With the PASO vote this Sunday, Buenos Aires is going dry for 25 hours this weekend as part of a veda electoral (electoral ban) that prohibits the sale and purchase of alcohol, among other activities. Fortunately, the veda ends this Sunday at 9 p.m., and we have just the outing to celebrate the occasion.

Cervecerías (beer halls) are among the most popular drinking venues in the city. While a majority are clustered in the more touristy neighborhoods of Palermo and Colegiales, you’re never more than a SUBE ride away from a savory brew.

Beer culture has exploded across the globe in recent decades with the proliferation of microbreweries, and the Argentine capital is no exception. In recent years, these watering holes have emerged as cheaper, less noisy alternatives to the city’s ubiquitous night clubs. They’re also a popular hangout for coworkers to blow off some steam after a long day at the office or to commiserate over the peso’s latest plunge. 

Indeed, it’s become something of a winter ritual to huddle beneath an outdoor heat lamp with a pitcher or a craft beer in hand. You may even be able to bum a cigarette from a stranger at the same table — not that we at the Herald officially condone such behavior. 

Whether you’re organizing a get together with friends or a hot date with a new flame, there’s sure to be a cervecería that appeals to your palate and sensibilities. Although the majority of our recommendations are located in Buenos Aires city, a few are in Buenos Aires province. Here are ten of our favorites — and a few brews you might want to throw back.

Our 10 Favorite Breweries

Strange Brewing (Delgado 658, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Monday to Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday) — A social hub of sorts in Colegiales with ample outdoor seating, Strange Brewing is a great spot to meet new people. It also has some excellent merch if you’re in the market for an ironic tee or hoodie.

Rabieta (Libertador 3949, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday). — Nestled in the Palermo Hippodrome, Rabieta is designed for its guests to mingle with each other outdoors while taking in some live music. And if you’re a Guinness lover, this is the brewery for you.

Minta’s & Purra Birra Club (Eduardo Costa 874, Tuesday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.) — With an additional location in Victoria, BA province, Minta’s & Purra Birra Club is proof that the city doesn’t have a monopoly on great breweries.

Prinston (Mariano Moreno 272, 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 12 a.m. Sunday) — Along with IPAs and NEIPAa, Prinston boasts a menu that includes arepas, mozzarella sticks and some of the biggest cheeseburgers in the city. The brewery has additional locations in Devoto and Morón, the latter in BA province.

Juguetes Perdidos (Bartolomé Mitre 4560, Villa Lynch 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday) — Those looking to fill out their fridge with artisanal beer won’t regret a visit to Juguetes Perdidos, which won a gold medal in the wild beer category at this year’s World Beer Cup in Nashville, Tennessee. The brewery’s only locations are in BA province, but if you can’t make it to the taproom in Caseros, you can order cans and 750 ml bottles from its website.

Cervecería Bunker (Mario Bravo 1233, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Tuesday to Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday) — Brick walls and high ceilings make Cervercería Bunker a perfect venue for live music. The brewery was first established in 1945 and serves an assortment of fast foods that includes pizza and burgers.

Cervecería Charlone (Ramón Freire 745, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday) — With its mosaic floors and outdoor garden, Cervecería Charlone is one of the coziest breweries in the city, and its beer doesn’t disappoint. In 2022, it won a South Beer Cup award for best microbrewery.

Cervecería Untertürkheim (Humberto 1 899, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Monday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday) — A German-style beer hall with the architecture to match, Cervecería Untertürkheim serves classic Bavarian dishes like sausage and pork shoulder with sauerkraut. If you’re drinking with a group of people, be sure to order one of its giant glass boots.

Sebar Bodegón Cervecero (Sanabria 2402, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday) — This brewery in Monte Castro, BA province, features 13 beer varieties, including a popular sunset ale and a coffee stout with hints of chocolate.

Boca a Boca Cervecería (Junin 1763, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., all week) — Adjacent to the Recoleta Cemetery, BAB offers rooftop seating with some of the best views in the city. 

A few of our favorite things

It may not be readily available within the city’s limits, but true beer connoisseurs owe it to themselves to sample the prize-winning Ábrette Sésamo. Acidified in wooden barrels with bacteria and wild yeast over a period of 20 months, the brew sells for nearly ARS$ 3000 a bottle on the Juguetes Perdidos website and is worth every peso.

If fruit-infused beers are more your thing, Strange Brewing’s selections can’t be topped. We’re especially partial to the Cassius Clay — a sour ale that, true to its name, contains cassis and vanilla. 

Those with a taste for more conventional lagers and stouts will feel right at home in Cervercería Untertürkheim in San Telmo.

Whatever your preference, a brewery is only as memorable as the company you keep, so plan your next trip accordingly. Just make sure that it’s after the veda electoral has lapsed.