, the Pulitzer hotel's Visit Sky Bar cultivates a Mediterranean feel on its 13th-floor terrace, open in spring and the southern-hemisphere summer.
On Avenida de Mayo
On the 16th floor of the Palacio Barolo, the building inspired by the Divine Comedy, the Salón 1923 offers two terraces at the foot of the lighthouse, one facing the Obelisco, the other the Congreso, and a lounge decorated in the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
In Puerto Madero
On the 32nd floor of the Alvear Icon Hotel, the Crystal Bar is a fully glazed lounge overlooking the docks, the Reserva Ecológica and the Río de la Plata.
In Recoleta and Palermo
On the 11th floor of the Alvear Palace Hotel, the Alvear Roof Bar sets out its terrace under a pergola facing the rooftops of Recoleta. In Palermo, the Bestial Fly Bar goes all out on extravagance on the 11th floor of a building on Avenida Santa Fe. On the 28th floor of the Qiub tower, the Trade Sky Club, the second venue from Trade, opens up a 360° view of the city.
Cocktails, food and atmosphere
Signature cocktails and reinvented classics
Menus like to rework the classics with Argentine ingredients, from malbec to dulce de leche, and make room for bitters such as Cynar. You can nibble on tapas or empanadas, and some venues serve proper meals, even sushi. Prices are shown in Argentine pesos and change quickly: it is best to check the current menu before you go.
A rooftop for every occasion
As a couple, with friends or after work
For a sunset date for two, think of the Crystal Bar, the Alvear Roof Bar or the Salón 1923. With friends, the Trade Sky Bar, the Trade Sky Club or the Bestial Fly Bar keep the night going to DJ sets. After work, the Cielo Sky Bar, the Piso 15 Sky Bar and the Visit Sky Bar are very close to the centre.
Getting around easily
The Subte serves most of these venues: Leandro N. Alem (line B) for the Comega, Carlos Pellegrini (line B), 9 de Julio (line D) and Diagonal Norte (line C) around the Obelisco, San Martín (line C) for the Pulitzer, Sáenz Peña (line A) for Avenida de Mayo, Palermo (line D) for Palermo and Las Heras or Facultad de Derecho (line H) for Recoleta.
Tips for enjoying the rooftops of Buenos Aires
Booking, minimum spend and dress code
Most high-rise bars open in the late afternoon or evening. Book when you can, especially at weekends and for sunset. Some require a minimum spend per person, and the smartest ones expect you to dress up. For seasonal terraces, check the opening days before you go.
Photo : Leo.silvero94 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0