Mine Hotel Boutique

Mine Hotel Boutique is set in a squat, modern building with balconies that jut out from a flat brown facade. On the face of the entrance, a mosaic of stone sets the tone for the interior, which pairs a natural Zen vibe with late '60s touches. The lobby features concrete and exposed stone walls softened by warm brown accents and a flood of light from the floor-to-ceiling windows that flank it. A homey sitting area off the breakfast nook and bar feels like a trendy late-'60s family room with an orange couch, round rattan chairs, and shelves full of books. Windows look out onto a back garden, where ivy covered walls are a serene backdrop for a lap pool and wood terrace with chairs and loungers. Guests of the hotel are mostly vacationing couples who want to explore Palermo Soho.

Mine Hotel is situated in northeast Buenos Aires' Palermo Soho, a lively neighborhood full of trendy bars, restaurants, nightlife, and posh boutiques, echoing Manhattan's SoHo. The hotel is just a four-minute walk from Plaza Serrano, the heart of the neighborhood and a late-night gathering spot for those coming and going from bars. Guests can walk to La Rural Convention Center and the Plaza Italia metro station in about 22 minutes, while the upscale neighborhood of Recoleta is about a 15-minute drive. Ezeiza International Airport is about a 40-minute drive. 

Rooms are individually decorated with simple, homey decor in-tune with the rest of the hotel. Bare floors with fuzzy accent rugs, wood furniture, and white bedding are common. Most feature accents in a specific color theme (purple, deep pink, golden yellow), but rooms are otherwise fairly monochromatic. Upgraded rooms add chicer details like exposed stone.

All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, work desks, flat-screen TVs with cable and DVD players, free Wi-Fi, and safes along with electric kettles and minibars. Bathrooms in entry-level rooms feature roomy walk-in showers, but even better are the whirlpools in upgraded rooms. Entry-level rooms aren't huge (204 square feet), but there is certainly enough space for two and luggage. Guests occasionally complain about noise from hallways or, in street-facing rooms, traffic.

Like many intimate boutique properties, there aren't a host of extra features, but the hotel still manages to have nice extras. While there's no full-service restaurant, a tasty, fresh breakfast (extra fee) is served until late morning and the on-site bar serves coffee, alcoholic drinks, and light snacks. There's no fitness center or spa, but the back garden has terrace seating and lounge space in addition to a lap pool, open seasonally. Staff are friendly and service is high-end -- transportation, babysitting, laundry service, and other extras can be arranged. Wi-Fi is free throughout.