What to do in Centro, Buenos Aires

Known popularly as the Microcentro, this area is home to many of Buenos Aires’s most recognizable landmarks: the Casa Rosada (office of the president), the Obelisco (a 235-foot obelisk in the middle of one of the city’s most important avenues), and Teatro Colón (one of the world’s top opera houses). Many of Buenos Aires’s oldest restaurants and cafes are located here, as well.

What's in this article:

1. Pizza

2. Cafes

Pizza

Pizzería Güerrín

Pizza is a staple of Argentine cuisine, and Buenos Aires holds the title of highest consumption of pizza of any city in the world. When searching for a traditional Argentine pizza, look no further than Güerrín, the iconic pizzeria located on bustling Avenida Corrientes, just blocks from the Obelisco. Opened in 1932, it often has a line down the street, but the service is fast, and the pizza is well worth the short wait. Once you get inside, try one of the typical deep crust pizzas, meant to be eaten with a knife and fork and slathered with mozzarella. Traditional varieties include the napolitana, calabresa, fugazza con queso, and the fugazzeta.

The napolitana at Pizzeria Güerrín

El Cuartito

Another classic pizzeria, with a history dating back to 1934. The third-generation owners continue to churn out pizzas for an ever-present line of customers. The walls inside are adorned with signed photos and memorabilia from footballers, singers, and actors. The fugazzeta is the house specialty, but you can’t go wrong with any pizza on the menu.

Cafes

Café Tortoni

The city’s oldest cafe is a beautifully preserved Parisian-style cafe opened in 1858 and frequented by writers Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar and tango singer Carlos Gardel. Gardel even had his own table permanently reserved. Stop in for a coffee with churros or a medialuna (Argentine croissant).

El Gato Negro

Also on Avenida Corrientes, this historic cafe opened in 1927 and quickly became one of the city’s premier purveyors of tea, coffee, and spices. The cafe retains its character today, with an impressive display of jars of various tea and spices sourced from all over the world. Stop in to marvel at the collection or to enjoy a pot of tea yourself.

Paulin

This cramped cafe, with its iconic U-shaped bar, has been a popular lunch spot since the 1980s, when it was opened by a Galician bringing Spain's sandwich traditions to Argentina. Try one of their large sandwiches and enjoy some up-close people watching, too.

La Mantequería

This bakery is an excellent spot to try a medialuna, a pastry popular in both Argentina and Uruguay that is similar in appearance to a croissant but much different in both texture and flavor. While the flaky croissant uses more butter and less sugar, the medialuna does just the opposite, also adding eggs and honey as well as a sugary syrup drizzled on top after baking, making it a little like a cross between a croissant and a donut. They are best eaten warm for a delicious breakfast or snack any time.

Looking for more tips on what to see and do around the city? Visit our Buenos Aires page here.