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Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires attractions > La Confiteria Ideal La Confiteria IdealSuipacha 384 (@ Corrientes) ; Tel. +(011.54.11) 5265.8069
A Buenos Aires landmark since 1912 La Confiteria Ideal, or simply La Ideal, is an integral part of tango folklore. All the greats have performed here and scenes from movies like “Tango” and “Evita” were both filmed on the premises. The palatial building, a grand example of French-inspired Argentinean architecture, sits in the heart of the city’s Microcentro. The ground floor houses a traditional confiteria where coffee and a variety of pastries are served between 8am and midnight every day. Sipping a cup in the opulent surroundings of floor to ceiling mirrors and antique chandeliers, it is easy to imagine a time when the country’s leading artists and intellectuals called this home. But the main draw of La Ideal is the upstairs ballroom. It’s a bit down on heel these days, but its former splendor can be sensed in every detail. The marble columns that line the dance floor are still stunning and the gold leafed trellis in the ceiling, despite a few dents and scrapes here and there, doesn’t fail to impress. The tango lovers of Buenos Aires flock here for the matinee dance from 3.30pm to 9pm, and the evening dance which starts at 10.30 most days runs deep into the night (see above for details). Entrance is $10 AR for the matinee and $15 AR for the evening dance. As most who come here are at least proficient dancers, the casual visitor might feel more comfortable watching from the sidelines, or maybe attend one of the many popular tango courses offered during the afternoons before entering the fray. But even wallflowers that have not yet mastered the intricate steps of the national dance can still enjoy the elegant ambience and the music, which is performed live by leading tango groups most nights. The menu is not extensive but reasonable. A liter bottle of Quilmes costs $8 AR and wines between $10 and $100AR. La Ideal is a living piece of Porteño history and well worth a visit for tango aficionados and fans of Buenos Aries’s stylish café culture alike. —La Confiteria Ideal review by Johan Jensen
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