Discover Buenos Aires through these 5 dazzling bookstores

A thoughtfully designed bookstore has the kind of magic that transcends language. This is especially true in Argentina’s capital city of Buenos Aires, which has long been celebrated as one of the world’s great literary cities with more bookstores per capita than almost anywhere else.

The city is most famous for El Ateneo Grand Splendid, which is often recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. But for those who know where to look, the city contains much more than this single dazzling literary homage. 

(This is the world's most beautiful bookstore)

Despite years of economic and political instability, and limitless distractions caused by the digital age, the bookstores of Buenos Aires are flourishing at a time when they are disappearing everywhere else. This is due to the vital role bookstores play in the city’s culture. Locals don’t just buy books, they experience life through their bookstores. “We like people to perceive us as a link to their favorite writers and as a cultural space where interesting things happen,” says Alejandro Simeoni, owner of Libros del Pasaje.

These bookstores regularly host literary events for adults and children that are well attended—even if, in the case of smaller spaces, attendees have to sit on the ground, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, to participate. Beyond books, these shops are regularly filled with remote workers, friends meeting for coffee, parents and children on family outings, and couples on dates. Places like Dain Usina Cultural host special events like weddings, communions, birthdays, brit milah celebrations, as well as business events.

From a spacious modern shop filled with local art to a spot with live jazz and a speakeasy atmosphere, we’ve selected five independent bookstores that will dazzle bibliophiles regardless of their Spanish language skills. Many of these are commonly recommended by porteños (residents of Buenos Aires), and have great cafes and plenty of seating, so visitors can spend hours reading, working remotely, or just absorbing the beauty of each store.

Borges 1975, Palermo Soho

This shop multitasks seamlessly between its identities as a bookstore, cafe, and jazz club. Leather couches arranged in the middle of the space invite readers to curl up underneath the dim glow of quirky light fixtures, but the french doors dividing the space lead to a chic greenhouse-style cafe filled with sunshine, tables, and plenty of outlets for remote workers. At night, the entire space transforms into a softly lit cocktail bar with jazz musicians tucked under a large palm tree.

Tip: Plan a visit for the early evening—to catch the sunset through the cafe—and order a La Cubana, a rum-based rice pudding-inspired cocktail, while the jazz band warms up for the first performance of the evening. These jazz shows typically start at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Dain Usina Cultural, Palermo Soho

The modern industrial aesthetic of this shop is a refreshing change from the old world charm found in most of Buenos Aires’ bookstores. The hulking front door opens into three distinct spaces: the bookstore, a sleek white cafe, and a more casual lounge area lit by an enormous skylight three stories above and filled with art pieces by local artists. The focal point of the first floor is a wall of books and a playful spiral staircase that allows visitors to access volumes that would otherwise be out of reach. It is such a unique space that Argentinian actor and director Adrián Suar recently used Dain Usina Cultural as a film location for an upcoming untitled 2026 film, according to the store’s owner Endy Dain.

Tip: Stop by the cafe to order a tea and homemade scones with marmalade before heading up to the rooftop for an outdoor reading session among the city’s lush treetops. 

Libros del Pasaje, Palermo Soho

The towering wood bookcases, vintage chairs, and vaulted brick ceiling give this bookstore a lived-in charm that makes it feel like an extension of a visitor’s own home. What really elevates the space, though, are the rolling library ladders scattered around the store that are bound to make many book lovers’ fantasies come true. Spend an hour in this shop and it's clear how important it is to the local community. The ample seating in the cafe space, which includes a discreet stage, is regularly used for book club meetings throughout the day and doubles as an event space for author talks, children’s shows, and even musical performances.

Tip: Order a café con leche and a media luna (a local pastry) from the bookstore’s cafe. Then settle into the single reading chair on the lofted second floor for an extra cozy reading experience.

La Librería de Ávila, Monserrat

It is not hard to believe that this is the oldest bookstore in the city because the unmistakable perfume of ancient paper and bookbinding glue greets visitors as soon as they step through the doors. Owner Miguel de Ávila says visitors can find books dating back to the 1500s that detail the history of the Americas before and after colonization, and include vivid descriptions of indigenous cultures and legends. With over 100,000 new and used titles, every crevice of the store is brimming with books—even the grand marble staircase behind the cash register is used as an artistic display.

Tip: Ask to see the cordoned-off basement which is home to the older books in the store. When a staff member is there, they allow a few visitors down at a time.

(7 of the best bookshops to visit in the UK)

Eterna Cadencia, Palermo Hollywood

Voted one of the top 10 most beautiful bookstores in the world, this shop is styled like a well-preserved Victorian library. The expansive floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, worn wood floors, and ornate chandeliers—which were thrifted from an old church and originally held candles—lend an air of elegance and luxury to a browser’s experience. The cafe mirrors this antique charm with its tiled floors, glass ceiling, and playful decorations made from old books. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Eterna Cadencia, which is one of several bookstores in the city that maintains the tradition of publishing books as well as selling them. They produce about 15-20 fiction and nonfiction titles a year. 

Tip: Spend some time reading in the hidden nook at the back of the store while sipping on a seasonal fruit smoothie from the cafe.

(8 unmissable culinary highlights of Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital)