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Tres Monos

Buenos Aires

• Michter's Art of Hospitality Award 2023

Named for the popular Japanese primate proverb and dually representing the three co-owners, plenty of monkey business goes down at Buenos Aires neighbourhood bar Tres Monos. Neon pink lights, graffiti tags and a cheeky middle finger illuminating the low-lit back bar set the tone at the Palermo Soho-based watering hole – if you bag one of the 10 bar-side stools, it’s a chance to fool around with the charismatic trio of Sebastián Atienza, Charly Aguinsky and Gustavo Vocke. Regulars are hooked by bargain-priced easy drinkers and delicious signature cocktails, while the team also apes around with classics to create tongue-in-cheek reversions – think bourbon-based Dolce & Banana with dulce de leche, or MistiCollins made with the Monos’ own-label sake and gin.

While the vibe is low-fi fun and accompanied by a banging ’90s soundtrack, these three wise monkeys and managers Sofia Miro and Lucila Calichio are also committed to social projects, sourcing ingredients directly from small regional producers and running bartending workshops in Barrio Mugica, a former shantytown; two graduates now work at the bar. New for 2023 is El Garage, a next-door add-on that catches the overflow but still adheres to the ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ proverb.

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