Barrio Norte

Barrio Norte isn't officially a neighborhood (it's technically parts of Recoleta and Retiro), but porteños universally recognize it as its own thing. Located along and around Avenida Santa Fe between Callao and Pueyrredón, it's one of the most convenient places to live in Buenos Aires. The area is defined by its dense commercial activity — Santa Fe is lined with shops, restaurants, and services — and its classic apartment buildings.

Many of the apartments here are large, with the high ceilings and ornate details of early-20th-century construction. The transport is outstanding: Subte D (Pueyrredón, Facultad de Medicina) and Subte H (Santa Fe) intersect here, plus dozens of bus lines along Santa Fe and Las Heras. You can walk to Recoleta's cultural attractions, Palermo's restaurants, and Microcentro's offices.

Rents are moderate by northern BA standards — cheaper than Recoleta proper but more than Almagro. The main downside is the busy commercial streets — Santa Fe is noisy and crowded. But one block off the main avenues, the residential streets are surprisingly quiet.