Walk through Cafe Tortoni, the historic and perhaps the most famous cafe of Buenos Aires.

Website
www.cafetortoni.com.ar

Address
Avenida de Mayo 825

Phone/Contact Info
+54 11 4342 4328
[email protected]

Cafe Tortoni, it is probably the most favorite cafe in Buenos Aires. Located just steps away from Plaza Le Mancia, it is popular with tourists and coperanians. Cafe Tortoni was found in 1858 and named after a famous cafe in France, if you look carefully. Many of the tables in the cafe have plucks that are dedicated to famous writers that actually wrote on those tables.

"I am Roberto Fanego, Manager of Cafe Tortoni. I have been here half a century. I lived the history of this Cafe. The works of art that part of the Cafe's history were all gifts from the writers and painters".

Cafe Tortoni was popular with intellectuals, politician and tango singers. This is Nobel price winning author Balkin Borges, then we have famous tango singer, Carlos Gardel and an Argentinian poet called Alfonsina Storni.

"We have a photo of Borges speaking here and you can see me there listening. I still had hair back then. I enjoyed the company of the poets, musicians, and writers. I got to hear them speak".

Right now, I am in what used to be the barber shop of the cafe. Now, it is a museum. The walls are covered with art work and photographs relating the history of the cafe. At night Cafe Tortoni holds jazz and tango shows at the small theater at the back of the cafe. In the past famous tango Ochesteras played in that balcony. Here we have some hot chocolate made with a bar of real chocolate and the churros, which are an Argentinian delicacy, it is a pastry. If the hot chocolate was not enough for you, do not forget the chocolate cake.

Here is an interesting fact, the first legislative session held in Buenos Aires, was here in Cafe Tortoni in nineteen ninety seven. So, here we have a traditional Argentinian plate, it is called picada and it is full of olives, cheese, salami, ham, pickles and the cherries and it comes with cider or beer. Right now I have a cider, which is a great other option instead of beer. You could find this in any Argentinian restaurant but it is usually not so beautifully designed. I am Veronica de Aboitiz showing you Buenos Aires.