El Ateneo Grand Splendid: Buenos Aires' magical bookstore
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El Ateneo Grand Splendid is by far the most magical bookstore we’ve ever visited. As soon as you walk in, you’re not greeted by the usual rows of bookshelves but by the stunning interior of an old theater, complete with golden balconies and a ceiling adorned with frescoes. Originally opened in 1919 as a theater and cinema, it still retains that old-school glamor. Yes, we’re talking velvet curtains and intricate moldings!
We headed straight for the stage (or what used to be the actual stage) where there’s now a café, and ordered a coffee while flipping through some books. For a moment we felt like we were part of Buenos Aires’ artistic history. 😉 What we also found really interesting is that this place wasn’t just for reading; it even had its own radio station back in the day!
If you’re with kids, the basement is packed with children’s books so head there first. The top floor is used to host exhibitions, when we were there we could browse through hundreds of Japanese mangas! There really is something for everyone. All in all, we spent over one hour here wandering the aisles, peeking into old theater boxes, and drinking something at the cafe. It’s a must-visit when in Argentina's capital!
