100-Year-Old Theatre Converted Into Stunning Bookstore

Tucked away in Barrio Norte, Buenos Aires is a beautiful bookshop called El 

Ateneo Grand Splendid. It is built within the almost 100-year-old Grand 

Splendid Theater, which opened in 1919. The theatre was later converted 

into a cinema and eventually, in 2000, it was converted into the El Ateneo 

Grand Splendid bookshop, which currently welcomes over one million visitors 

each year.

The stunning building was originally designed by architects Peró and Torres 

Armengol, then later converted from a cinema into a bookshop by architect 

Fernando Manzone, who retained many parts of the theatre, including 

the stage, the balconies, the incredible architectural details and even the 

red curtains. In 2008 El Ateneo Grand Splendid was named the second most 

beautiful bookshop in the world by The Guardian, and that’s no surprise 

considering it’s elaborate décor and classic 1920’s theater feel.