Located in Buenos Aires' Palermo neighborhood, Tesla Bar is a relaxed, informal but still somewhat stylish eatery that's open throughout the day.
Here, they serve Spanish tapas, artisanal beers and cocktails – all with an Argentine touch.
On Tesla Bar’s paper menu, you can find choice tapas like Spanish potato omelettes, beer- and vodka-battered calamari, ham slices, garlic-sautéed prawns, meatballs, olives and roasted peppers. There's also sandwiches, salads, quiches and desserts like chocolate cake and tiramisu.
Nikola Tesla, namesake of Tesla Bar — Photo courtesy of Dickenson V. Alley
If you're in need of a pick-me-up, try a concoction made with coffee, alcohol and milk. Otherwise, the long list of cocktails are made well, and there's also beer on tap.
Tesla Bar has good prices all around, but the weekday lunch special is an especially great deal.
The decor at Tesla Bar is contemporary (perhaps with a hint of hipster) and purposefully simple. The space is characterized by high brick walls, dark wooden furniture and plain but distinctive retro-style lamps that give a nod to the bar's namesake, Nikola Tesla.
He was a Serbian-American who, like Thomas Edison, was known for his electrical inventions. (Yes, Tesla is the namesake of the brand of electrical cars, too.)
Tesla Bar is a good place to go and talk and relax with friends. It doesn't get too busy, and it has excellent music playing in the background.
You can sit at the low tables (including one in the corner under a print of a Gustav Klimt painting, if you want extra privacy); stools at the bar; stools at the high tables; or the relaxed couch.
At night, the owners put out candles on the tables, and sometimes they project movies on one of the walls or have live bands play. The service isn't terribly friendly, but they will do what they can to accommodate any special requests you might have.
While Palermo has its fair share of expensive, high fashion restaurants, Tesla Bar isn't one of them. At Tesla Bar, you'll find Spanish tapas and comfort food at reasonable prices in a chill, uncomplicated setting. Although Spanish food doesn't really seem related to Nikola Tesla, overall the bar is a fitting homage.
Reservations are not required. You can always just show up and grab a table; however, you can get a discount if you make a reservation in advance through one of the local restaurant websites.
