El Ateneo Grand Splendid

About El Ateneo Grand Splendid

Get the inside scoop on El Ateneo Grand Splendid from local experts, travel creators, and tastemakers. Browse genuine trip notes, El Ateneo Grand Splendid reviews, photos, travel guides, and itineraries from real travelers and plan your trip with confidence.

What people say

"El Ateneo Grand Splendid is now a massive bookstore in what was once El Teatro Gran Splendid, opened in 1919. Today, the remnants of the old theatre are still extremly obvious. What was once the stage is now a cafe. There is a large open area on the main floor full of rows of books, and above that, several balconies also full of books. You can easily imagine the seating from the balconies looking over the ledge to watch the theatre. This bookstore was named as the "Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World," by the National Geographic (2019) and the second most beautiful in the world by the Guardian in 2008. I'll admit that it is beautiful. It's definitely a spectacle, and something to see. However, there is something depressing about it at the same time. The energy doesn't feel quite right, and it doesn't feel all that grand or regal, but a bit old. In need of a renovation. I recommend stopping in, but also don't put your expectations too high. The cafe on the stage has several tables. Prices are affordable. Take a break and grab a coffee and something sweet."
Ariel Blakeman
"A former theatre, the Grand Splendid is one of the world's most beautiful bookstores. It preserves the splendour and elegance of the former Gran Splendid theatre/cinema, which was designed by architects Peró and Torres Armengol. Located in the Recoleta neighbourhood, El Grand Spendid theatre opened in 1919 and immediately became a beacon of porteño culture, hosting ballet, opera, and the first "talkies" shown in Buenos Aires. The venue was converted into a bookstore in the year 2000, beautifully preserving the original decoration, including the dome, which was painted with frescoes by Italian Nazareno Orlandi. The store stocks around 120,000 books and there is a bar on what was the stage area of the theatre, where you can drink a coffee while reading."
Niko Dudi
"One of the biggest and beautiful libraries in the world! Even though you can buy books, music and movies, coming here and enjoy the inside is an experience itself. The biggest library in South America and recognised by magazines like National Geographic and The Guardian. The opening was in 2000 but the building is the old Gran Splendid Theatre from the beginning of XX century and still have some construction (boxes at the top) and decoration from that time. In the old stage with the big curtains works a coffee shop where you can sit with your own book and have a peaceful moment to read something."

Mentioned in these guides

I have been living in Argentina for the past year (plus 5 months in Buenos Aires back in 2005). This is one of my favorite cities in the entire world, and I want to share with you what makes it so great. This 10 day itinerary begins on a Friday morning, and is arranged according to market schedules, or other events in the city that fall on particular days. But you can certainly do the activities out of order, and fit them to your schedule as needed. I have planned this 10-day itinerary to allow you to maximize your days, and hours in this amazing city, but still allow you to enjoy the small moments without feeling overwhelmed, and get rest when needed. I have spent around 100 hours researching, writing descriptions to give detailed information of every place mentioned in this itinerary, visiting and testing out each day; they are all genuine recommendations. I have carefully planned out and timed each activity, including transportation and time moving between sites. I have also linked related articles and videos from my blog and YouTube channel. This itinerary will provide you not only with daily activities, but information on how to get the best exchange rate, how to stay safe, and information for transportation- how to get from spot to spot, so you can put as little time into planning as possible. Let me do that for you! :) This is not the ideal itinerary for those seeking the nightlife and parties. It is full of morning, daytime, and evening activities (with a few optional activities that go into the night) to help you get to know the culture of Buenos Aires and Argentina. It does not include nightclubs. This is a great itinerary if you are coming to Buenos Aires for the first time and you want to see all the important places, along with a few extra gems. This can also serve if you live in the city but have friends and family coming to visit. I've got it all planned out for you! I have included a lot of walking in this itinerary, though I have attempted to concentrate each day in one particular area of the city whenever possible. However, the city is full of transportation options if you prefer less steps due to accessability issues, or fatigue. I strongly suggest reading through the entire itinerary at the beginning of the week in case there are places where you need to make a reservation. If so, it will be listed at the top of each day.
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A collection of popular and lesser-known places in Buenos Aires to explore, eat, drink, photograph, co-work, find community, and so much more! 🇦🇷 Nearly all of these I have been to myself, the remaining others I have been recommended repeatedly, but haven’t yet had the chance to visit. Even so, I've included everything here so you won't miss out! Inside, you’ll find 150+ unique recommendations sorted and subcategorized among the following sections: Sightseeing, Museums & Art Galleries, Outdoor Spaces, Day Trips, Cafés & Bakeries, Restaurants & Food, Nightlife, LGBTQ+, Shopping, Street Photography, and Bonus (rotating events & more!) As a bilingual, queer, and solo female traveler having spent 6+ months in Buenos Aires, this list is my treasured resource to daily life and tourism in the city with an emphasis on cultural immersion. I’ve included a wide array of free activities, affordable options, and a few handpicked higher-end experiences for passerby travelers and nomads alike. Buenos Aires is massive and has lots to offer, but is also home to hidden beauty and unique gems waiting to be discovered. I recommend you explore at your own pace, strolling the beautiful neighborhoods and leaving room for serendipity while sorting through the places in this guide that resonate with you the most!
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