Tucumán is a university town, and its bar and cafe culture reflects that. The streets around the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán and the cafes along calle 25 de Mayo fill with students in the late afternoon and stay busy until midnight or beyond. Calle Lillo, near the law faculty, is a particular hub — a row of bars and outdoor terraces that turns into a casual street party on warm Friday evenings.
For something more sedate, the classic confiterías around Plaza Independencia serve coffee, alfajores, and afternoon submarinos (a glass of warm milk into which you drop a slab of dark chocolate). Many have been in business for decades.