Rochester Hotel Concept

Buenos Aires is filled with anonymous 1970s buildings and this hotel is no exception, with its unattractive glass and concrete exterior. Inside, the hotel is more contemporary, with a white-on-white minimalist motif offset by purple and gray sofas and striped carpeting. Ceilings are low and the area feels a bit cramped, with the hotel’s front desk up a small flight of stairs and off to the side. The lobby is a decent enough place to sit with a coffee and a map to plan a walk through the city. The hotel’s restaurant has an austere, futuristic quality, with white-on-white furniture set about the same striped carpeting as the lobby. Stylishly framed photographs and bright orange flowers in glass vases lend some cheer to the space, though it doesn't necessarily lend itself to casual gatherings. This hotel is ideal for guests who use their room as a place to sleep and recharge as there isn’t really any common space ideal for long talks over drinks. Most guests here include couples and business travelers, though families and solo travelers pass through as well.

On a semi-pedestrian street in the middle of Buenos Aires’ business district, alternately known as El Centro and San Nicolas, this hotel is within walking distance of many landmarks. There are bars, restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs in almost every direction, and Calle Florida, lined with stores and street vendors, is just one block around the corner (a two-minute walk). More upscale shops can be found in Galerias Pacifico, four minutes' walk from the hotel, while Teatro Colon, one of the world’s most famous performance venues, is an eight-minute walk across Avenida Nueve de Julio, billed as the world’s widest street. A 15-minute walk from the hotel leads to Casa Rosada, the presidential palace that looms over Plaza de Mayo, which is home to protesters and picture-snapping tourists year round, and the charming, scruffy lanes of San Telmo are five minutes beyond that. The Lavalle Metro station is one block away, a three-minute walk, while Jorge Newbery International Airport and Ezeiza International Airport are 20 and 30 minutes away by taxi, respectively, without traffic.

Guest rooms have a bright, minimalist aesthetic that looks simple and fresh, though Standard Rooms at this hotel are small. These are simple rooms, and there’s little in the way of wall art or decor, though warm chestnut parquet floors and headboards pop against lime green accent walls, and white leather mod chairs and ottomans lend rooms a vintage vibe. There are no proper wardrobes or dressers in guest rooms, but shelving systems storage units add a Scandinavian metal-and-wood functionalism to the space. Beds are made up with with tan bedspreads and green bed runners that match the walls. All rooms include electronic safes, telephones, desks, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air-conditioning. Slow Wi-Fi incurs an extra fee. Bathrooms are clean and bright, if snug, with red formica vanities and raised sinks with modern fixtures. The hotel provides towels and toiletries, and stand-up showers are narrow, but spotless; some rooms have shower/tub combos. Rooms at the back of the hotel can be dark, with views overlooking concrete walls, and street-facing rooms may pick up some external noise. Guests should also keep in mind that the air-conditioning in this hotel is central and tends towards extremes, and though rooms are small, the hotel does offer Triple Rooms for small families and groups.

Like other Rochester properties, this hotel serves a free breakfast with hot and cold options as well as made-to-order eggs and handmade pastries in its austere breakfast room, which doubles as a restaurant that serves dinner, wine and beer, and provides room service during limited hours. The 24-hour front desk can arrange concierge services and laundry and dry cleaning are also available. There is a small business center on-site, but Wi-Fi is only free in the lobby and even after being purchased in guest rooms, coverage is spotty and speeds are slow. There is no fitness center on-site, but the hotel has an arrangement with a facility nearby for guests who need a workout. Airport transfers can also be arranged for guests for a fee and the hotel will hold luggage for guests without a charge.