A 1919 theatre converted into a bookshop — and one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, by widespread consensus. The auditorium's gilded plasterwork, painted ceiling, and ornate stage remain intact; the stage now hosts a café, the tiers of boxes have been turned into reading alcoves, and bookshelves fill the stalls.
The visual experience of the space is what draws visitors, but El Ateneo is a serious working bookshop with an excellent selection of Spanish-language literature, Buenos Aires history, and Argentine art books. The upstairs alcoves (the old theatre boxes) are good places to sit and read. Don't come on a Sunday afternoon when the line to enter can stretch down the block.