Refer to our list of top spots on Avenida de Mayo to ensure that you don’t miss anything on your walk down this famous street. Here are the Avenida de Mayo highlights:

Casa de la Cultura: House of Culture

Once the headquarters of Argentina’s second-largest newspaper at the time, La Prensa, today the building is home to a cultural resource center. Visit to find info on what’s going on in the city each week, or stop by to admire the beautifully elaborate ceiling in the entryway. Avenida de Mayo 575.

Architectural landmark, the Buenos Aires “House Of Culture”

Bar London City

This unassuming café is easy to miss on the busy street of Avenida de Mayo, but head to the back of the room to see evidence of its glamorous history. Framed portraits and quotes hang on the walls of Bar London City to honor notable visitors of the past, such as famous Argentine author Julio Cortazar, who mentioned the café in his book Los Primos. Avenida de Mayo 599

Bar London City: an easy one to miss, but worth making the effort not to!

Calle Florida

Buenos Aires’s most famous pedestrian street is always bustling with portenos and tourists alike. Lined on both sides by stores of every kind, as well as many restaurants and cafes, Calle Florida is one stroll you can’t miss in Buenos Aires. Follow traffic down Peru, which turns into Florida after a couple of blocks.

The elegant pedestrianized shopping street, Calle Florida

Café Tortoni

Stepping into the oldest café in the country is like stepping back in time. In Café Tortoni, waiters wear old-fashioned suits, the stained-glass ceiling panel produces a romantic atmosphere, and the old photos lining the walls surround the customer with stories. Order the classic submarino (Argentine hot chocolate drink) with churros (sugary fried dough)! Avenida de Mayo 825.

Café Tortoni, the oldest coffee shop in the whole country

Don Quixote statue

Adding interest to the intersection between Avenida de Mayo and 9 de Julio, the statue of Don Quixote represents the main character of the famous book by the same name. Don Quixote has come to mean an impractical idealist who wants to right impossible wrongs. Just beyond the statue is a giant mural of celebrated ex-First Lady Eva Peron, who advocated for labor rights and women’s suffrage during her time in office.

Statue of Don Quixote in the intersection with Avenida 9 de Julio

Hotel Castelar

Opened to the public in 1929, this grand building was once the home of the famous Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. His restored bedroom is now open to the public for viewing. Hotel Castelar has hosted numerous distinguished guests, including Argentina’s favorite poet, Jorge Luis Borges. Avenida de Mayo 1152.

The delightfully traditional Hotel Castelar

Esquina de la Hispanidad: Hispanic Heritage Corner

On the “Hispanic Heritage Corner,” Bar Iberia, the city’s second oldest café, served as the main meeting places for the Republicans during the civil war of the 1930s. Come sit at the tables that have seated monumental figures of Argentina’s history, including Federico García Lorca, Margarita Xirgu, Hipólito Yrigoyen, and Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear. Corner of Av. de Mayo and Salta Congreso.

The sophisticated Bar Iberia located on the Hispanic corner

Teatro Avenida: Avenida Theatre

Once the chief venue for Spanish theater in Buenos Aires, Teatro Avenida was inaugurated in 1908. Argentina’s last military dictatorship in the 70s caused an abrupt decline in local theater activity, leading to the Avenida’s closing in 1977. Though a 1979 fire nearly destroyed the theater, this historical treasure was renovated and reopened in 1994. Avenida de Mayo 1220.

Teatro Avenida: a staple of Buenos Aires which hosts Spanish plays and operas

36 Billares

The traditional setting of wooden tables and large windows overlooking the street hint at the deep history of this classic café. Since 1894, 36 Billares has been visited by many famous writers and journalists. Its architects designed the space to be conducive for games like pool, cards, dice, and dominos. Av. de Mayo 1265 C 1085

36 Billares: the bar where the Argentine Billiards Association was born

Palacio Barolo: Barolo Palace

Finished in 1923, the tallest building in Buenos Aires was constructed to symbolize Dante’s Divine Comedy. Palacio Barolo has 22 stories to reflect the number of verses per song, its height (100m) is a reference to the number of songs, and the tower on top symbolizes heaven. Tours are available on the hour every Monday and Thursday. Avenida de Mayo 1370.

The weird and wonderful Palacio Barolo

Palacio del Congreso: Congressional Palace

The grandeur of this colossal building makes a rewarding end to one’s walk down Avenida de Mayo. Topped with a green dome and facing a pleasant park, the Palacio del Congreso was modeled on the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Free tours on weekdays. Hipólito Yrigoyen 1849.

Palacio del Congreso: government building of the Argentine National Congress

With these top attractions in mind, you’ll know exactly what to look for when wondering where to go on Avenida de Mayo!

Check out our website for more Avenida de Mayo highlights and other tours and activities in Buenos Aires.

Happy Travels!

By: Caroline Leland
For: BsAs4u

La entrada Avenida de Mayo Highlights aparece primero en Bsas4U | Travel Blog.