Coffee Shops

One of the great things around Buenos Aires is the "coffee shop" life style.
They have a variety of coffee shops on every block, usually occupying
the corners of most streets .. you could compare them to British style pubs as they are so numerous ... and they do serve alcoholic beverages if you ask for one.

Usually asking for a coffee at 11a.m. or 1:30 p.m. is enough. They'll bring out the nicest smelling espresso (or a "cafe double" if you want a bigger cup) and then add on as part of the service a couple of small glasses of water and a plate of these little sweet "nibblies". It's hard to describe them but they usually compliment the coffee quite well. The ones at the side are called "media lunas". They're actually mini-croissants with a sweet honey type coating.

You can sit outside at one of the sidewalk tables, read a book, listen to your walkman, most places now have wi-fi for your computer .. and no one asks you to leave, no matter how long you stay. It really is relaxing and a great way to spend a couple of hours in "down time"if you having nothing pressing to do. Also great if you're a people watcher.

We were in the north end of Palermo/Belgrano one day and came across this coffee shop on one of the street corners along the main drag. We sat outside and had a coffee and jamon y queso toastado (ham & cheese toasted sandwich - very thin). Was very good .. but it was the ambiance and look of this old shop that caught my eye more so than the coffee. Really old, really unique and a perfect place to spend a couple of hours.