Due to its decoration and architecture –the high columns, old photos, paintings and sculptures– as well as the waiters and the traditional city’s clients, this place became the most famous café of Buenos Aires and one of the city’s symbols. In 2008, The Tortoni celebrates its 150 years.

It was founded in 1858 by Jean Touan, a French immigrant who took the name of a successful café of Paris. Originally, the Tortoni was around the corner, where the square Roberto Arlt is currently located. Then, it was moved to Rivadavia (today, this is the back of the café) and its entrance on Avenida de Mayo was opened in 1880.

Besides the extensive list of famous guests which every notable bar must have (Borges, Pirandello, Rubinstein, Cortázar, García Lorca, the Kings of Spain, Hillary Clinton, F. F. Coppola, etc.), the Tortoni is frequented by office workers of downtown, politicians, artists, tango people and, nowadays, thousands of national and international tourists. Lining up is necessary in order to visit the Tortoni.

Within the menu of the bar, the most typical dishes of the city’s gastronomy are found but also some products which are not bought in other places, such as the leche merengada (whipped milk).

The Tortoni is located on Avenida de Mayo, one of the most important avenues of the city, the most representative of the city’s culture but also one of the most beautiful thoroughfares. In homage to Avenida de Mayo, from Saturday 12th April to Sunday 18th May , the city’s government organizes a series of activities called “La gran vía”. This event will include concerts, talks with writers and the race of waiters. The Tortoni and its tango stage will be one of the venues of this celebration.