El Gato Negro's guestbooks: 10 years preserving voices

Julieta Castagnaro
Oct 28
2 min read

For more than a decade, we have been providing signature books for El Gato Negro, one of Buenos Aires' Notable Bars. These are hardcover books bound in black cloth and stamped with a gold seal, where tourists and regulars leave traces of their visit.

A bar that is living memory

El Gato Negro is a Buenos Aires classic located at 1669 Corrientes Avenue, famous for its coffees, teas, and spices, and recognized by the city as a Notable Bar for its cultural and historical value. In Buenos Aires, there are more than 70 cafes and bars with this distinction: spaces where the history and atmosphere of another era are protected.

Our connection

For more than 10 years, The Allbum has been making guest books for them. They are simple and durable editions. Every so often, when a book is full, the next one arrives, and thus a collection is built that tells the story of the place and the feelings of those who visit it, in all languages.

What is a guest book for?

To record your visit and leave a message. In museums, hotels, bars, or cultural spaces, the guest book is a simple way to build shared memories. Over time, those pages become a cherished archive of the place and its community.

How we make them

We work on the format and identity with the El Gato Negro team: a comfortable size so it looks good on a stand, high-quality materials, and an aesthetic that respects the character of the place. Our job is to be there: to replenish, personalize, and maintain the continuity of the series, so that each book becomes a natural part of the ritual of visiting.

A lasting gesture

After a coffee and a plate of spices that perfumes the entire room, someone opens the book, writes the date, their city, and a few lines. That sum of voices—neighbors, travelers, artists, families—builds a story in the present. We are proud to be part of that small bridge between people and a bar that is part of the city's heritage.

📩 Would you like a guestbook for your bar, hotel, museum, or company?

We design personalized editions that complement the identity of each space.