Restaurant Cabaret Armenonville
Buenos Aires, Argentina
1910-1920

This place of entertainment was erected in 1910, over what is now the Libertador Avenue (then Alvear) and Tagle, near the old River Plate soccer field. 

At a press conference on January 16, 1910, the management of Armenonville introduced the Salon as a "luxurious restaurant in the style and comfort of the Paris scene".

With its French touch, it catered to the Buenos Aires High Society. Soon, it would be a well-known night spot. It consisted of the great terrace, open areas, a shaded garden, all which pleased the porteños of that era. The house special was the barbecued lamb, enjoyed in the greenhouse full of orchids. It's frequent guests were: Argentine Aviation pioneer, Jorge Newberry, the future president Marcelo T. de Alvear and the comedian Florencio Parravicini.

It is in Armenonville restaurant that Gardel and Razzano get their first major acclaim playing at a New Years day party on December 31st, 1913. The owners liked Gardel's voice so much that they gave the duo a very lucrative contract (70 pesos per night, each). Armenonville was the sure ticket for Gardel to the big theaters in Argentina. For the detailed account of Gardel's debut at Armenonville, please see this excellent article by Francisco García Jiménez.

The restaurant closed its doors in 1920.

Juan Maglio, who also played there, dedicated one of his famous tangos to Armenonville.

Links:

• Primer contrato de Gardel/Razzano: Armenonville 1913, setenta pesos diarios por cada uno.

• El Armenonville reabrió sus puertas, LA NACION, Sábado 21 de Marzo de 1998. Refinamiento: con un show de tango y baile resucitó en el subsuelo del hotel Alvear el tradicional y lujoso cabaret porteño. 

• Historia del Tango Armenonville, Todotango.com

• Armenonville Tango Argentino, is a quartet with the cast voice, guitar, bandoneon, violin and doublebass which plays the Tango in the style of the beginning of the 20th century.