Cortados, medialunas and the art of the Buenos Aires café ritual.
The Argentine café — 'café de barrio' — is a social institution. Morning means a cortado (espresso with a dash of milk) and a medialuna (small croissant). Lunch might be a tostado (grilled ham-and-cheese) or a bife de chorizo at a parrilla. Understanding the rhythm — order at the bar or at your table, when to pay — makes you look like a regular from day one.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| cortado | espresso with a dash of hot milk |
| café con leche | coffee with milk (larger, breakfast drink) |
| medialuna | small sweet croissant |
| tostado | grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich |
| factura | sweet pastry (generic) |
| mate | herbal tea shared from a gourd |
| termostato | thermos for mate water |
| bombilla | metal straw for mate |
| parrilla | steakhouse / grill |
| asado | barbecue / grilled meat |
| bife de chorizo | sirloin steak |
| menú del día / ejecutivo | daily set menu (lunch special) |
| propina | tip (10% is standard, sometimes included) |
| la cuenta | the bill |
Practice both sides out loud.
Café in Palermo, 9 AM.
Buen día. ¿Me podés traer un cortado y dos medialunas?
Good morning. Could you bring me a cortado and two medialunas?
¿Para acá? ¿Quiere las medialunas calentitas?
For here? Want the medialunas warmed up?
Sí, para acá y calentitas, por favor.
Yes, for here and warmed, please.
Enseguida se lo traigo.
I'll bring it right away.
Gracias. ¿Me avisás cuando tenga la cuenta?
Thanks. Let me know when I have the bill?
Parrilla in San Telmo, 1:30 PM.
Buenas tardes. ¿Tienen menú ejecutivo?
Good afternoon. Do you have a lunch special?
Sí, tenemos. Entrada, plato principal, postre o café. Mil ochocientos pesos.
Yes, we do. Starter, main, dessert or coffee. 1,800 pesos.
Perfecto. De plato principal quiero el bife de chorizo, jugoso.
Perfect. For the main I want the sirloin, juicy.
¿Lo quiere a punto o más cocido?
Medium or more cooked?
A punto, por favor. Y una coca grande para acompañar.
Medium, please. And a large Coke.
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Ordering a café con leche after 12 PM marks you as a tourist. Switch to cortado or café solo.
Most restaurants include a 'servicio de mesa' line. If not, leave 10%. At the bar, round up to the next 100 pesos.
If someone offers you mate from their gourd, it's a gesture of friendship. Never say 'gracias' until you're done — it means you don't want more.
An espresso 'cut' with a small dash of hot milk. The default afternoon coffee in Buenos Aires. Bigger than an Italian macchiato, smaller than a café con leche.
Only when you're completely done and don't want the gourd back. Saying it early signals you're finished.
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