Recoleta has no shortage of excellent gastronomic offerings. What’s harder to find, however, are laid-back spots where you can sit for a while, grab a drink, enjoy good food, and move on. That’s precisely what Tegui Café brings to the table. Opened this week, it offers—according to Germán Martitegui himself—“a small taste of Tegui in just 20 minutes.”
Tegui Café is located across from the newly renamed boutique hotel Tegui Casa (Rodríguez Peña 1973, Recoleta), formerly home to Martín Churba’s store. The space is currently undergoing a transformation, soon to host new projects from the acclaimed chef. A large front window bathes the interior in natural light, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The café also features outdoor seating with a few tables on the sidewalk.
The menu is extensive, but above all, remarkably affordable—with prices that rival any specialty coffee shop. For instance, an espresso costs ARS $3,500, and a latte ARS $5,000.
Under the Coffee section, there’s a wide variety of options beyond the classics: double espresso, cortado, flat white, flat iced white, pour-over, americano, cappuccino, iced latte, and matcha latte, among others. The selection is rounded out with natural beverages like a “7 greens” juice, a “7 oranges” juice, grapefruitade, lemonade, and matcha tonic.
The Sandwich section already hints at future favorites, like the cheese and cured loin laminated toast or the chipá waffle. But it’s the dessert menu that truly stands out for its variety and creativity. Highlights include the pistachio croissant, classic alfajores, a trilogy of cubes (strawberry, matcha, and dulce de leche with hazelnuts), a trio of wafers (chocolate/hazelnut, lemon/pistachio, strawberry/hibiscus), and another of tarts (pistachio, banana, and mango).
In these first weeks since opening, the café has been customized by Lacoste. The iconic crocodile decorates the façade and walls, but the playful collaboration goes further—some dishes, like the alfajor or the “submarino,” even take on the shape of the croc itself.
“Tegui Café is a place I’ve wanted for a long time. It’s my first café. I’ve fantasized about having one for ages,” said Germán Martitegui.
The opening of Tegui Café marks the relaunch of what is now called Tegui Casa. In October, the restaurant will reopen—formerly known as Marti Barra, it will be rebranded as Tegui Barra—and next year, a fine dining experience is set to debut on the upper floor. Bonus detail: the cocktail program at Tegui Barra will be curated by Ludovico de Biaggi.
