Originally, Opera was a pastry business Founded by a pair of French sisters, the boulangeot. It was where the Latin American tower is today and there the most sought -after desserts of the city were sold. The intention was to sell food and drinks to people who expected the opera functions of the Great National Theater.
However, in 1894 the theater was demolished, which caused the opening of 5 de Mayo Street and a year later, it was carried out The moving of pastry to the corner of Filomeno Mata and May 5place where it is still.
Since 1895 he evolved to a canteen, The same that has seen not only the most distinguished characters of society, but also to others who would leave indelible traces.
The original opera clients were those regular attending the functions of the Great National Theater, collapsed in 1894 to expand 5 de Mayo Street.Photo Library Constantino Reyes-Valerio / INAH
The best of French pastries in the city
Let's go back a little, when the Boulangeot sisters inaugurated their business on San Juan de Letrán Avenue. Then they had a clear idea: make people who attended great national theater, They could try the best of French pastries, drink coffee and some spirits. Thus, they honored the place and from there the name arose: the opera.
Such was the success of the establishment, which during Many years received the most distinguished characters from the Mexican elite, Those who gathered to wait for the opera functions, to spend the afternoon, to dine with their friends or perhaps, start there the walk along Platero Street, so famous during the Porfiriato.
But is the opera a bar or a canteen? The question since its inception
The conceptual difference between bar and canteen is that alcoholic beverages are served only, without food. Or at least without dishes that require kitchen preparation, which does happen in the second. Said in this way, Although opera is named as a bar, in its context it is more a canteennot to leave behind the exquisiteness of their dishes and the excellence of their chefs.