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El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a bookshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2008, The Guardian placed it as the second most beautiful bookshop in the world. In 2019, it was named the "world's most beautiful bookstore" by the National Geographic. Overview Façade of the building.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a stunning bookstore in Buenos Aires, ranked as the second best in the world by The Guardian. It was originally a theatre and cinema that hosted cultural events and recorded singers like Carlos Gardel.
Jan 12, 2019 · National Geographic has named El Ateneo Grand Splendid the top shop in the world. But that's only where the history of the 100-year-old Buenos Aires building, once a palatial theater,...
- Bob Mondello
Feb 7, 2011 · A former theater and cinema, now a stunning bookstore in Buenos Aires. Learn about its history, architecture, and tango legacy.
- Overview
- Related: 14 epic libraries around the world
- For the little ones
- Limited English section
- Best spots for selfies
- When to visit
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Inside a converted theater, travelers discover a temple of books.
On a bustling commercial street in the fashionable Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, you can visit a serene temple of books. The lighting is soft, with accents that showcase the best in early 20th-century craftsmanship. Conversations are hushed, as if in a grand library, yet the space is so warm and welcoming that the raised café at the back of the cavernous room is filled with patrons reading and sipping cappuccinos and chocolate submarinos.
You’ve entered the Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore, which blogs and guidebooks often dub “the world’s most beautiful bookstore.” They may not be wrong. The sprawling shop is housed in a beautifully preserved antique theater. Only instead of tango dancers and singers, the stars are now the printed word. [Our editors recommend the best travel books to read now.]
The building opened as a theater in 1919, when Buenos Aires was booming as a major port and center of commerce. A flood of recent immigrants, particularly from Europe, helped fuel a rich cultural and arts scene, including the birth of tango. Like the surrounding blocks and the city itself, the theater brims with both old world flourishes—such as the gorgeous frescoes on the soaring ceiling—and Latin flair, such as the friendly staff, great coffee, and relaxed pace.
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Ninth-century illuminated manuscripts and the earliest known architectural plan drawn on parchment are just some of the literary treasures at the resplendent 1,200-year-old Baroque-style Convent of St Gall in Switzerland .
Ninth-century illuminated manuscripts and the earliest known architectural plan drawn on parchment are just some of the literary treasures at the resplendent 1,200-year-old Baroque-style Convent of St Gall in Switzerland.
Photograph by Heeb/laif/Redux
Ateneo Grand Splendid opened in the space at the start of the 2000s. It offers up thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, and more to the more than one million people who drop in a year. Travelers find a wonderful experience browsing the colorful shelves arranged artfully in the former orchestra and mezzanine sections. Former luxury boxes offer quiet nooks, with stunning views, to peruse a book or take it all in. The café is actually set on the theater’s former stage, so you can imagine your name in lights as you tuck into a pastry. [Discover the best things to see in Buenos Aires.]
Ateneo Grand Splendid has a wonderful and lively kids’ section in the heart of the building, where youngsters excitedly flip through the latest titles. Anglophones beware: Spanish offerings only.
For adults, the store does have a small shelf of titles in English at the front, but the offerings are slim, mostly romance novels and drugstore thrillers. A few of the large format photo books are available in English.
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The store is so gorgeous that many people stop in just for a look, including tourists. And the staff seems completely comfortable with that. Head to the stunning view from the top balcony, particularly a little off-center to either side. That allows travelers to avoid the small line of people taking selfies at dead center. Shooting from the stage c...
The stage café can get busy, so if you want to avoid waiting for a seat, come at an off time, particularly during the week. January and February are the most popular months to visit Buenos Aires, followed by October (remember the seasons are opposite those of the Northern Hemisphere). June tends to be the least busy month. Regardless of when you go, Ateneo Grand Splendid is more than a bookstore. It’s a piece of history breathing new life.
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Part bookstore, part hostel, this just might be the best place to catch some rest in the world’s largest city.
Visit the Ateneo Grand Splendid, a historic bookstore in Buenos Aires, Argentina, housed in a former theater. Browse thousands of books, CDs, and DVDs, enjoy a coffee in the stage café, and admire the frescoes and views.
- 2 min
- Brian Clark Howard
Argentina. Capital Federal District. Buenos Aires. Things to Do in Buenos Aires. El Ateneo Grand Splendid. 23,347 reviews. #1 of 568 Sights & Landmarks in Buenos Aires. Speciality & Gift ShopsArchitectural Buildings. Write a review. About. Situated in an old theater, El Ateneo is one of the most popular bookstores in Buenos Aires.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a bookstore that occupies a former theater and opera house in Buenos Aires. Learn about its history, architecture, and literary tradition in this guide.
