Buenos Aires Map Guide, Almagro Neighborhood

Almagro Neighborhood Guide

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By | September 14, 2009

tango dancers in the streets of Almagro, Buenos Aires neighborhood

Neighborhood guide of Almagro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Restaurant suggestions, bars, sites of interest and things to see and do.

La Onda (The Vibe):

The crossroads of Buenos Aires, cars and buses frequently pass through this area to venture into, out of, or through the center of town. There are parts of this barrio or neighborhood that are quiet and you’ll find that Almagro is more authentically Porteño (representative of Buenos Aires) than some of the other wealthier neighborhoods.
Sub-barrios/zones: Abasto

*Careful around Abasto at night; Plaza Once borders this subsection and can be a bit seedy, to say the least.

History:

During the 18th century, most of Almagro was owned by two wealthy men of status: Carlos de los Santos Valente, a Portuguese merchant, and Juan María de Almagro y de la Torre, a Spanish barrister. Both opposed urban development and Almagro was a center for dairy farming. Over the course of the 19th century, however, this barrio became an industrial center and the home to a series of factories producing brick.

At the turn of the 20th century, the neighborhood really began to blossom with the introduction of a tramway, followed by a massive influx of Basque and Italian immigrants. By the 1930’s, Almagro had gained popularity for its proximity to the Abasto market where Carlos Gardel made his name and even composed the tango Almagro.

Random Fact(s): Almargo day is celebrated on September 28th.

Attractions:

Along with neighborhoods Caballito and Villa Crespo, Almagro is the home of a slice of Parque Centenario, which lies at the intersection of each of these three neighborhoods. With winding paths that coalesce at a large fountain, this park attracts many a friendly visitor on a sunny day. On weekends, it hosts a large flea market that wraps around the fringe of this park.

Almagro is also home to one of the largest flower markets in the world. Just a few blocks from its plaza you’ll find row after row of flower shops, which collectively produce a total of 400,000 bouquets annually, the third-largest producer in the world. At first glance, this floral market may not appear as colossal as its statistics indicate, but nevertheless, this fair promises to pleasure the senses.

As a frequently visited area of Buenos Aires, the Abasto subsection of Almagro—lying between Almargo and Balvanera—clings heavily to its tango roots. Here, you can find the Carlos Gardel Museum (Jean Jaures 735), the famous Esquina de Carlos Gardel Tango Show and plenty of colorful houses where every other garage has been proudly branded with the legendary Gardel portrait. Also many tango schools and milongas line the street Anchorena and dot the area.

The large and in-charge Abasto shopping mall boasts 4 floors of trendy shops and houses one of Buenos Aires’ largest movie theaters. Be sure to swing by on the weekend to observe the collection of adolescents that gather on the steps of the Agüero side of the mall. The 80’s are back, radical! …and so is hip hop, EMO and a mixture of other extremely trendy styles that we cannot define.

Restaurants

A lot of the restaurants in this area are typical Argentine joints and dives. One of our favorite neighorhood parrillas is Lo de Charly. This hole in the wall is serving up all of the classic cuts of meat and Argentine delicacies from vacio (flank steak) to Chinchulín (intestines). For a higher end cafe and bistro check out Las Violetas. A classic and elegant European style cafe, Las Violetas is the perfect place to stop for coffee and a dainty pastry.

The Abasto area is home to a large population of Peruvian immigrants, making it the best part of town for authentic Peruvian food. Carlitos is a laid-back family run establishment serving huge portions at reasonable prices. While many Peruvian restaurants in Palermo and Recoleta focus mainly on Ceviche, at Carlitos, the extensive menu includes traditional soups, chicken dishes, and plenty of seafood.

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