Café Tortoni

Introducing the Café Tortoni, the oldest and certainly the most famous café in the city. Buenos Aires wears its history on its sleeve. Its beautiful period cafés take you back to a bygone era, perfect for getting a taste of the city’s rich tradition. The Café Tortoni was opened in 1858 by a French couple and named after the Café Tortoni on the Boulevard des Italiens in Paris, a popular hangout spot for the Parisian elite. Just like in Paris, the Café Tortoni in Buenos Aires attracted all sorts of creative minds: musicians, writers, painters, journalists – you name it. This is what really put the café on the map. Sure, grabbing a hot chocolate at Café Tortoni has become a bit of a tourist cliché these days, but once you get past the line, you’ll step into a richly decorated room filled with antique furniture. Waiters swirl around in sharp suits, and you can almost feel the presence of legendary artists and writers like Borges, Gardel, and Garcia Lorca. The city has officially declared the café as a tourist attraction, and it’s even listed among the “Bares Notables”, a selection of historic café-bars sponsored by the city council. But this café’s significance goes way beyond Argentina’s borders. It’s been ranked by UCityGuides as one of the most beautiful cafés in the world, right up there with the Café de la Paix in Paris and the Caffè Florian in Venice. The Café Tortoni is also known for its peñas. In South America, peñas are places where people come together to celebrate folk music, dance, and traditional gastronomy. They can trace their origins back to the so-called “tertulias”: the literary and musical get-togethers popular in Spain and its colonies. These venues are the heart and soul of Argentina’s folk culture, and have played an important role in shaping the cultural identity of the country’s different regions. They also served as powerful symbols of cultural resistance during the dark days of the military dictatorship. Today, peñas are as popular as ever, especially in rural areas. Be sure to experience their magic firsthand during your travels! But back to the Café Tortoni, whose basement was once home to an association dedicated to the protection of art and literature. This legendary venue still stages jazz and tango shows today. Sure, the authenticity of yesteryear has given way to a more tourist-focused experience, but the charm of this place is undeniable.