Just taking a stroll through the streets of Buenos Aires is enough to realize that porteños love to take a break and have a coffee. Cafés abound in the city and serve as meeting places, workspaces, and places of relaxation.

In every neighborhood, you will find multiple options to have coffee. These are prominent places in the country’s culture as they were and still are meeting spaces for renowned national artists.

In times past, figures from various artistic disciplines used to gather to converse and debate in various cafés around the city. These historic café spaces can still be visited to recreate those encounters and delight in the gastronomy they offer. In some of them, you can find photographs of the personalities who frequented the café, antique furniture, and even statues of the artists who attended.

In this article, we will list the best Cafés in each neighborhood:

Microcentro

Undoubtedly, the most well-known café in the city is Café Tortoni. It is one of the oldest in Buenos Aires and perfectly represents the art and politics of the city. Many personalities used to gather there, and many visitors have also sat at its tables, such as Carlos Gardel, Albert Einstein, and Federico García Lorca, among others. To learn more about Café Tortoni, click here.

Other recommended Cafés in the microcenter are Café London City, Petit Colón, and Los 36 Billares.

historic cafes buenos airesPalermo

In Palermo, you will also find a notable café very close to Plaza Serrano. This is El Preferido de Palermo, a bar that preserves the tradition of the neighborhood while standing out from its surroundings that have been renovated. This café also offers lunch and dinner options, so you can fully enjoy this space.

 

 

historic cafes buenos airesRecoleta

The oldest café in the city is located steps away from the Recoleta Cemetery and is called Café La Biela. This café was the meeting place for famous race car drivers. This is why it carries a name referencing a part of car engines. Figures like Julio Cortázar, Jorge Luis Borges, and Ernesto Sábato used to meet there, among others.

historic cafes buenos airesSan Telmo

San Telmo is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and for this reason, you can find a large number of options that still maintain their traditional characteristics. The best ones are Café Dorrego, Café Rivas, El Federal, and Bar La Poesía.

Without a doubt, taking a break in a café to pause and travel through time is one of the most recommended activities to do in the city. Have you already visited any historic café? Tell us below in the comments.

Map of Attractions