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[title]Time Out editors around the world have compiled their list of the world's coolest neighbourhoods for 2026. Buenos Aires ranked 22nd out of 40 selected neighbourhoods.
The ranking brings together neighbourhoods from cities around the world where something is happening. The selection is the result of work by the publication's global network of local experts, who explore their cities to identify the places with the best options for eating, going out and enjoying your free time.
More than a simple list of trendy areas, the goal is to spot where each city is changing: places where new restaurants, bars, cultural spaces and independent ventures are anticipating a transformation. To determine the ranking, neighbourhoods were assessed based on criteria including food and drink, nightlife, independent businesses, quality of life and community.
Buenos Aires has a new neighbourhood, even if it doesn't appear on any map yet. It's called Chacagiales, and it was born from the merging of Chacarita and Colegiales, two Buenos Aires neighbourhoods that for years coexisted with warehouses, workshops and low-rise houses, and that have quickly transformed into one of the city's most interesting food and cultural hubs.
The arrival of specialty coffee shops, wine bars, independent design stores and cultural spaces hasn't erased the area's neighbourhood feel: today, Chacagiales combines everyday local life with new offerings, tree-lined streets and nearby squares where you can take a break.
Chacagiales: the new neighbourhood born between Chacarita and Colegiales
Chacarita or Colegiales? Increasingly, the answer is Chacagiales. Between these two Buenos Aires neighbourhoods, a new name has emerged for an area that has been developing its own identity for some time.
Maps may not recognise it yet, but the streets do. In this area stretching between the two neighbourhoods, where workshops, warehouses, low-rise houses and local shops coexisted for decades, something began to change. In recent years, a new generation of coffee shops, restaurants, wine bars, independent stores and cultural spaces has transformed the area into one of the most interesting corners of Buenos Aires.
And so Chacagiales was born, a name that combines Chacarita and Colegiales and reflects more than a simple geographical distinction: the emergence of a distinct identity.
The emerging scene coexists with long-time residents, traditional businesses, tree-lined streets and green spaces. The result is a neighbourhood that feels relaxed and local, while also being home to some of the city's most appealing food and cultural projects. And perhaps that's its greatest charm: Chacagiales still feels like a discovery.
The perfect day in Chacagiales
The best way to get to know it is on foot. Start your morning with a coffee at Hobby, then wander through the stalls at the Mercado de las Pulgas, one of the area's great classics. You can still find furniture, objects and vintage pieces that tell part of the neighbourhood's story.
For a break, head to Plaza Mafalda or Parque Ferroviario Colegiales and enjoy some greenery before sitting down for lunch on the terrace at Kanka.
The afternoon is ideal for discovering Chacagiales' more creative side. Stop by C Art Media, a versatile cultural space that brings together different artistic expressions, and then visit Granada Almacén Orgánico, a market and shop selling healthy products with a strong neighbourhood spirit. For those looking for independent design, Mixtos, a gender-neutral footwear and accessories brand, is another must-visit.
As the sun goes down, Chacagiales changes pace. Terraces begin to fill up, while wine bars and restaurants become meeting points. For dinner and to keep the night going, some of the places that best represent the area's new spirit are Bochinche, Smak Bistró and Abreboca.
If there's one thing that defines Chacagiales, it's precisely this combination of neighbourhood life, creativity and porteño energy, making it ideal for a relaxed day out.
The best time to enjoy Chacagiales
A weekend is the best time to experience Chacagiales at its liveliest: busy cafés, bustling restaurants and wine bars that start coming to life as the afternoon fades. And if you go during spring or summer, even better: neighbourhood life spills out onto the terraces and tree-lined streets.
Chacagiales still doesn't appear on the maps. But perhaps that's exactly the point: some of the most interesting neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires begin to take shape long before anyone decides to draw their boundaries.