Bar Palacio / Museo Fotografico Simik

Buenos Aires certainly is a city full of surprises. I visited the Bar Palacio in Chacarita on a grey August Saturday afternoon, with no real expectations other than to find an old, classic atmospheric Bar Notable. On one hand I did find that, although not really exceptional in any way, however the real find of the day was the museum which the bar houses.

The bar itself has been open 40 years, and the owner, a Mr Simik, began displaying his collection of over 2,000 cameras, some dating from the 1870s in 2002 and the Museo Fotografico Simik was born.

It’s a little cramped in places, as it’s packed with cabinets displaying photographic equipment. The tables are glass-topped and each one contains its own mini-collection of cameras. Downstairs the bar has a darkroom which is open to the public and it runs a series of classes on a variety of photo-related topics.

It clearly has an active community dedicated to the world of photography. Whilst I was there groups of people were sat at tables with their own cameras, animatedly discussing their latest attempts at capturing that elusive shot and outside the bar, stood a couple working with a old-style SLR and a light meter. From a cafe point of view, there is very little to distinguish or recommend Bar Palacio, but the camera collection and its obvious dedication to furthering the art of photography makes it worth a visit.

Bar Palacio / Museo Fotografico Simik: Av. Federico Lacroze 3901
Subte: Line B, Federico Lacroza

This page is part of a series examining the Notable Bars of Buenos Aires.