Café Tortoni
6.8Friend Score / 10#11 of 11 Cafés & Coffee in Buenos Aires
Known forchurros con chocolatechocolate calientecafé con lechemedialunas
Buenos Aires' oldest and most famous café (1858) — marble tables, Tiffany-glass ceiling, ghosts of Borges and Gardel. It's beautiful and worth seeing once, but be honest with yourself: there's usually a tourist queue outside, prices carry a landmark markup, and locals mostly go elsewhere. Go for the room, not the coffee.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 08:00–00:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Piedras station (Subte A), 1 block; Avenida de Mayo buses stop outside |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours (plus possible queue) |
| Best time to go | Weekday right at morning opening, or mid-afternoon before the pre-show rush |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
6.8/10- Value5.5
- iconic7.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level3.5
- Authenticity7.0
- Accessibility9.0
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to pay to enter Café Tortoni?
- No — entry is free; you just pay for whatever you order at your table. The tango shows in the back room are a separate ticketed event.
- What are Café Tortoni's opening hours?
- Generally open daily from morning (around 8-9 am) until around midnight, with tango shows in the evening. Hours can shift with holidays, so if you're making a special trip, glance at their site or socials first.
- What famous people went to Café Tortoni?
- The regulars' list is the point: Jorge Luis Borges, Carlos Gardel, Alfonsina Storni, and nearly every notable Argentine artist of the 20th century. There are busts and photos of them inside, and the peña cultural gatherings here are legendary.
- What should I order at Café Tortoni?
- The classic order is a submarino (hot milk with a chocolate bar to melt in) or café con leche with churros. Stick to the coffee-and-pastry ritual — the full food menu is unremarkable for the price.
- How do I avoid the queue at Café Tortoni?
- Go on a weekday right when it opens in the morning, or mid-afternoon between the lunch and evening rushes. Weekends and early evenings (before tango shows) have the longest lines, sometimes 30+ minutes.
- Does Café Tortoni have a tango show?
- Yes, small nightly tango shows run in the back salons — an intimate, roughly 50-minute performance rather than a big dinner-show spectacle. Shows can sell out, so buy tickets at the café earlier in the day or check availability in the morning.
- Is Café Tortoni worth it or a tourist trap?
- It's both, honestly. The 1858 interior is genuinely spectacular and the history is real, but you'll likely queue with other tourists and pay above-market prices for average coffee. See it once, early in the day, and keep expectations at 'beautiful room' rather than 'great café.'
- How do I get to Café Tortoni?
- It's at Avenida de Mayo 825, one block from Piedras station on Subte line A — the historic line that runs under this avenue. It's an easy walk from Plaza de Mayo, so pair it with the Casa Rosada and the cathedral.
Nearby in Ask Buenos Aires
- Plaza de Mayo & Casa RosadaAttraction0.58 km · 7 min walk
- Museo de la CiudadMuseum0.59 km · 7 min walk
- Obelisco & Avenida 9 de JulioAttraction0.62 km · 8 min walk
- Palacio BaroloAttraction0.68 km · 8 min walk
- Money in Buenos Aires: Pesos, Cards, and the Blue DollarAttraction0.87 km · 11 min walk
Where to stay near Café Tortoni
Compare hotels & stays on Booking.com · doesn’t affect the Friend Score