What to do in Centro, Buenos Aires
- Will Gerson
- Feb 23
- 2 min read
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:
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.
