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El Querandí lacks the glitz of some of the larger tango shows but what it lacks in glamour it makes up for in authenticity. Staged in a large house that was declared an historical monument in 1920, the show revels in its roots. El Querandí is a bar and restaurant in its own right so the food is good—there are over 20 options for the main course—and the service is on the ball. The menu is international, and there are a variety of exclusive wines to choose from. Even if you are only ther to see the show, you still get a drink and a cold snack with the ticket price. The show seats 150 to 200 people at individual tables, but the space feels more intimate as every table has a clear view of the stage. There are twelve artists performing, six of them dance and two of them sing. The other four are musicians who play the bandoneón, piano, violin and double bass. Not a big cast, but then tango didn’t start as the glittery spectacle that we often witness today. It started, as this show demonstrates, as a dance between men in the bordellos and grew into a stylized love duet.
2 Reviews
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We really enjoyed this show. It’s simple, yet very good. Although if you like something more touristic, you should go to Señor Tango.
During my stay in Buenos Aires I was able to attend two tango shows, and this was one of them.
Let me begin with the positives. The building where the show is hosted has been beautifully restored and inside there is a wonderful atmosphere. The musicians who accompany the show are also incredibly talanted.
The rest, however, left a lot to be desired. We opted for the dinner-show option, which is 304 pesos per person (and the show-only option is 180 pesos).
The food was disgusting. I have never returned a dish before, but I had to as my Portuguese chicken was inedible. I apologised to the waiter, but that didn’t stop him or every other waiter after that ignoring my group. When one of them stopped for us we spent 5 minutes waiting for water while menus were stacked and bottles cleared instead. Quite rude. The show itself was very tacky, and only started to show promise in the last two dances. I was disappointed that the show only lasted 55 minutes, as the other show I attended lasted 2 hours, so it is poor value for money. I was also disappointed with the view offered from our table – there was a huge column in the centre of the stage which blocked the dancers for much of the show.
The cheeky part of the evening was when we came to pay. In spite of being told before we booked that the 304 pesos included a transfer, the staff reneged on this deal. There were two other unhappy groups who stayed after the show to complain that their advert for this show includes a free transfer, but in the end we all paid and made our own way home at a cheaper cost. I do not think any of those people would go on to recommend it.
If you want a better recommendation I would advise El Viejo Almacen, which costs less, includes free transfers and as much drink as you can consume (including champagne), courteous waiting staff, and a show that lasts twice as long and left me completely amazed.