Cafés y Bares en Comuna 4
Commune 4 of Buenos Aires, located in the south of the city, encompasses the neighborhoods of La Boca, Barracas, Parque Patricios, and Nueva Pompeya. It is the largest in area and is notable for its rich history and culture. This district features sustainable urban development projects, combining industrial and residential areas, and addresses socioeconomic challenges by promoting comprehensive policies and the renovation of green spaces such as parks and plazas.
Below are some of its notable bars and cafes:
Bar El Progreso
Bar El Progreso, located on the corner of Av. Montes de Oca and California in Barracas, is one of Buenos Aires' most traditional Notable Bars, renowned for its authentic Buenos Aires atmosphere and rich history dating back to 1942. Housed in a 1911 building, it retains a period ambiance with wooden furniture, a checkerboard floor, antique photographs, and objects that evoke the neighborhood's history. Founded by Asturians Aureliano Moreno and María Licinia Tomás, and now run by their son César, it has been the setting for films such as The Dark Side of the Heart and Puán, and continues to be a haven for conversation, coffee, games and artistic expressions such as music and exhibitions.
Los Laureles
Los Laureles, located on the corner of Av. Iriarte and Gonçalves Díaz in Barracas, is a café with over 130 years of history that preserves the essence of the late 19th century and has become an emblem of Buenos Aires tango. Founded in 1893 as a general store and pulpería (traditional general store) by three Spanish friends, it later transformed into a café-bar with billiards, maintaining its nostalgic atmosphere with limestone floors, antique objects, and a piano that evokes bygone eras. It was frequented by figures such as Alfredo Palacios, boxers from the Club Sportivo Barracas, and renowned tango musicians like Ángel Vargas, Enrique Cadícamo, and Ángel Villoldo, establishing itself as a meeting place steeped in history, mystique, and milonga tradition.
Bar El Estaño 1880
The El Estaño 1880 café and restaurant, located in La Boca since 1880, has been an iconic meeting place for the Boca Juniors neighborhood. Originally the Estrella del Sud inn, it was frequented by laborers and even by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. In 1939, Manuel López and Teresa Vicenta Novaro transformed it into a general store and named it Don Lorenzo, making it an essential part of neighborhood life. In 1976, their son, "Dany," renamed it El Estaño 1880, distinguished by its impressive tin bar and original ambiance. A setting for films such as Evita and Eva Perón, it has been frequented by figures like "Mate Cocido," "Charro" Moreno, Astor Piazzolla, Martín Caparrós, and Martín Palermo. Since 2009, Alejandra Lorenzo has led its restoration, keeping its rich cultural and social history alive.
Bar La Buena Medida
On a corner in the La Boca neighborhood (Suárez and Caboto) you'll find this bar, across from Plaza Solís, where Club Atlético Boca Juniors was founded in 1905. The bar is more modern (it has been operating since the 1930s), but it maintains the spirit of the neighborhood intact and, over time, has become one of La Boca's genuine havens.
Bar Portuario
At the end of the 19th century, a thriving and growing Italian community began to settle in the La Boca neighborhood, gradually giving life and character to the area. It quickly became a hub for European immigrants, passing sailors, and numerous general stores and shops. This was the setting in which Bar Portuario opened its doors. In 1915, on the corner of Pinzón and Caboto streets, this general store with a bar was inaugurated. From that moment on, it maintained its activity uninterrupted and became a prominent landmark in La Boca. The building retains its original design and materials. Observe the floor and columns, the exterior moldings, and the stained-glass facade in detail. Inside, wooden chairs and tables await you, along with a large bar crafted by a local carpenter, the creator of works of art and wooden boats. You'll find a menu of traditional Argentine cuisine, with simple, hearty dishes made with fresh, top-quality ingredients. They specialize in fish and seafood, but also make excellent pizzas, empanadas, tortillas, milanesas, and meat dishes.
Café Roma
On the iconic corner of Almirante Brown and Olavarría streets, you'll find a Buenos Aires bar with a bohemian soul and a rich history. It opened its doors in the early 20th century as a general store and has operated solely as a bar since the 1950s. Its nostalgic ambiance includes antique objects such as lanterns, televisions, advertising posters, and wooden display cases, evoking the past of the La Boca neighborhood. Frequented by figures like Gardel, Quinquela Martín, and Filiberto, it was a meeting place for artists and folk singers. After closing between 1998 and 2000, it was revived with a vengeance and today is known for its breakfasts, afternoon tea, and the magical view from its windows.
La Perla de Caminito
As its name suggests, La Perla de Caminito is located on the strategic corner that marks the entrance to Caminito, at Vuelta de Rocha. This Notable Bar has been operating as such since 1882 and is a journey back in time. Inside, wood is prominently featured on the ceiling, the counter/refrigerator, the tables, and the chairs. It also coexists with exposed brick, mirrors, decorative signs, historical photographs of tango greats, paintings, and many century-old objects. For all these reasons, the City Legislature declared it a Site of Cultural Interest.
A place imbued with all the mystique acquired over time and the magic inherent to this emblematic area of the City, which keeps alive the memory of its early visitors, some as illustrious as the master Benito Quinquela Martín.
El Buzón
In Nueva Pompeya, Buenos Aires' most tango-loving neighborhood, lies this bar, a piece of local history. It shares the corner with an old red mailbox, which gives it its name. Its simple facade, with green details and a metal shutter, has changed over the years, as if it were a shop. The only thing that remains unchanged is the warm, neighborhood atmosphere and its owner sitting at one of the tables, chatting with the regulars.
