Hours of Operation

Banks in Buenos Aires are open weekdays from 10 to 3; government offices are usually open to the public on weekdays from 7:30 to noon or 1; post offices are open weekdays from 9 to 5 or 6 and Saturday from 9 to 1. All are closed on public holidays.

Private businesses are typically open weekdays from 9 to 7. Malls, major chain stores, and souvenir shops tend to be open daily from 10 to 8 or 9, supermarkets from 8:30 in the morning to 9 or 10 at night; these generally close only on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Labor Day (May 1). Other stores frequently close on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, except in Palermo Viejo, where Monday is the preferred day off.

Telephone centers are generally open daily 8 to 8 or later. Most gas stations are open 24 hours. Museums usually close one day a week (Tuesday is common), and often shut their doors for a whole month in summer. Most restaurants don't open for dinner until 8:30 or 9 pm but stay open until midnight or 1 am. Most bars don't get going until midnight, and many remain open right through the night; there's no official last call.