Originally a word that described a specific kind of Argentine music from colonial days, nowadays the term milonga commonly describes a tango dancing joint with regular dates and hours. Milongas have been around for ages, as spaces to get lost in the melodies of Gardel and Corsini, and pass the early hours of the morning dancing until sunrise.

There are hundreds of milongas around Buenos Aires, and most of them welcome both experts and first-timers. Below are a few of our favorites, but don’t stop there, check out Hoy Milonga to find your milonga of the day — it’s a site that lists every milonga around Buenos Aires depending on the date, so there’s no excuse not to dance.

La Catedral Club

Sarmiento 4006, Almagro

Website: www.lacatedralclub.com

Instagram: @lacatedralclub

Hours: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Tango classes at 6.30 p.m, 8 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. Milonga until late.

This bohemian dance space up a staircase in Almagro has a large hall festooned with art and curious sculptures that hover in the mood lighting. Just next to the dancefloor, a bar serves tasty food to sustain you through the night. It’s a dynamic space with plenty of live performances and other events, so check their Instagram to see what’s on the night you plan to visit. This one is popular with tourists and friendly to newcomers.

El Beso

Riobamba 416, Balvanera

Website: https://elbeso.com.ar 

Instagram: @elbesotango

Hours: Open daily with milongas starting around 3 p.m. most days and running until very late.

El Beso is known as “La Casa de la Milonga Permanente” which translates to “the house of the permanent milonga.” It’s the only place in the world where 365 days out of the year from afternoon to late into the night you can dance tango without interruption. A landmark for milonga culture, El Beso is internationally recognized and this temple of tango attracts professional dancers from all over the globe.

La Viruta Tango Club

Armenia 1366, Palermo Soho

Website: https://lavirutatangoclub.com

Instagram: @lavirutatangoclub

Hours: Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8 p.m. until late.

Located in the heart of Palermo Soho, this club is both very conveniently situated and welcoming to beginners. It’s a beautiful, intimate venue that offers classes of tango, rock and roll and salsa. In addition to their milongas, you can expect live shows with great music. La Viruta is a classic, well-known spot that just turned 30 years old! 

Club Gricel

La Rioja 1180, San Cristóbal

Website: http://clubgricel.com.ar

Instagram: @clubgricel

Hours: Open daily, time varies depending on the events of the day. The space is typically open in the evening until late.

Club Gricel is another classic spot that’s been around for more than 30 years. A beginner-friendly space, it also offers a variety of shows, milongas, classes of tango, salsa, bachata and rock and roll for all skill levels. The venue is home to well-known milongas such as La Milonga de Lucy on Monday evenings, which showcases music from the 1940s and 1950s orchestras. The Yira Yira Milonga on Friday nights offers classes, a show and an orchestra. Food is available with simple options like pizza, milanesas, or a picada. You’ll want to make a reservation for milongas beforehand to be sure to save your space.

La Glorieta de Belgrano

Plaza de Barrancas de Belgrano, 11 de Septiembre and Echeverría

Instagram: @laglorietamilongaabierta

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 5 p.m. classes, 6:30 to 11 p.m. open milonga

La Glorieta is an enormous outdoor pavilion in a large park in Belgrano that hosts milongas on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s definitely worth checking out especially due to the outdoor atmosphere and beautiful space, a more relaxed environment that tends to be more casual attire than other milongas. If you’re a little nervous about going to a club, this can be a good place to start — you can sit nearby in the park and watch until you’re ready to join. Follow their instagram for updates regarding the milongas.