El Gato Negro

El Gato Negro, a historic establishment in Buenos Aires known for its extensive array of imported teas and spices, continues to attract visitors for its classic, old-world ambiance. A recent visit, however, highlighted notable operational difficulties that affected the dining experience. A key challenge observed was a pronounced shortage of floor staff, which resulted in significant delays in table attendance and overall service efficiency. Furthermore, issues extended to inventory, as popular items, specifically Tea Number 8 (advertised for its sedative and calming properties), were unavailable, pointing to current stock management limitations. While the shop’s legacy and product selection remain strong draws, potential patrons should be aware that the quality of service may be hampered by these staffing and stock inconsistencies.

A truly fascinating café on Avenida Corrientes. The teas are a must-try, and the place has a very oriental atmosphere. With all the spices inside, you’re accompanied by a wonderful aroma throughout your visit. I really enjoyed the tea, and the small snack I ordered alongside was also very good. The only downside is the service—it didn’t feel very welcoming, almost as if things were brought reluctantly. A place this special really deserves warmer, friendlier service.

One of the emblematic cafes of Buenos Aires, this place was traditional and gorgeous. Despite its age, the menu was very long and had more modern options as well, such as vegan alternatives. Me and my friend ordered the breakfast combo, which was delicious and plenty of food for the price. However, service was incredibly slow and there seemed to be only one server, who looked stressed. Would return again if the service was improved.

I did my best to speak with my beginner Spanish and the waiters were friendly and welcoming. Based on his recommendations I went for the chai tea which was so good and the churro too was one of the best that I’ve had in South America so far. This is a gem of a place.

Had been really excited to visit El Gato Negro and finally made it happen. The space is great, and looks just like spice stores did back in the day. The ambiance couldn’t be better. Unfortunately, I can’t say much good about the café, though. We ordered a café con leche, after asking for details and being told it would be just like a latte - with an espresso shot and texturized milk from an espresso machine’s steam wand. Sadly, the drink did not look or taste like it was espresso based nor did the milk look or taste properly steamed. It was an ungodly hot temperature that scalded the milk, making it taste bad. We couldn’t finish our drinks and we didn’t want to have them remade. May one day go back for the cool space and try something else to give it another chance, but I got the feeling this was standard when the waiter asked how we liked them and told her we didn’t.

The tea was wonderful and amazing. The cinnamon roll was disgusting. Extremely old, incredibly dry, and it had other flavors presumably absorbed from the refrigerator. It's sad, with such a chill name, I really wanted to like this place, but no no.

A historical landmark rife with charm and Buenos Aires history. They have a vast variety of spices and imported teas that one cannot find anywhere else in the city. The wooden interior takes you back in time to the turn of the 20th century while you enjoy a wide selection of food and beverages. Excellent service. A must visit for any avid explorer of Buenos Aires.

We had their brunch for 2 (8100 pesos). The bocaditos were amazing. The lemon budín was good, but the orange was dry as the desert. The selection of teas and the ambience is what attracted us. The waiter never smiled and had zero personality. If you’re going to work in the service industry, you have to be more congenial.

In the interest of brevity...ambience! This tea house is beautiful. The service is impeccable. The coffee** (not a big tea drinker) is great. The location...would rather it were on a quieter street, but you can't have everything. The selection of spices is astounding! Who'd've guessed? **For (US) Americans, by coffee i mean espresso drinks. An americano is pretty close to what we think of as coffee. If that just won't do, there's a Starbucks somewhere.

We came here a bunch of times during our trip. It offers a quintessential Argentine experience: laid back vibe with kind of nostalgic, dreamy ambience and some amazing coffee. They had some creative coffee options: expresso with cardamom, espresso with whisky, and every conceivable type of expresso/milk concoction. Their food is also really good. I ate a few steak sandwiches there and I was always very impressed. You can tell this place is an institution good because virtually all swathes is Buenos Aires come here, from fancy ladies on their way to or coming back from concerts to Argentine hipsters taking advantage of the strong wifi with their laptops. The place is quite old, I think it was founded sometime in the 1920s, but I could be misremembering. Nevertheless, the decor and architecture is certainly of that time. Oh and they are also a spice store.

Pluses: One of the most famous spice shops/cafés in the city. The ambience is lovely. A calm relaxed atmosphere you seldom will find elsewhere, typical of a spot with such an illustrious history (look this up). Many varieties of tea/coffee that are sure to thrill the tea/coffee fans. You can pick your faves and take some to enjoy at home, as well as any/all spices you've ever heard of, some snacks in the form of diverse dried and candied fruits (a bit pricey for what they are though), and random tea/coffee-related paraphernalia. The tea is served in a pot, so you can fully enjoy two cups of it - keeping that in mind, you get a good bang for your buck there. The staff is friendly and patient with the tea neophytes. The location is ideal - busy, but in less crowded days you can wind down after walking around the city or perusing the many nearby libraries and music shops, or stop by for a quick purchase to enjoy at home. Minuses: We ordered a passion fruit cheesecake dessert that was good, but not great. The drinks are terrific but the food selection I feel is a bit basic, which makes sense if you consider the food is there more as an accessory to the fantastic drink selection. We also had a rose hibiscus tea (meh) and a dulce de leche tea (incredible -- we almost took some home with us). I think if you happen to find yourself in the area often and you like tea or cooking with spices, you'll have the time of your life trying out new stuff. Recommended for tea and coffee fiends.