Much like in the early twentieth century, Café Tortoni is a popular place where visitors and locals alike come to chat over a morning or afternoon coffee. The art nouveau–style café, filled with marble tables and Tiffany lamps, specializes in coffee and pastries, but you can indulge a bigger appetite with sandwiches, salads, and steaks from the menu. Each evening, Café Tortoni hosts a live tango show.
Many walking and sightseeing tours of the city include a stop at the café, as do some tango-themed tours.
A drink at Café Tortoni is a must-do for first-time visitors and those interested in the arts and literature of twentieth-century Buenos Aires.
Reserve your seat at the nightly tango show ahead of time, as shows often sell out.
The restaurant accepts all major credit cards.
Café Tortoni is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Café Tortoni is located along Avenida de Mayo, within walking distance of both Plaza de Mayo and the Obelisk. The nearest subway stop is Piedras.
The café is open from 8–1am Monday to Saturday and 9–1am on Sunday. If you want to catch a tango show, come in the evening. During the day, keep in mind that you may need to wait for a table at the immensely popular café.
Café Tortoni is worth a visit for the atmosphere alone, but there are good menu options from which to choose as well. If you’re feeling peckish, order the churros with hot chocolate or dulce de leche dipping sauce—a classic Argentinian treat. Of course, you can always just enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass cider on draft.
