Buenos Aires Barrios: 7 Unforgettable Neighborhoods To Explore!

Being called as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires is a city of life and passion. Properly, there are several things to recall about Buenos Aires: the famous Obelisco and the Teatro Colón are worth a visit, but to get to know Porteño culture, there is nothing better than to have a walk around the numerous barrios of the city. Here are 7 of the most memorable and unmissable Buenos Aires neighborhoods to explore during your stay in the city: the posh residential areas and artsy districts with murals and brightly painted houses, the narrow street with old cafes.

1. La Boca

Oh yes, the barrio that has become a Mecca for photographers, artists, tourists andCucafera immigrants, La Boca lies on the Riachuelo River and is known for painted and tin-roofed houses called conventions as well as for colorful graffiti art found at the Caminito which is a pedestrian-only zone. Dubbed the ‘Colourful Outdoor Museum,’ stroll with your camera while enjoying street-side stalls, tango dancers, cafes, boutiques, and art galleries along Caminito. It would be criminal to visit the neighborhood and not pay a visit to the Boca Juniors stadium where fútbol (soccer) reigns supreme; you also have to try the local dishes such as the local stew, and Italian food in the ‘cantinas’.

2. Palermo

It is amongst the most favorite and expansive barrios in Buenos Aires covering several districts such as Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, and Palermo Viejo. These areas were originally industrial, loaded with slaughterhouses and packing plants; now, Palermo’s barrios are lined with restaurants, chic boutiques, wine bars, craft beer pubs, art galleries, and the beautiful green spaces of Parque Tres de Febrero park. Stroll around the picturesque Palermo Soho where one can shop for luxury clothing, footwear, and jewelry and not miss an excellent cup of coffee or food at laid-back cafes and restaurants. The Palermo Viejo district: is a bit bohemian, and a bit old with antique stores, small eateries, and old-time ‘cantinas’ or cafes that sell food as well as drinks, bars, and dance clubs that operate well into the night.

3. San Telmo

The historically rich district of San Telmo is one of the oldest districts of Buenos Aires characterized by quaint colonial architecture, narrow cobblestone alleys, 19th-century houses, antique stores, and modern art. Make sure to try Guarani, which is a main square and contains restaurants and cafes and also free tango dancing every Sunday afternoon. It will be regretful not to visit the historical attractions such as Basílica de San Pedro Telmo church, Casa Mínima, and Pasaje de la Defensa which has been turned into a commercial street with stores selling antiques and other works of artisans. Visit the largest Sunday-only antiques market Feria de San Telmo which is a major attraction in the city offering a plethora of street vendors, antiques, jewelry, art, knick-knacks, and many more.

4. Recoleta

One of the city’s most affluent districts, Recoleta invites people to walk around and enjoy Parisian-like building designs, art galleries, museums, historical centers, and large parks. The principal tourist highlight is the Recoleta Cemetery which is ranked as one of the most beautiful cemeteries globally, full of magnificent tombs, mausoleums, and sculptures of famous Argentinians including Eva Perón. It is recommended to visit Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and to see the works of famous Argentine artists or to visit the luxurious shops on Avenida Alvear or sipping coffee over a cup in a restaurant situated in the area of Francia Square. Last but not least, one can go to a grand bookstore called El Ateneo which is located in a former theater built in the 1920’s.

5. Puerto Madero

Puerto Madero was reclaimed from a rather decaying dockland zone and became one of the most modern and fashionable districts in Buenos Aires. Modern Puerto Madero has such points of interest as the beautiful red-brick refurbished warehouses now housing stylish lofts, glass office towers, water, and canal-side dining barges, the large ecological park or the Puerto Madero ecological reserve, and art and culture venues like the Collection de Arte Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat museum. Spending hours strolling through the promenade or cycling through the city where you can visit the Puente de la Mujer, a modern bridge built by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. In the evening, Puerto Madero contains some of the best dining recreations in the city that involve fine dining and a spectacular view of the Rio de la Plata River.

6. Belgrano

For a less bustling area, or an area more suited to families, go to the middle-class Belgrano district. Named after the center city’s northwest region, Belgrano is famous for its relaxed streets crowded with local shops, cozy cafes preparing hot chocolate con churros, multiple microbreweries, and restaurants with an extensive number of terraces to enjoy people-watching. Here do not lose sight of such places as Barrancas de Belgrano Park near the river, Casa de Gobierno provincial, Residencia Oficial de los Virreyes museum, and the well-known Stadium – Monumental, the place where the River Plate football team plays its matches. For shopping, walk Avenida Cabildo where the finest retail shops are located selling the latest fashion wears of Argentina.

7. Las Cañitas

It is located between the Belgrano and Barrio Norte areas and has gradually gained in popularity due to new shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants opening there. It is considered as one of the most popular bars to go out at night north of downtown BA, stroll alongside fashionable drinking and dining twenty-somethings, and to an infinity of splendid restaurants with terraces to enjoy dinners under the stars. As the night draws in, the Las Cañitas nightlife is alive in the late-night lounges, dance clubs electronic music, craft breweries, whiskey bar, and dance floors. During the day, walk tree-lined streets and Avenida Báez and visit boutiques, antique shops, gelateria, and MALBA – Latin American art museum.

Exploring the beautiful streets, ornate buildings, and various shops of Buenos Aires, tourists can also visit typical city areas starting from the old district of San Telmo to the expensive districts of Recoleta or Puerto Madero. So, by visiting off-the-beaten-track barrios of Buenos Aires tourists can both, eat and shop, as well as experience the local energy. Are there any other less-herd districts that we have not explored yet that you have been to? What do you think, let us know in the comments!

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