Buenos Aires... El Ateneo Bookstore

I visited El Ateneo bookstore.

It is a pretty normal bookstore from the outside, although it has a fancy facade.

Inside there are shelves of books.

 

A typical section with travel books.

A typical section with cookbooks.

A typical cafe.

They do have some art on temporary display.

And the bookstore has five levels

But, the amazing thing about this bookstore is that it is built within an old opera house.

There are rows of books on the floor and throughout the balconies.

These nooks used to be balcony seats.

That now serve as reading rooms.

There is still a chandelier.

And frescos painted on the ceiling.

A nice place to browse for a book or two.