Café de Hansen

A group of archaeologists found remains of the Café de Hansen, that was located in Palermo during the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, and which has been included in stories as well as tango lyrics.  Last year, the Minister of Culture of Buenos Aires announced that scientists found part of the brick floor of the café some 50 centimeters underground.  It was located at what is now the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Avenida Sarmiento, where the Planetarium stands today. 

The café was named after the owner, Juán Hansen, that opened in 1877.  From 1890, tango orchestras went to play at Café de Hansen.  The place closed its doors in 1912, when major changes were being made in the park where it was located.

One of the main discussions about Hansen was whether or not tango was danced there.  The director and composer Roberto Firpo said once in an interview that “it was a very old building, where they served food on the porch outside.   I played in Hansen in 1908.  They hired me for two pesos. Some say they danced.  It’s a lie. I played tango for them to listen.”  Others say with certainty that tango was danced in this historic café.

Whether or not there was dancing in Lo de Hansen will remain an eternal discussion of porteños.  The truth is that orchestras played tangos there and was one place that gave them a setting during the early years.

Café de los Angelitos

The original café at the corner of Av. Rivadavia and Rincón was built in 1890 and became one of the most famous in Buenos Aires.  Carlos Gardel, who lived nearby on Rincón, was a regular customer.  It got its name Café de los Angelitos in 1917 when the duo of Gardel-Razzano performed.   The history of the café including a photo of the old façade was published in Oscar Himschoot’s magazine Club de Tango in 1997.  Cafés were among the many venues where tango musicians performed during the 1920s and 1930s.

Today,  Café de los Angelitos is one of the many restaurants featuring a tango show.