Café La Biela facts for kids
Café La Biela is a famous café in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's located at 600 Quintana Avenue, right across from the beautiful Nuestra Senora del Pilar church and the Recoleta Cemetery.
The café has a big outdoor area with tables under a giant rubber tree. It's a very popular spot for both local people and tourists who visit the city.
How It Started
In the mid-1800s, Recoleta was mostly farmland. Where the café stands today, there was once a general store.
The café first opened in 1850 as a small outdoor café. Its Spanish owner named it "La Viridita." Later, its name changed to the "Aero Bar." This was because it became a favorite meeting place for members of the nearby Argentine Civil Pilots Association.
For many years, the café was popular with important people. These included politicians, writers, artists, actors, and media stars. In the 1950s, it got its current name, La Biela. This happened because it became a popular spot for racing car champions. Famous racers like Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time Formula One world champion, would meet there. It was also a favorite place for racing fans.
Inside the Café
The inside of Café La Biela has a traditional look. It features wood panels and curtains at the windows.
The walls are decorated with black-and-white photos of racing car champions. You can also see different car parts. These include radiator grills, connecting rods, lamps, and horns.
Behind the bar, there are photos taken by the Argentine writer Adolfo Bioy Casares. He often visited the café with his friend, the writer Jorge Luis Borges. Bioy Casares took these pictures to illustrate a book they wrote together.
Today
In 1999, the city of Buenos Aires declared Café La Biela a "Place of Cultural Interest." This means it's an important historical and cultural landmark.
Famous Visitors
See also
In Spanish: La Biela para niños
