Café
Café Tortoni
The oldest café in Buenos Aires, founded in 1858 and named after its Parisian namesake, with marble tables, a literary past and tango in the basement.
Bar El Federal
A San Telmo Bar Notable in a 19th-century former general store on the corner of Perú and Carlos Calvo, serving picadas, sandwiches and homemade ravioli.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional bar-café
- Area
- San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- losnotables.com.ar
Good to know
- Bar Notable
- Two traditional rooms
- Picadas and sandwiches
Why we recommend it
Bar El Federal is one of the most characterful corner bars in San Telmo, and a good place to see what a traditional Buenos Aires café-bar looks like when it has been left largely as it was. It occupies a 19th-century building on the corner of Perú and Carlos Calvo that once operated as an almacén con despacho de bebidas, a general store with a counter for drinks, a type of business that was common in the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is listed among the city's Bares Notables.
The two rooms are furnished in traditional style and full of things to look at: old advertisements, photographs from the 1920s and 1930s, antique tricycles, vintage aperitif bottles and coloured glass soda siphons with metal heads. On the walls hang paintings of figures from the city's music, including the tango singers Roberto Goyeneche and Edmundo Rivero, the lyricist Homero Manzi, the bandleader Osvaldo Pugliese and the composer Héctor Stamponi. In the first room a low bar counter dominates, and you can sit at it to eat comfortably.
The menu is classic bar food. Order a picada, a sharing platter of cold meats and cheeses, a Spanish-style tortilla, or one of the lomo and special sandwiches. There are also homemade ravioli, including a version filled with turkey, and strudel for dessert. The city tourism board praises the waiters and waitresses for their service, which is part of the old-school charm.
El Federal suits couples, friends and solo travellers who want a relaxed meal or a drink with plenty of atmosphere, and its moderate prices make it an easy choice for lunch while exploring the neighbourhood. Opening hours are not published by the tourism board, so phone ahead on +54 11 4361 7328 if you are planning a visit at a particular time.
The bar is at Carlos Calvo 599, on the corner of Perú, in San Telmo. The Mercado de San Telmo's main entrance is on the corner of Bolívar and Carlos Calvo, on the same street, and Plaza Dorrego, home of the Sunday Feria de San Telmo, is in the same neighbourhood, so El Federal makes a natural stop during a Sunday visit.
Bar El Federal FAQs
What was the building originally?
A 19th-century general store with a counter serving drinks.
What should I order?
A picada sharing platter, a tortilla, a lomo sandwich or homemade ravioli, with strudel for dessert.
Is it a Bar Notable?
Yes, it is one of the city's officially recognised Bares Notables.
What is the decor like?
Old advertisements, 1920s and 1930s photographs, antique tricycles, glass siphons and paintings of tango figures.
Can you eat at the bar?
Yes. The low counter in the first room is designed for sitting and eating.
How can I check opening times?
Phone the bar on +54 11 4361 7328.
Where is it?
At Carlos Calvo 599, on the corner of Perú, in San Telmo.