The Loft at Home Hotel
Finding a suitable spot to lay your head is high on our list when it comes to travelling – whether that’s for leisure or work. What do we look for? Great location, amenities galore (like Wi-fi, helpful concierge and luxe toiletries), an on-site restaurant and spa, all are considered essentials in our books. We’ve found four fabulous options in the city of Buenos Aires that include these essentials and much more.
Home Hotel
Perfectly located in the heart of the hip neighbourhood of Palermo, Home Hotel is a sleek and stylish boutique hotel, high on the design thermometre – think retro French wallpaper, Saarinen Tulips chairs, and vintage Scandinavian furniture – don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re in an issue of Wallpaper magazine.
Home Hotel
There are tons of fantastic amenities including free Wi-fi throughout, iPod-ready stereos and LCD TV’s in the room, complimentary breakfast, an outdoor heated pool, and 24-hour room service. We’re also fans of the on site restaurant and bar, in case you’re too wiped to leave the property (or even your room). Tasty signature cocktails like the Cucumber Bellini, and Scarlet The Tart are a must-try. Menu-wise you’ll find dishes made with seasonal, local produce.
Jet-lagged upon arrival? Plan ahead by booking a spa treatment. We suggest the 90-minute Jet-lag Recovery, which includes a full body-massage, hot bath and hydrating herbal tea to help bring you into Buenos Aires time.
It’s made Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice travel awards in 2009, as well as Wallpaper Design Awards in 2007 and is a favourite of Travel & Leisure magazine. The neighbourhood, service and amenities make this hotel your home away from home.
WHERE TO FIND:
Home Hotel (homebuenosaires.com).
Honduras 5860, Buenos Aires, (011) 4778-1008.
The Faena Hotel + Universe
The Faena Hotel is the epitome of cool in Buenos Aries. Located in the trendy and uber-hip Puerto Modero, it’s the place to see and be seen. When Beyoncé makes a visit (like she did a few months ago), you know you’re in a super hot spot. A cool mix of Zen and urban, the interior of the hotel is draped in rich reds and dark shades of chocolate and black. There are three places to be seen: the Library lounge for pre-dinner bevies; the El Cabaret for dinner and a classic Argentine tango show; and the pool bar, ideal for post-dinner people watching. Also add in the resto El Mercado, which is the place to get one of the best steaks in the city. With 11 different luxury room and suite types (all with amazing city and ocean views), it might be hard to pick which you want to cozy up in, but we recommend the Faena Suite – with an extra large king bed and views of the city from every angle, how could you go wrong?
WHERE TO FIND:
The Faena Hotel + Universe (faenahotelanduniverse.com).
Martha Salotti 445, Ciudad De Buenos Aires, (011) 4021-5555.
The lobby to the Alvear Palace
Alvear Palace Hotel
Highly regarded as one of the most luxurious hotels in Buenos Aires, the Alvear Palace Hotel has seen the likes of celebrities, athletes and politicians including Michael Jordan (whom they actually built a custom bed for), Prince Charles, Donatella Versace, Francis Ford Coppola and Walt Disney. Situated in the ritzy neighbourhood of Recoleta, the moment you step into the ornate lobby, you’ll feel transported into an era of elegance thanks to marble pillars, crystal chandeliers, gold accents, and oil paintings decorating the space. Our favourite features? The personal butler who will greet you, help you settle in and attend to your requests – everything from drawing you a bath to ordering room service. Dining-wise you have a lot of options, including the renowned afternoon tea, which takes place just off the lobby on the main floor. We enjoyed the scrumptious pastries and warm scones that accompanied our tea. So much food served, we couldn’t even finish our dessert! One tip to remember though is it is a formal setting, so men are required to wear pants. The full-service spa and wellness areas both offer a tranquil place to unwind after a full day touring the city. Need to burn off some of the delicious meals you’ve been induging in? No worries, there’s a state-of-the-art fitness centre, which offers a Kinesis program for those looking to really get a serious workout.
WHERE TO FIND:
Alvear Palace Hotel (alvearpalace.com).
Alvear Av. 1891, Buenos Aires, (011) 4808-2100.
The Palacio Duhau
The Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Located in the heart of Buenos Aries’ Recoleta district, this Park Hyatt is something quite magical for a hotel. Part of the hotel is actually a former palace that has been converted into exquisite rooms and suites. Built in 1932, this portion of the hotel mixes French and modern decor and still has all the grandeur and elegance of the belle-epoque period it originates from. The salon or main foyer of the building has a stunning crystal chandelier and simple, sleek, modern sofas – a perfect mix of old and new. Behind the former palace is a quad with perfectly groomed gardens and a sitting area that leads you into the newer portion of the hotel, which has an art gallery — the must-try Ahín Wellness & Spa and the Gioia Resturanat and Terrace. With two other restuarants, a lounge and the manly Oak Bar (with stocks of whiskey and liquers) it would be hard to leave this hotel not feeling like royalty.
WHERE TO FIND:
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires (buenosaires.park.hyatt.com).
Avenida Alvear 1661, Buenos Aires, (011) 5171-1234.
