Milongas and tango houses

Sarmiento 4006 · Almagro

Tuesday to Saturday, classes from 18:30, milonga from 21:00

An old grain warehouse in Almagro turned bohemian hall, all high ceilings, salvaged art and dim light. Classes run before most milongas and the room is far less formal than the traditional salons, which is why it is usually the first stop for people new to tango in Buenos Aires.

Riobamba 416 · Balvanera

Milongas every day of the year, times vary by organiser

The house of the permanent milonga: open since 1999 and running a rotating calendar of milongas, classes and prácticas every day. The salon on Riobamba is small and classic, with a loyal milonguero crowd that follows the traditional codes closely. Newcomers can find friendly classes among the many organisers who use the room.

Riobamba 416, salón El Beso · Balvanera

Tuesday and Saturday, from 21:00

Organised by Héctor and Norma inside the historic El Beso salon, and known in the milonguero world for its careful seating of couples and singles so the cabeceo works properly. It suits dancers who already know the etiquette of the classic salons. One of the most respected traditional milongas still running.

Av. Rivadavia 2100 · Balvanera

Tango dinner show most nights, check times with the venue

Opened in 1890 as the Bar Rivadavia and a Bar Notable of the city, once a haunt of Carlos Gardel, with more than a hundred original photographs of porteño life on its walls. Today it works mainly as a polished tango dinner show rather than a social milonga, so come to watch rather than to dance.

Armenia 1366 · Palermo

Wednesday to Sunday, classes then milonga from around 20:00

Founded in 1994 in the basement of the Armenian Cultural Association, La Viruta is the biggest tango school and milonga in the country. Classes for every level run before most nights, so it is one of the easiest places to start, and there are live orchestras, shows and dinner. The crowd is young and mixed, locals and visitors together.

Av. Córdoba 5064 · Palermo

Tuesday, class then milonga, check the venue for other nights

A traditional neighbourhood sports and social club whose hall turns into one of the classic Palermo milongas, with different organisers through the week. Classes for all levels, including groups only for beginners, run before the dancing. The barrio club feel sets it apart from the formal downtown salons.

La Rioja 1180 · San Cristóbal

Friday and Saturday, milonga from 22:30, check the venue for other nights

One of the most emblematic ballrooms of porteño tango, with a big wooden floor, a gallery running around it and warm acoustics. The crowd is mostly experienced and holds to the codes of the salon, though classes are offered and nobody is turned away. It has run tango nights for generations.

Maipú 365 · San Nicolás

Wednesday and Thursday, milonga from 22:00

One of the central dates of the porteño circuit, running for decades and now held at the historic Salón Marabú. Live orchestras and exhibitions are common and the floor mixes seasoned dancers with visitors. There is no fixed beginner class, so most people arrive with some experience.

Suipacha 384 · San Nicolás

Tango nights and classes, confirm the current schedule with the venue

Open since 1912 and one of the grand historic cafés of the city, with a two floor interior of bronze, wood and stucco restored after a long closure. It has been a legendary setting for tango scenes and milongas, and people come as much for the room as for the dancing. Confirm the current tango schedule before you go.

Perú 571 · San Telmo

Thursday, class at 21:00, milonga from 22:30

A long running Thursday night at the Atroden Club in San Telmo, with a beginner and intermediate class before the dancing. The orchestra El Afronte plays live and there is usually an exhibition around midnight. The crowd is younger and less strict about the traditional codes, so couples dance together all night.