Dance Buenos Aires: tell us what music you like and we’ll tell you where to go

If you love the retro vibe, this is the night you need. El Club de la Serpiente is a party that combines the best disco, funk, and pop music from the 80s. It's pure magic; you'll feel like Alice in Wonderland, dancing in a universe of colors. Each night features an immersive setup full of fantastic characters, creating a mood on the dance floor that will unleash your best moves. The excitement from the turntables and as the Mistress of Ceremonies is provided by La Serpiente, a fantasy character in costume who commands the party.

Fun fact: The attire of the party’s hype troupe and the stage setups are incredible. Day of the Dead, Enchanted Forest, Shanghai Experience are some of the visual themes they propose. Everyone is invited to play a role and come to the party dressed for the occasion.

Where: The party is itinerant but usually takes place at Club Amerika, Gascón 1040.

"La Fiesta del Perreo" has been going strong for 13 years and is considered a pioneer in the genre. If you’re looking for an atmosphere with old-school Latin rhythms and pure twerking, this is your place. You'll dance to reggaeton and dembow classics from legends like Tego Calderón, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, or Farruko until your legs give out. You can find them at Uniclub in the Abasto neighborhood or at La Casa Del Perreo in Congreso.

Fun fact: In summer, they organize their classic Pool Party, a reggaeton party that heats up the dance floor while you can cool off on an inflatable mattress in the pool like in a movie.

Where: El Teatrito, Sarmiento 1752, Congreso.

If you want to move your body to the rhythm of Afrobeat, you must know El Gran Capitán. The band was born in 2013 as a tribute to artists like Fela Kuti, Antibalas, and Tony Allen. Their rhythms have roots and influences from traditional African music and jazz, but they also carry the flavor of Latin American folklore. Every Wednesday, they host a jam with guest musicians and DJs to break up the week with pure rhythm.

Fun fact: Entry is free, so you can use the money you save to enjoy something tasty or a good drink to elevate your spirit.

Where: Vuela el Pez, Córdoba 4379, Villa Crespo.

With musicians from Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, the band proposes a crossover between oriental candombe and music from artists like Sade, Sting, Charly García, Rubén Rada, or Britney Spears every Wednesday at Bar Congo. You already know the melodies, but they take them to their own musical universe. Each Wednesday features a different guest.

Fun fact: Congo’s patio is like a small jungle in the middle of Palermo, ideal for setting the mood for a rhythm full of drums and Afro culture.

Where: Every Wednesday from 10 PM at Congo, Honduras 5329, Palermo.

It's called La Biblioteca, but here no one comes to read—at least not on party nights—but to dance until the candles burn out to the rhythm of national and international DJs. The event's atmosphere is what makes it so special and different: a dance floor surrounded by bookshelves and candelabras, an intimate electronic party like a reading room with dim light and techno in the background to set the mood.

Fun fact: Occasionally, La Biblioteca becomes a meeting point for tasting modern and sophisticated wines.

Where: México 524, San Telmo.

It is a futuristic cultural center named after Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, featuring electronic music events and visuals, such as the Jagged party, a funk, hip hop, jazz, and neo soul jam with freestyle guests and VJs and DJs who paint the space with lights and sound. It’s formed by a community of artists creating a creative hub of music, gastronomy, performances, workshops, and conceptual installations.

Fun fact: The space aims to use renewable energy in its facilities as a way to raise awareness and contribute to the sustainability of the place.

Where: Aráoz 740, Villa Crespo.

Do you like good old Rock & Roll with touches of pop music? The indie spirit turns into jam at these parties, which one night can improvise in a jam version; another night, become a concert with live bands, or simply dedicate the dance floor to a selection of national and international indie music for the delight of its faithful and a friendly indie pogo.

Fun fact: On their social media, in addition to announcing their upcoming events, they share playlists and gems with curiosities about their favorite artists.

Where: El Emergente, Francisco Acuña de Figueroa 1030, Almagro.

These are two versions of the same party: Cumbia Konex is a tropical party usually held at Ciudad Cultural Konex. All the groups that were our soundtrack in the 90s perform here, from Damas Gratis to Karina La Princesita, including Flor de Piedra and Los del Fuego, among many others. Buenos Aires Cumbia is the “festival” version of the same party, held in open spaces for about 15,000 people. The essence is the same, only the chorus that plays in the refrains is much more powerful.

Fun fact: The party has a level of production that has taken the tropical experience to another level, with top-notch screens, sound, and lighting, plus a series of entertainment proposals that enhance the experience.

Where: Sarmiento 3131, Ciudad Cultural Konex.

You might also be interested in: 10 places to see and hear jazz music in Buenos Aires

We cannot overlook our folkloric roots and all their beautiful forms of expression through dance. To learn to dance or share a chacarera, a gato, a milonga, a chamamé, a malambo, a zamba, a gato, or a candombe, we recommend stopping by Peña La Paila. It has a renewed artistic program every week and is a great window to enjoy our various musical landscapes.

Fun fact: Between dances or while you travel with the music, you can enjoy delicious traditional dishes from different corners of Argentina. And if you want to learn to dance folklore, there are workshops for all tastes during the week.

Where: Costa Rica 4848, Palermo.

No selection of dance rhythms in Buenos Aires would be complete without a recommendation for tango. Here the list is long and the options are varied, as it's clearly a topic that deserves a separate article.

But we choose La Viruta for being a classic and perhaps the most popular spot. On Fridays and Saturdays, the milonga lasts until six in the morning, and La Viruta's basement seems to be lost in time.

Fun fact: La Viruta is suitable for those who know how to dance and for those who want to learn tango. The atmosphere becomes more professional as the night goes on; beginners arrive early, and those who know the rhythm come in the early morning.

Where: Armenia 1366, Palermo.