Café La Biela, Historic coffeehouse in Recoleta, Argentina.
Café La Biela sits at the corner of Quintana Avenue and Junin Street with a large terrace sheltered beneath a centuries-old rubber tree. The interior is furnished in a traditional style, and from the outdoor seating you can see Recoleta Cemetery and Pilar Church across the street.
The café started in 1850 as La Veredita when Recoleta was farmland, offering drinks to travelers heading north from San Telmo. It later became a gathering place for notable people and eventually took on its current name.
The walls inside display black and white photographs taken by writer Adolfo Bioy Casares, who came here regularly with Jorge Luis Borges. These images remind visitors of the literary circle that gathered and talked in this space.
The café serves traditional Argentine breakfast and lunch items throughout the day and is visited by both tourists and locals. Visiting in the afternoon is often less crowded if you prefer a quieter experience.
Racing memorabilia decorates the interior, recalling its role in the 1950s as a meeting place for Formula One drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio. This motorsport connection is less known to visitors, though it shaped an important chapter of this place.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.