Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires restaurants > Rey Castro

Rey Castro

Peru 342 (@ Av. Belgrano); Tel. +(011.54.11) 4342.9998
Hours: M-Su 10am - late
Price range: $$$
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Sweet Cuban cocktails and shoulder-rolling rhythms rock this lively downtown retreat. Well-heeled local professionals pack Rey Castro’s lunchtime tables and sip two-for-one happy hour drinks after work, while sampling some of its refreshing Caribbean menu.

The bare-brick walls adorned with old black and white photographs and old-fashioned streetlamp fixtures give it a vintage Cuban air, while the music and mojitos keep the crowds young and the atmosphere energetic. Although sizable, the restaurant sits relatively inconspicuously; just a short distance from Avenida Belgrano on the edge of San Telmo and Montserrat. Inside its large wooden doors, the place opens up to reveal a red-brick cavern, surprisingly well-lit by high-ceilinged skylights with two additional levels of wrought-iron balconies overlooking the restaurant floor. Red leather chairs by the entrance and a long wooden bar cater to the cocktail drinking crowd.

During the 6 to 9pm happy hour, the space is filled with porteños fresh out of the office swaying to the Samba beats with the aid of two-for-one Cuban beers, daiquiris, mojitos and, of course, Cuba libres. Aside from the otherwise extensive cocktail list (all priced at $10AR), the happy hour menu also offers pizzas and sandwiches for around the $10AR mark as well as burritos, calamari, and excellent cheesy chips for a similar price. The restaurant menu provides a pleasant change to the Argentine parilla, parilla, parilla. Fajitas and camarones with Cuban rum sauce, and marinated lime chicken are sure to tickle the taste buds with all the colour of the Caribbean. Main meals range from about $15AR and include a complimentary soft drink, beer, or glass of wine for an additional $2-3AR.

Like many Buenos Aires restaurants, a stage at the back of the restaurant transforms the setup for an 11pm show on Friday and Saturday nights. For a $35AR cover charge the evening includes dinner and a display of Cuban music and entertainment. After midnight Rey Castro gets a further face-lift when chairs and tables are cleared away and its house lights down, spotlights up for the disco. Partygoers not interested in dinner or a show will find a $20AR entrance fee for the disco. Rey Castro generally has a busy bustling crowd in this mixed business and residential area. Reservations are recommended for Friday and Saturday nights but otherwise not essential. Either way, the bar itself is an attractive option should there be a short delay waiting for a table, or simply for a cocktail or two in passing.

—Rey Castro review by Tessa Pettman

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