Café Tortoni

Founded in the mid 19th century, Café Tortoni is a Buenos Aires institution, famous for its décor and for being the site of many literary gatherings. Incredibly well preserved and filled with the memories of countless artists, Café Tortoni is an obvious venue for a tango show. The show takes place in an intimate space—a small back room with plush chairs and tables and a deep red curtain across the stage. Every night there are a series of performances, generally starting around 8:30 and finishing around midnight. Cheaper than many tango shows, the Tortoni program still covers a range of tango styles, with each show presenting singers, musicians, and even actors to convey the greater story of tango being told. If the thought of Broadway glitz or large crowds turns you off, this small but stylish show may be the one for you. For dinner, consider eating in the Café first. The food is known for being both good quality and unusually budget friendly. If 8:30 seems too early to be done with dinner, you can have a snack and glass of wine during the show and then head out for some late night eats in the surrounding area of Corrientes and Puerto Madero.