You’re no rookie when it comes to exploring Buenos Aires so the stale guidebooks just aren’t really cutting it anymore. We feel you. Take a night off of the tired hostel chatter and the pounding electronic club beatzz and immerse yourself in underground art, live music and culture scene. By night or by day these spots will let you survey the scene like a local and get a taste of the kind of artistic expression that makes this city pulse.
Be it a nine year leftist government funded project or a hole in the wall is-the-roof-going-to-crash-down-on-the-guitarist kind of place, cultural centers are at the heart of what makes this city so unique. These spaces host the best live music, display the best art, put on the coolest workshops and allow the public to participate on a student/backpacker’s budget.
The Well Known (Big) Cultural Centers:
1) Centro Cultural Kirchner
Centro Cultural Kirchner (CCK) is the mothership of all cultural centers. The stunning once upon a time post-office has been converted into the art space of our dreams. Head here to see a myriad of art exhibits, to take a free yoga class on Thursdays, or to see any type of music your little heart desires—ranging from symphonies to electronic-funk. Tickets can be reserved online or at the Ticket Office Monday-Sundays from 12-19:00.
Open: Wednesday-Sunday 13:00-20:00 | Where: Sarmiento 151 | More Info: CCK’s Website
2) Centro Cultural Recoleta (CCR)
You’ve probably passed this place at some point on your hunt for the famous Recoleta Cemetery. Centro Cultural Recoleta (the cemetery’s neighbor) is a beautifully run, government-funded space that hosts a variety of art, hip-hop dance nights, free concerts, and more. The ciclos rotate monthly to highlight different groups of artists such as female and immigrant artists. Wednesdays and Sundays here are particularly good nights to make your way down to groove to some live tunes for free.
*Bonus if kids are in tow: Upstairs is the “Prohibido No Tocar” (Prohibited to not touch). Tons of science exhibits that are very much hands on as the name hints.
Open: Tuesday-Friday 13:30-22:00 + Saturday/Sunday 11:30-22:00 | Where: Junin 1930 | More Info: CCR’s Website
3) Ciudad Cultural Konex
If you’ve heard of La Bomba de Tiempo, the famous percussion group that occupies the #1 thing to do on Mondays spot, you’ve heard of Konex—another big player in the cultural center game. But hold on, Konex has so much more to offer! From nights of philosophy lectures to festivals juggling local bands, we can guarantee there will be something worth listening to. The multiple stages, both indoors and out, make the perfect venue for concert-going year round.
Open: Everyday from 18:00-late | Where: Sarmiento 3131 | More Info: Konex’s Website
The Cool Kids:
4) Club Cultural Matienzo
Perhaps the coolest of them all, Matienzo is part cultural space, bar, and party. With tons of rooms for workshops, improv theatre shows, and stages for music this has all the makings of a top-notch cultural center by day and a raging good time by night. The admin keep a variety of programming in their various funky spaces to sip a beer, live music and a promised good time.
Open: Tuesday-Thursday + Sunday 19:00-2:00, Friday-Saturday 20:00-5:00| Where: Pringles 1249 | More Info: Matienzo’s Website
5) Casa Brandon
Cultural spaces in general tend to support progressive movements and to help give voices to marginalized groups, but this one in particular is the star of them all. An emphasized LGBTIQ friendly space, this is the kind of spot where all folks are welcome and celebrated. The inclusive vibe will make you feel at ease, but scope the music and you’ll come back again and again.
Open: Varies depending on exhibit | Where: Luis Maria Drago 236 | More Info: Casa Brandon FB
6) El Universal Espacio Cultural
Take a turn down an alleyway close to Plaza Serrano and you’ll bump into El Universal, one of our favorite spots to catch a lot of artists in one night. Folk, bluegrass, jazz, comedy, yoga, this cultural space has different nights dedicated to artists performing in all sorts of genres. Think open mic night with the cringe-worthy performances already weeded out, so you can get straight to the good stuff.
Open: Tuesday-Friday 20:00-2:00, Saturday 20:00-12:00| Where: Soria 4940 | More Info: El Universal’s Website
The Neighborhood Gems:
7) La Casa del Árbol
This cultural space is like a little slice of magic on the Cordoba block. Set behind a bookstore and adjacent to its string lit bar, from the minute you enter this space you feel like you’ve joined the community of artsy folk that run it. A small, intimate setting with musicians, artists, and vegan fairs— we highly recommend seeing a show here if you want great music without the overwhelming crowd.
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 10-2ish| Where: Avenida Córdoba 5217 | More Info: La Casa del Arbol’s FB
CLOSED, April 2019 8) POMO, Distrito de Arte
When you’re tired of the manicured cultural centers and you want some grit, head to the POMO. Walking in you know you’re in Buenos Aires because places like this just don’t exist in other parts of the world. It’s like someone opened up their garage and thought ‘we could put a stage in here.’ For local bands that absolutely slay and a no-fucks-given kind of venue, this is your spot.
Open: Tuesday-Saturdays 19:00-2:00| Where: Santa Rosa 5157 |
9) El Quetzal Casa Cultural
Small but always packed with people El Quetzal is your perfect spot to hit after you’ve knocked back a few at any of the Palermo bars nearby. Salsa, funk, singer-songwriter sessions— check out their agenda to see what night is best to cruise by and get yourself into the heart of the action.
Open: Tuesday-Thursday + Sunday 19:00-3:00, Friday-Saturday 19:00-5:00| Where: Guatemala 4516 | More Info: El Quetzal’s Website
