Did you know? · Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires fun facts
Things you might not know about Buenos Aires. Every fact comes from an official or primary source, named alongside it.
Updated October 2026
Old rooms for coffee
The Gran Café Tortoni calls itself the oldest café in Buenos Aires, opened in 1858 (cafetortoni.com.ar). Las Violetas was founded in 1884 and declared a historic site of the city in 1998 (lasvioletas.com); the Café de los Angelitos opened in 1890 (cafedelosangelitos.com).
Pizza and steak
El Cuartito began in 1934 as a wine and beer counter in a tiny triangular room on Talcahuano (elcuartito.com.ar); La Cabaña has served beef “since 1935”, in its own words (lacabana.com.ar).
Dante on the Avenida de Mayo
The Palacio Barolo, at Avenida de Mayo 1370, was laid out after Dante’s Divine Comedy, from the basement to the lighthouse at the top (palaciobarolo.com.ar).
A Portuguese town across the river
Colonia del Sacramento, facing Buenos Aires across the Río de la Plata, was founded by the Portuguese in 1680; its Historic Quarter has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1995 (whc.unesco.org).
Leather since 1939
Casa López has made Argentine leather goods since 1939, in its own words (casalopez.com.ar).
Questions and answers
What is the oldest café in Buenos Aires?
The Gran Café Tortoni, opened in 1858, in its own words.