Ana D.

Beautiful bookstore. With lots of options English books included. It had a coffee shop inside where you can enjoy a hot drink and also plenty of areas where you can read the books you just bought. This is a must visit if you're in Buenos Aires. It can get hectic so be prepared to be surrounded by lots of people.

Tracey A.

Who'd have thought a bookstore, featuring only about 1% of its collection in the English language, would be a 5-star experience for someone who speaks and reads only English? El Ateneo is a Buenos Aires must-visit bookstore regardless of the languages you speak or read. Housed in the one-time "Grand Splendid Theatre" (from 1919), the shop retains the original, ornate balconies, stage curtains, and detailed ceiling. At the rear is a café (Havana chain, but don't let that deter you) where, if you face El Ateneo's front door you have the most delightful view imaginable. You are essentially on stage, a marvelous place to drink in the space while enjoying a glass of wine or perhaps a latte. I walked by here on a day when I didn't enter, amazed to see people lined up at the doors awaiting the shop's opening. I'll admit, it'd been forever since I'd seen people queueing up to enter a bookstore, but this one is worth it. Enjoy the small selection of English language books, take the escalator down to check out the vinyl, and more than anything, make time for the cafe and the gorgeous space itself. It was so delightful that I was inspired to return only days later for a second visit. It remains one of my most memorable Buenos Aires experiences.

Tyler L.

I'd seen this bookstore show up on the internet as an "attraction" of the city. It turns out that this is not just any bookstore. This location used to be a theatre since the early 1900s and was later converted into a bookstore in 2000. However, the architecture was preserved during the conversion. This place was named the most beautiful bookstore in the world by National Geographic and it was easy to see why. The stage has been turned into a cafe and the ceiling has a beautiful frescoed dome. The entire place is also surrounded by intricate balconies. It looked just like the fancy Broadway theatres I have seen in New York. I am glad I stopped by even though I had no interest in buying a book.

Doug L.

This was one of the most crowded but beautiful bookstores I've visited in all my travels. The bookstore took over a former theatre and left much of the splendid design and architecture in place and seemed successful in merging both. The stage was turned into a cafe that was busy that afternoon. It served coffee and light dishes. As others pointed out, the second floor was one of the best locations to take the views all in and take photos. It also was slightly less crowded upstairs but also had some seating to relax and read a book. The ground floor was best for the views up to the painted ceiling. I stayed for less than 20 minutes.

This was a fun stop. I wish they had more children's books in both English and Spanish but thoroughly enjoyed the impressive store and historical building.

Shirley N.

This bookstore is amazing. What was a theater has transformed into a bookstore. Voted in 2019 as the world's most beautiful bookstore by National Geographic. Our trip leader dropped those of us interested in seeing it. We were to made our own way back to our hotel. We only went in to take our obligatory picture as did many others. The 2d floor provided the best spot. After taking several shots we made our way out. There is bathroom facility if needed.

Ernie H.

You don't really need me to tell you to come here right? The fact that you're checking this Yelp means you're debating it - well don't debate just show up. It's worth it. This is one of the most beautiful bookstores you're ever going to see and it's located in Buenas Aires cosmopolitan area so you can indulge in some retail therapy. My pictures will do it no justice.

Teresa M.

What can you say about El Ataneo the most spectacular beautiful bookstore in the world named by National Geographic. Loved roaming thru all the floors so divine and the reading nooks throughout. One of my favorite places in Buenos Aires.

The architecture is spectacular. The gift store prices are outrageous. A 4" x 4" notebook was $80 each. Check prices before getting in line to checkout. The café is not good at all. They dont know how to make ice cofffees...very bland and no taste.

Veronique C.

Impressive bookstore in what used to be a beautiful theater. The boxes at the end of the balconies are for reading. There is a coffeeshop in the back to relax and enjoy the atmosphere with a yummy pastries.

Irene E.

A little impressed at first, but then not really impressed. 71.2% (2020) of books are sold online, physical bookstores seem on the decline, closing than opening. Another stat is North America has 32.9% of the world book market (2021). This bookstore is in Barrio Norte. The theater opened in 1919, with 1050 seating. The converted bookstore was opened in 2000s, the stage is now a cafe. According to wikipedia, it sold 700,000 books in 2007 and 1 million people visit it annually.  It made some waves in 2008 and 2019. But isn't that impressive. Old, in a sense that it needs repair. Big tour buses park outside is a huge turn off. A Korean group was there. They juggling for photo ops, and chit chat rather loudly ... this kind of behavior just not mesh with a bookstore. Beside, how many of them will buy a Spanish language book? Tranquility is what a bookstore needs.

Michael C.

A book lover's dream! An old theatre converted into an absolutely enormous bookstore and cafe. I couldn't shopped here for a full day!

Heather A.

As a booklover there is something magical about seeing such a beautiful place filled with books but beyond the building and the natural beauty of books to a booklover it is a mediocre bookstore. It lacks the well thought out displays I love about independent bookstores and while there were a vast number of categories of books, the books within those catergories were disorganized. I was looking for manga and poetry while I was there. The manga series were not in numerical order and the poetry was all a jumble with the same copy of books on different shelves. I was willing to sift through the titles to find what I was looking for but when I sat to try and look through the bottom two shelves an employee informed me I couldn't sit on the floor. I have no idea how anyone would possibly find a slim volume of poetry on the bottommost shelf without sitting down. I love a nice bookstore cafe and this one had the set up for a great one being set on the stage but the area was just a collection of standard tables and chairs. I did appreciate that some of the original stage lighting mechanisms were still there but beyond that if you weren't looking out into the main bookstore area you'd think you were in a bland cafe lacking much character. I did appreciate that the prices didn't seem steep in the cafe, that the cafe's wait staff was amazing, and that the staff didn't seem concerned if you only made a small purchase. Overall its worth visiting but if you are looking to shop for books there are several more on that same block alone that lack the beauty but have far more character and better books.