If you are coming to a place as vibrant as Buenos Aires, why on earth would you choose to spend your time in a lifeless hotel chain that makes you feel as though you could be in any hotel in any other city in the world? Deciding on where to stay in Buenos Aires has a seemingly endless list of boutique hotel options that make you feel like you are more at home. For the more discerning traveler, here is the low-down on some favorites to check out, grouped by neighborhood:
Palermo Soho
Mine is a boutique hotel that exudes warmth and homeliness. The rooms are cheery, with splashes of bright color and lots of unique details in the décor. Some of the rooms have extra large Jacuzzi tubs which are perfect for relaxing in after a long day of exploring the city. This hotel is not flashy, not trying to hard to be super chic – its just wonderfully cozy and relaxed. The location in Palermo Soho is also ideal for quick access to many of Buenos Aires’ most popular restaurants, bars and shopping.
Jardin Escondido, or “hidden garden” is a little known boutique hotel owned by Francis Ford Coppola. The creator of the Godfather himself lives here during his stays in Buenos Aires, but in the meantime it is converted into a cozy and homely hotel. It has a very hospitable staff, lovely garden area for some quiet reading time and a slightly rustic feel to its rooms. Make reservations in advance as rooms are not plentiful and the word has gotten out! As a bonus it’s right in the middle of Palermo Soho so you’ll likely be only a few blocks away from those popular parrillas or bars you read about!
San Telmo
Mansion Vitraux offers sleek accommodation located in the heart of historic, crumbling mansion district of San Telmo. Each room is decorated in a different style, from Oriental to French to Techno to avant-garde to postmodern (easiest if you look on the website and check the photos for which vibe suits you best). Rooms are significantly smaller than some of the other boutique hotels on this list, although the reasonable prices are reflective of that. Don’t miss the wine tasting that takes place every afternoon in the wine cellar on-site! You’ll be right around the corner from the famous Sunday San Telmo outdoor market.
Recoleta
Mio Hotel is chic, very euro, and attracts the likes of designers and wine connoisseurs (the owners of the hotel are related to the legendary Catena wine family). What makes this place unforgettable is the bathtubs found in every room – each is custom carved out of a massive tree trunk. Combine that with the Catena champagne that is on tap in your room at no extra charge, add in ridiculously comfortable beds, and you can count on sleeping like a baby. Great access to Recoleta’s famous cemetery, museums and high end shopping.
If Frank Sinatra were to schedule a weekend getaway with Audrey Hepburn, Algodon Mansion is no doubt the kind of place they would end up. Although it is a newly renovated 10 room hotel, old world glamour seeps out of every wall. Service is unparalleled, as every guest has his own personal butler. Pricier than any of the others on this list, but for that you get a level of luxury that everyone deserves to experience at least once in their lifetime.
Palermo Hollywood
Fierro Hotel is a newer hotel, but has quickly made a mark on the Buenos Aires hotel scene. They have gathered a super loyal client base who enthusiastically recommend Fierro to friends and family. Staff goes out of their way to make guests feel at home, and the hotel has a definite commitment to the neighborhood by buying minibar items and bath products locally. Ipads are available for use in this modern hotel for those who want to stay connected, and for those who want to escape technology, the rooftop pool with Jacuzzi jets and powerful waterfall cascade is the perfect retreat. And as icing on the cake, one of the top rated restaurants in Buenos Aires, UCO, is located right on site.
Own hotel is located right by all of the restaurants and clubs that Palermo Hollywood is known for, yet it feels like a quiet oasis in the city. Rooms are large, simple but beautiful, service is friendly, and prices are reasonable. Little details make the difference, such as flip-flops being left alongside the robes for use in the bathroom.
Home Hotel is hard not to love, as the place just has a casual, laid-back vibe and is full of life and character. It is easy to make this place a home base from which to explore the city from – you will look forward to coming back at night! The pool and garden areas are great places to kick back and unwind, and if you really want to go all out, reserve the garden suite with its own private pool and rooftop terrace with outdoor shower (it’s incredible – basically it is your own loft apartment in the city!) Home also has a fairly strong commitment to sustainability, and has from the day it opened its doors.
Palermo Viejo:
Ultra Hotel consists of 20 rooms in a converted mansion. You can either choose from ‘glam’ or ‘city’ rooms, with glam being decorated light and airy, and city being much darker and masculine. It is a place that attracts international models and the polo crowd, while still maintaining fair room rates. There are tons of common spaces, such as the library, Sky bar, rooftop pool, and outdoor breakfast area, and a ‘personal vibe’ manager will see to it that you can find your way around to the best that BA has to offer.
San Isidro:
For those that want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city while still being just an easy train ride away from town center, there is Hotel del Casco. Built in 1892 as a summer house for an aristocrat, it has been painstakingly restored into a gorgeous 20 room hotel in one of the quietest and most posh suburbs of Buenos Aires. Rooms are huge, and some bathrooms can include lovely claw-foot tubs. Although the general atmosphere is definitely refined, the friendly staff helps it to not feel pretentious.
