Where to Stay
Alvear Palace Opened in 1932, the lavish Louis XV- and Louis XVI-style Alvear long ranked as Buenos Aires's top hotel. (The king and queen of Spain and Catherine Deneuve are among the notable figures who have stayed there.) A high employee-to-guest ratio (three staff people for each of its 210 rooms), marble and gold-leaf decor and luxe amenities — a business center and in-room WiFi, LCD televisions and Hermès soaps — set it apart, as does a central location in Recoleta. After cocktails in its celebrated bar, have dinner at La Bourgogne, South America's only Relais Gourmand restaurant. A wellness center is slated to open by next year. Double rooms from $550. 1891 Avda. Alvear; 4808-2100; 800-223-1230.
Faena Hotel & Universe Over the top in its hipster style, from the dramatic thirty-foot-high entrance hall to the naughty red cabaret, the Faena opened in 2004 in Puerto Madero and immediately became known for its "downtown" opulence and theatrical vibe. The 108 white guest rooms (there are apartments, too) have red velvet curtains, beds with gold claw feet and gold-leaf swan chairs. The luminous El Bistro, where white unicorns' heads are mounted on white silk walls, is the more formal of the hotel's two restaurants. The rustic El Mercado has redbrick walls, long wooden tables and an open kitchen with clay ovens. For a quick nature break, go jogging at the nearby ecological reserve; you can revive afterward in the hotel's huge hammam, part of its gym and spa, or with a drink in the library lounge or at the adjacent outdoor pool. Double rooms from $350. 445 Martha Salotti; 4010-9000.
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires This Recoleta property's towering, somewhat plain façade belies the treasures behind it. Foremost among these are an outdoor pool in the hotel's inner courtyard and, next to it, a turn-of-the-century residence. The opulent Mansion, as it is still called, was a wedding gift from a husband to his bride and has many period details, including wood-paneled walls, tiled floors, high ceilings, marble columns, fireplaces and a grand staircase. The entire house, with its seven one-bedroom suites and five banquet rooms, can be booked for a private party or event.
The 158 Asian-style rooms in the tower are large and sunny, with views of the city, the river and the Mansion. Don't miss the invigorating Pachamama massage, in the hotel's gorgeous new Incan-influenced spa. There's also a Presidential Suite, popular with celebrities, but the Mansion is even more so: in just two weeks recently, U2, the Rolling Stones and Juliette Binoche were guests there. Tower rooms and Mansion suites from $310, Presidential Suite $3,500. 1086/88 Posadas; 4321-1200; 800-819-5053; fourseasons.com.
Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt Buenos Aires If it lives up to expectations — and to its truly extraordinary setting, which includes a 1930s mansion — this just-opened property will rival the Alvear, right down the street, and the nearby Four Seasons for the title of best hotel in town. Double rooms from $410. 1661 Avda. Alvear; 5171-1234; 888-819-5053; buenosaires.park.hyatt.com.
Sofitel Buenos Aires Located on a leafy, gallery-filled street in a renovated 1929 skyscraper, the midsized Sofitel, which opened in 2002, exudes elegance and charm. Its 144 rooms, though smaller than those at Buenos Aires's other luxury hotels, are decorated with rich earth tones and leather furnishings; those on the upper floors have nice views as well. Combine the amenities and style with its address — in Retiro, between the central business district and Recoleta — and attractive rates and you have a great addition to the B.A. hotel scene. Sip cocktails by the hearth in cozy La Bibliotheque lounge or at Café Arroyo, just off the impressive glass-roofed lobby, or sample Mediterranean fare at Le Sud restaurant. Double rooms from $320. 841–849 Arroyo; 4131-0000; 800-SOFITEL; sofitel.com.
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