[Get my Ultimate 10-day Buenos Aires itinerary here]
Coming to a new city can be really overwhelming for the first time. You need to figure out where to live, and how to get around, often before you have even seen the city with your own eyes. I put together this Buenos Aires neighborhood guide to help you get a bit more acquainted with the area, and hopefully make your transition a bit easier. Also, make sure to check out these TIPS for moving to Buenos Aires.
Check out these other Buenos Aires neighborhoods:
Guide to the Best Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires
Almagro & Caballito
Balvanera
Belgrano
Chacarita
Colegiales
La Boca
Micro-Centro
Nuñez
Palermo
Puerto Madero
Recoleta
San Telmo
Villa Crespo
SUMMARY
Villa Crespo sits in the center between Palermo, Caballito, and Chacarita, and incapsulates all three of these neighborhoods into one. It has the cool and trendy cafes of Palermo, the local chill tree-lined neighborhood streets of Caballito, and the up-and-coming feel of Chacarita. It’s a perfect location as it is near several other great hoods but outside of the main centers of chaos.
THE VIBE
Villa Crespo feels like what Palermo Soho once felt like in the beginning. The start of cool things happening. Good fashion and great sidewalk cafes. Art and culture. Music. Markets. There is an active nightlife in this area, with unique bars and restaurants but much less crowded than Palermo. It feels very “cool” and hip.
TRANSPORTATION IN VILLA CRESPO
The subte line B (red) passes right through the center of the neighborhood, the main stop being Malabia O Pugliese. Angel Gallardo and Dorrego just straddle Villa Crespo, sitting right outside the official neighborhood lines. Like the rest of the city, there are a ton of buses that pass through the area, just check Google Maps for the stops.
SHOPPING IN VILLA CRESPO
Right in the center of Villa Crespo are several outlet stores. If you’re looking for (somewhat) discount shopping, look no further. You can find these outlets where the map is highlighted yellow on Google. From Calle Malabia to Calle Serrano. From Velasco to Castillo.
PARKS IN VILLA CRESPO
Villa Crespo doesn’t really have any of its own parks, though Parque Centenario sits right outside of its borders. This is a great park for exercise, bird watching, taking a stroll, or visiting the weekend markets. Plaza Gral. Benito Nazar has a playground in the center, but not much green space beyond that.
EAT & DRINK IN VILLA CRESPO
Villa Crespo is full of fantastic spots to eat, drink, and be merry. I’ll name a few here, but you’ll luck out even if you just walk around and try out something new.
The Mercat Villa Crespo is another one of those food markets that are becoming trendy all across the world right now. It’s full of mini restaurants offering craft beer on tap, vegan ice cream, various mushroom types, tacos, ramen, etc. The mercat has 3 floors, with a fancy cocktail bar up top.
El Limon is a great corner bar, open only at night (7pm to late). It’s small and cozy, and has a great outdoor patio.
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN VILLA CRESPO
The Microteatro in Villa Crespo
The Microteatro is one of my absolute favorite things to do in the city. Here you can catch dinner, drinks, and mini play (about 10-15 minutes each). A new play starts every 25-30 minutes, at a cost of 700 pesos per show. There are discounts available as well, like 3 plays for the price of 2.
While you’re waiting for one of the mini plays to begin, you can get great cocktails, sandwiches, burgers, or fries in the darkened lobby. Great vibe. Unfortunately all the plays are in Spanish, so unless you’re comfortable with your Spanish language skills, you might wanna give it a miss.
Other Things To See & Do
If you are unsure of other things to do here in Villa Crespo, try using Get Your Guide and see what great events, attractions, and things they have to offer.

I live very close to Villa Crespo and I love it! There is the first (and for a long time) only African restaurant in Argentina (El Buen Sabor Africano, Camargo 296, Open Thu-Sat for dinner only. Currently closed for vacation and will reopen on Oct 5, 2022). A historic pizza place is Angelito (not to be confused with Angelín, el inventor de la pizza canchera on Av. Córdona) on Camargo 490. There was a change of ownership this year and the quality has gone downhill, unfortunately. However, the place is open from 6 AM to 2 AM, which is remarkable!
I just discovered a nice specialty coffee place (of the many “café de especialidad” that are popping everywhere) with some vegan options (their vegan Banoffee cake is delicious): DOC cafè (Aráoz 645). They are also a coworking coffee during the week. However, you have to order at the cashier and then you are brought your staff at the table (I am not a fan of this system, tbh). Another popular place is F5 Confitería y Cantina on Álvarez 878, where once was the popular Mamma Rosa restaurant. At night, the firm changes and it becomes a restaurant. I still have to try it and I am more interested in the bar than in the night food (mostly meat and cheese).
Amazing! These are great suggestions, and ones I will definitely have to mark on my maps to check out! Thank you un monton, Isa! 🙂