From secret neighborhood to a hidden gem of Buenos Aires: the silent boom of Villa Santa Rita

Time Out

6 days ago

For years, Villa Santa Rita was something like 'the best kept secret of the western side of Buenos Aires.' A neighborhood of low houses, hidden alleys, and the smell of bakery at any hour.
But times change, and so do what's considered 'cool.' Today, this quiet corner between Villa del Parque, Flores, Floresta, and Monte Castro is starting to show its teeth — and its soul — with a growing cultural, gastronomic, and community scene that doesn't lose its essence.
The Miracle: A Plaza (Finally!)
Yes, until a few weeks ago, Villa Santa Rita was the only neighborhood in the city without its own plaza. But the spell has been broken and the story changed: now there is a new green space that is everything the locals had been waiting for.
Kids running, mates shared in a circle, and a feeling of 'finally' beating in every corner. Right next to it is a passage that looks like it came out of a storybook: Pasaje Guillermo Granville, a pedestrian block with low houses and murals, which leads to Pasaje Julio S. Dantas — so narrow it seems like a secret. Walk through it and you'll understand why everyone takes photos there.
El Tokio Bar: The Buenos Aires Legend Reborn
At the corner of Pasaje Tokio and Álvarez Jonte, a tin awning and floors dating back to 1930 announce that El Tokio Bar is back in full force. This iconic bar, with more than 90 years of history, was restored with the respect it deserves: the traces of the past remain intact, but nightlife has been injected into its veins.
From Thursday to Saturday, starting at 8 PM, it switches to a chic bodegón mode. The menu pays straightforward tribute to Buenos Aires classics: milanesa napolitana, ribeye steak, fritters, homemade pasta, and a flan that will bring tears to your eyes. Everything made with top-quality ingredients, accompanied by classic cocktails, draft beer, and a wine list as carefully curated as the atmosphere. On other days, it's open from 8 AM to 8 PM, perfect for breakfast while watching the neighborhood wake up.
Bar Don Juan: Vermouth, Tortilla, and the Spirit of Another Era
If you're into a nostalgic vibe, Don Juan Bar (Camarones 2702) will steal your heart. Founded over 100 years ago by the family's great-grandfather, this neighborhood café was reopened by the new generation, preserving its vintage aesthetic — old radios, wooden chairs, an old TV — but adding the best of the new: their own vermouth (yes, made right there), homemade tapas, craft beer, and a potato tortilla that deserves special mention. The Rosso, Vigneto, and Rosato vermouths are the house's gems, and the vegetable fritters are no less impressive.
Living Postcards: Butterflies, Murals, and Culture
In the heart of what's known as Barrio Nazca, a silent but intense cultural movement is blooming. There's a community library where workshops are held, readings are organized, and cultural happenings take place. All on a human scale, all with the warmth of a neighborhood.
And in the so-called Pasaje de las Mariposas (Toay Passage 3300), native plants have been placed to attract these magical insects, and a local painter beautifies the facades with unique drawings that make the stroll enchanting.
Classics That Endure and Newcomers That Surprise
If you want a timeless classic, stop by Heladería Agust (Alejandro Magariños Cervantes 3400), an old-school corner with artisanal ice cream served by its owners for decades.
But if your palate craves something bolder, don't hesitate to enter Argot (Álvarez Jonte 2744), a specialty coffee shop with the soul of a gastronomic workshop. They do everything there: bakery, pastry, pasta, dinners, brunch. The place is a renovated old café with plenty of sidewalk and green space. Perfect to slow down time and enjoy a flat white as the afternoon falls.
Want something more substantial? A Raja Cincha (Cuenca 1299) is the local temple of grill and hearty dishes: matambre pizza-style, Spanish tripe stew, giant milanesas crowned with gnocchi. Everything overflowing, flavorful, and with the spirit of an authentic bodegón.
And for hardcore sweet lovers, El Sol de Galicia (Luis Viale 2881) is a must-visit: since 1957, they've been serving churros with dulce de leche, pastries, and fried cakes that cause pilgrimages on weekends. One tip: they only open in the mornings, from dawn until 1 PM.
Villa Santa Rita doesn't shout. It doesn't brag. But when you walk through it, you understand it has something special. A mix of neighborhood with memory, new ideas, beautiful people (soulful, not Instagram-famous), and corners that invite you to stay. It's not one of the biggest neighborhoods, but it's definitely one of the ones with the most heart. And now, it finally has its first plaza.