9 cafes worth the trip across Argentina, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Argentina guides.
Las Violetas ★ 4.5 · Buenos Aires
almagro · Avenida Rivadavia 3899, C1204 Buenos Aires
Voted best Cafe Notable in Buenos Aires, opened 21 September 1884 at Rivadavia and Medrano. Belle-epoque stained glass, Italian marble, legendary merienda.
Gran Cafe Tortoni ★ 4.4 · Buenos Aires
microcentro · Avenida de Mayo 825, C1084 Buenos Aires
The oldest cafe in Buenos Aires, founded 1858 and on Avenida de Mayo since 1880. Cafe Notable, a Site of Cultural Interest; Borges and Gardel were regulars.
LAttente Caffe ★ 4.4 · Buenos Aires
palermo-soho · Costa Rica 4863, C1414 Buenos Aires
Specialty Palermo coffee bar from the LAB Tostadores roastery, a standard-bearer for third-wave coffee in BA. Filter, espresso, baked goods; laptops welcome.
Bar El Federal ★ 4.3 · Buenos Aires
san-telmo · Carlos Calvo 599, C1102 Buenos Aires
One of the oldest bar-restaurants in BA, opened 1864 as a general store and rebuilt as the present Italianate corner. Bar Notable, Site of Cultural Interest.
El Preferido (cafe service) ★ 4.3 · Buenos Aires
palermo-soho · Jorge Luis Borges 2108, C1425 Buenos Aires
Pablo Rivero's Palermo bodegon doubles as a morning and aperitif cafe with the 1952 marble counter. Sit at the bar for vermouth and tortilla pre-lunch.
La Biela ★ 4.2 · Buenos Aires
recoleta · Avenida Presidente Manuel Quintana 600, C1014 Buenos Aires
Cafe Notable opposite Recoleta Cemetery, on Quintana and Junin since 1850. Renamed La Biela in the 1950s for its racing-driver clientele; Borges wrote here.
El Gato Negro ★ 4.2 · Buenos Aires
microcentro · Avenida Corrientes 1669, C1042 Buenos Aires
Cafe Notable since 1928 on Corrientes, half spice merchant and half cafe. Wood shelves of imported coffee and tea, marble counter, theatre lunch crowd.
Cafe de los Angelitos ★ 4.1 · Buenos Aires
microcentro · Avenida Rivadavia 2100, C1034 Buenos Aires
Cafe Notable at Rivadavia and Rincon, opened 1890 and rebuilt in 2007 after demolition. Gardel and Pugliese were regulars; upstairs tango show runs nightly.
La Poesia ★ 4.0 · Buenos Aires
san-telmo · Chile 502, C1098 Buenos Aires
Bar Notable on the Chile and Bolivar corner of San Telmo; a small bohemian room declared a Site of Cultural Interest. Worn wood, soft lamps, slow Sundays.