La Puerto Rico
Tucked away on a street just one block from the Plaza de Mayo La Puerto Rico feels like a long way from the hustle and bustle of the busy microcentro. There may be the occasional bus belching its way past but the bar itself had a very relaxed and peaceful feel.
Opened in 1887 (it was moved to the current premises in 1925), the bar takes its name from the country, the owner having lived there for several years with fond memories of the quality of its coffee.
A lot of the original fittings remain, including 70 marble tables emblazoned with the bars name. I was lucky to get a chatty waiter (always a good sign) and after telling me about the fantastic tango and flamenco show La Puerto Rico offers he dropped a major bombshell on me.
You see, it turns out that not only the bar, but the very table at which I was sat, could be considered as hallowed ground, for none other than Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francisco I would come in for a morning coffee and sit in the seat opposite me.
So, not only does La Puerto Rico have good coffee, a nice atmosphere and a wonderful tango show, but you might also find yourself sitting on the same chair as the Pope. And if that’s not a bar you’d want to visit, I don’t know what is.
La Puerto Rico: Alsina 420
Subte: Plaza de Mayo, Line A
This page is part of a series examining the Notable Bars of Buenos Aires.