Café Tortoni

Café Tortoni is Buenos Aires’ most iconic coffeehouse, founded in 1858 on Avenida de Mayo. Step into a preserved Belle Époque setting with marble tables, stained glass, and wood-paneled salons once frequented by writers and tango artists. Visitors come for traditional café fare—espresso, medialunas, submarino—and occasional tango or jazz performances in the basement salon. Expect queues at peak times and tourist-heavy crowds, but also attentive service and a sense of living history. It’s best for travelers interested in architecture, literary culture, and classic porteño rituals rather than cutting-edge cuisine.