Serrano 1595 (corner with Honduras - Plaza Serrano), Palermo Soho

If you consider yourself a hipster, an intellectual, an artist, or just too cool for categorization, come join the club at El Taller. This multiespacio - a word used in Buenos Aires to describe a multi-functional space - in this case with a bar, café, art space, and discussion salon, was one of the first businesses to appear in Plaza Serrano in the mid-1980s.

El Taller has made beautiful use of the building by carefully placing framed artwork all over the walls. You could spend an hour just gazing at the art, taking in each piece separately and letting yourself be inspired or intrigued by the various Argentine artists. The bar is open from 9am to 2am Mondays through Thursdays; and until 3am on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays [and in case you didn’t know, in Argentina there’s a holiday every, oh, two weeks :)].

An activity for every kind of creative urge at El Taller

El Taller translates as “the workshop”, and the bar is so named because it offers various classes, seminars, and clubs in this space. On Monday nights there is a philosophy club, on Saturday early afternoons there is a yoga class, and they also have various theater workshops.

Stop by the place or give them a call (4831-5501 from within Buenos Aires) to inquire about what ongoing activities there are at the moment. Or if you yourself are an artist or intellectual, why not contact them to see if you can offer a class? This would be a great place to really experience porteño culture, if you speak Spanish. Hear and join in with the philosophy discussion in order to get the scoop on what intellectuals in one of the world’s biggest, most dynamic metropolises have to say about the meaning of life.

Kick back with some booze or a coffee, or grab a bite

If you’re looking for a peaceful café to relax in, El Taller is just the spot. The wall art and wide spaces with high ceilings create a calming feeling as you sip coffee, beer, wine, or a cocktail.

The drink prices are not so bad compared to other places in Plaza Serrano or Palermo Soho in general: a chopp (small mug) of Argentine beer will run you AR$5.50; glasses of wine can be as low as AR$4.50 and bottles as low as AR$10. Meanwhile, colorful cocktails are AR$8.50 and upward, and for those that like to keep a clear head during heated philosophical debates, coffees come in between AR$3 and AR$5.

El Taller is probably best for visiting with friends over drinks or some light picadas (platters of ham, cheese, olives etc), but if you are hungry the kitchen offers Argentine standards such as pastas, crepes, pizzas, lomitos (thin lomo steak sandwiches), salads with plenty of fresh vegetables, omelettes, chicken sandwiches, and hamburgers (with a few different bread options). All pretty run-of-the-mill, decent fare.

Join some friendly and eclectic people for an afternoon snack or lunch

The service at El Taller is pretty punctual, but far removed from what you might find in some corporate restaurant. The staff is friendly and energetic and happy to tell you about the various workshops and classes going on, or to give you guidance with the menu.

To sum up, El Taller is a great showcase of current intellectual and artistic trends in Buenos Aires, one of the cultural capitals of the world. It is a great place to visit just once, or to become a regular, depending on what your interests are. Whether you come to the city with friends, significant others, or family, you will find that it is worth a visit to this Plaza Serrano favorite just to absorb the atmosphere and observe the diverse clientèle.

El Taller: The Verdict

• Overall cafe rating: (3/5) This is a great place to have a drink on your way to dinner or spend an afternoon writing in a journal. However, the activities offered by El Taller are probably going to appeal more to long-term visitors to Buenos Aires, expats, or locals.
• Buenos Aires Authenticity Factor: (3/5) El Taller is one of the oldest cafes in the plaza, and it represents the cultural revolution that has been taking place in modern-day Buenos Aires.
• Value: (4/5) For the location and the beautiful décor, this café is worth spending some time and money getting to know it - but remember this is Plaza Serrano, a tourist hotspot, so don’t expect bargain prices.

Buenos Aires Argentina Guide Special Tip

Make your trip to El Taller into a day outing at weekends when the plaza filled with artisans displaying their hand-made crafts. You can wander around Plaza Serrano for an hour or two and then rejuvenate with a coffee and some medialunas at El Taller, before wandering more among the shops and boutiques of Palermo Viejo.