I’ve been tangoing in a few places in Buenos Aires and around the UK, but not too many other places around the world (yet), so I put this page together so people can add their own suggestions of good tango milongas to visit while abroad. Let us know why you like the places you list, and so on.
So I’ll start you off with…
Buenos Aires, Argentina
There are loads of milongas in Buenos Aires, every night of the week. I have by no means tried them all but these are just a few I’ve been to.
Milonga Parakultural at Salon Canning
One of the longest running dance halls in Buenos Aires, it hosts classes from different teachers almost every night, followed by milongas. Although it’s the same dance hall, on different nights you get a different feel to the milongas because of the variation in patrons and music.
This place is very unassuming from the outside as are many venues, but walk up the grand stairs and enter the dance hall and you are presented with lots of lovely people in very smart suits, lovely dresses, shiny shoes etc. You definitely want to dress snappily for this milonga.
This milonga has a nice clubby feel about it, with it’s name in fluorescent lights over the bar. The patrons are just ordinary people like you and me out for a social evening and a bit of dancing.
So you’ve just spent and hour or two in the centre of Buenos Aires trawling around tango shoe shops, trying some (all?) of them on. You finally bought a couple of pairs and desperately want to try them out… now! What could be better than a café just a couple of streets away that will serve coffee, tea, drinks etc. while you tango you’re way around their lovely historic ground floor, in your new shoes of course? The hard working waiter not only serves the tables, but is in charge of the music too! It’s a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours at the end of a days shopping (or work day for the locals) before heading home.
UPDATE: Sad to say that just after I was in Buenos Aires in 2015, Confiteria Ideal closed for renovations, and as far as I know has still not opened again. If you know different, please update us in the comments.
OK, I admit it. I’ve never been to New Zealand. However I did meet three lovely friendly people, Brenda, Alex, and Richard, from this area (The Bay of Plenty) while on holiday in Buenos Aires. If they were representative of the people in that area, I’m sure the tango milongas in Tauranga must be some of the friendliest places to dance in the Antipodes. If you get down there, give it a whirl and let me know what you think.
Over to you. What are your favourite places to tango world wide?