Alvear Art Hotel

This elegant luxury hotel
is equally suited for couples in search a romantic retreat, business travelers who
need modern amenities, and tourists looking for a central home base -- and it
makes a stunning first impression. Stepping around the two old tipa trees that flank
the hotel’s brick-paved entryway, guests are greeted by a large, dramatic lobby
filled with turquoise satin chairs, white contemporary couches, and Mid-Century
chrome tables are set across dark brown marble floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows draped
with gauzy curtains and gold-lit recessed ceilings lend even more visual drama
to the space, which feels chic but not busy. The lobby is dominated by
Argentine realist Antonio Berni’s canvases, and the hotel’s commitment to an artsy
vibe continues in a gaudily carpeted mezzanine that showcases contemporary work
by local artists in monthly exhibits. The hotel feels like a destination unto itself and there are
plenty of places to sit with a drink or coffee, whether under the atrium
windows of Restaurant Contraluz or the cozy Artesano Bar, where decor in varying shades of wood and chocolate brown marble make for a rich and warm setting. 

Retiro is one of Buenos
Aires's most posh enclaves. The Beaux Arts
and Neocolonial buildings that line the neighborhood’s leafy boulevards live up
to the claim that this city is the Paris of South America. The area is home to
many upscale hotels and apartment blocks and the shops and restaurants in the
area reflect its residents. The high-end shops of Galerias Pacifico and Calle
Florida, a lively pedestrian street, are a 10-minute walk from the hotel while
Teatro Colon, one of the world’s premier performance venues, is 10 minutes in
the other direction on foot. A five-minute walk leads to Plaza San Martin, a
popular daytime hangout for locals that also holds the General San Martin Metro
station. Retiro Railway Station is 10 minutes from the hotel on foot while Jorge
Newbery Airport is a 20-minute taxi ride and Ezeiza International Airport is 45
minutes away depending on traffic. 

These spacious rooms do
vintage Latin American glamour right. Studios start at 34 square meters, or 366
square feet, and are comfortable and sophisticated. Eye-catching patterns abound,
from the silver and green floral accent walls, to twig motif carpets, to purple
velvet desk chairs, and striped foot rests. None of these elements should work
together, but the somber, rich colors actually create a warm, inviting
environment, enhanced with retro leather armchairs, glass end tables, and chestnut
built-in entertainment walls. All rooms include Nespresso machines, welcome
fruit plates, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, MP3 speakers, minibars, safes, and excellent beds with padded leather headboards and white duvets. Striking
white-and-gray marble bathrooms have separate walk-in showers with rainfall
showerheads and bathtubs with hot tub jets, along with a complete line of toiletries,
towels, bathrobes, and slippers. Vanities are large and fixtures are modern-antique,
though we did notice some mildew in the showers. Suites have separate bedrooms
and more luxurious furniture, including sofas and chairs with wood accents and
satin throw pillows. These larger rooms also incorporate artful touches
befitting the hotel’s name, like decorative starburst light fixtures, vases,
and art by local artists. Though the hotel is in the middle of Buenos Aires,
all rooms are well soundproofed against interior and exterior noises.

This hotel is packed with
features that make it worth its luxury rating. The indoor, heated rooftop pool
and hot tub are a step above many hotel pools in the city, and the space is
lined with lounge chairs and windows with spectacular views of the Buenos Aires
skyline. As an added bonus, the roof retracts when the weather is warm for an
open-air swim. The wood-paneled, light-filled fitness center has several cardio
options and cable machines as well as free weights, towel service, and filtered
water, while an on-site spa and wellness center includes a sauna and massage
treatments in a wood-lined setting with views of the city, as well. The hotel’s
24-hour business center includes a copier, fax machine, and two small meeting
rooms with secretarial services available for a fee, and the hotel also has space
on-site for larger events and private functions. Contraluz Restaurant serves a
breakfast buffet with hot and cold options, though the offerings skew heavily
toward pastries, and it is also open for lunch and dinner. Artesano Bar draws
locals and hotel guests to its extensive cocktail menu and wine list, and is a
lovely place to kick off an evening out in the city. Wi-Fi is free throughout
the hotel. Laundry and dry cleaning services are available, while private car services and
tours can be arranged through the 24-hour front desk. For guests looking to
explore Buenos Aires by alternative methods, the hotel offers free bicycle
rentals, as well, and childcare can be arranged for guests with children.