Tortoni Cafe

Argentinian Café Tortoni is the oldest coffeehouse not only in Buenos Aires, but in the whole country. The cafe was founded in 1858, and for a century and a half it was visited by many prominent people - politicians, intellectuals and artists.

Cafe Tortoni consists of two large rooms - the main hall and the basement. Actually, the main hall is a classic coffee house, reminiscent of a brisk French bistro - small tables, an abundance of mirrors and constant music. In the back of the cafe you can find tables for playing billiards, dominoes or dice.

Unlike the noisy main hall, the coffeehouse’s cozy basement serves as a concert venue for jazz and tango musicians. Performances of artists are held every evening and invariably attract many tourists. In addition to concerts, the basement hall hosts book presentations and poetry evenings, gathering the intellectual elite of Buenos Aires.

Cafe Tortoni is decorated in an old style, and the owners strive to keep the whole environment the same as it was a hundred and fifty years ago.