Rochester M Hotel

This hotel makes a lovely first impression upon entering, with whitewashed, wainscoted walls that are bright and classic, while dark purple plush couches and triangular leather papasan-style chairs give the lobby a vintage flair. Soft green shag throw rugs are spread across polished white marble floors, and funky art and flower arrangements are set about low coffee tables. Slick white shelving is filled with modern sculpture, including bulbous figurines and colorful balls that give the room some charming playfulness. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy a free coffee from the Nespresso machine in the lobby or read a free newspaper, and the hotel has a simple restaurant for breakfast, as well. Hallways are done in purple, from the carpeting to the walls, and there are bright ceiling lights throughout. Unfortunately, this hotel’s stylish setting can feel underused, especially compared to its sister property across the road, Rochester Hotel Classic. Guests here are predominantly couples, though families and business travelers are welcome, too.

The hotel’s neighborhood has been newly named San Nicolas, but this part of town is in Buenos Aires’s hectic Centro, the downtown financial hub that’s bustling during the week and almost abandoned on weekends. One of the city’s main pedestrian thoroughfares, Calle Florida, is just two blocks from the hotel (five minutes on foot) and is lined with shops and street vendors. For more shopping alternatives, the Galerias Pacifico shopping mall is a six-minute walk from the hotel. There are plenty of cultural sights in the area as well, including the legendary Teatro Colon, considered one of the world’s top-five concert venues, and the Borges Cultural Center (both a seven-minute walk). Plaza de Mayo and La Casa Rosada, the nation’s presidential palace, are a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The Florida and Diagonal Norte Metro stations are both six minutes from the hotel on foot for connections to farther flung neighborhoods like Palermo. Ezeiza International Airport is about 35 minutes by taxi, and Jorge Newbery International Airport should take 20 minutes by car.

The Rochester M offers an array of rooms, from Standard Twin to Deluxe Double Rooms, and there is a large disparity in quality and size from one category to the next. Guests should make sure that they are getting what they pay for by checking ahead with the hotel, as there have been reports of booked rooms being unavailable upon arrival. Deluxe Double Rooms are a good value, with a minimalist, retro vibe created by striking parquet floors, white-tiled living rooms, tasteful turquoise accent walls, low-slung vintage couches and coffee tables, and light wood furniture and counters. Aqua-colored shag throw rugs complement futuristic Lucite coffee tables in the living areas, and kitchenettes include coffeemakers, electric stovetops, sinks, and minibars. Decent beds have complementary teal bed runners and all rooms include work desks, flat-screen TVs, digital safes, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Slow Wi-Fi costs extra in rooms. We did see some wear-and-tear on baseboard molding and dirty grout in the tile-work throughout, including in the bathrooms. The huge black-and-white model’s portraits in some bathrooms feel more like advertisements than chic statements, though bathrooms are mostly contemporary, with large wood vanities, raised circular sinks, modern fixtures, small walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, bathrobes, and generic toiletries. Deluxe Double Rooms also have charming astroturfed terraces, though this feature isn’t uniform across other room categories. Additionally, noise from neighboring rooms and the street can be an issue here, especially as there was major construction on the road outside when we visited.

The hotel offers a free breakfast with fresh pastries, as well as hot and cold options including made-to-order eggs and crepes. There are also a restaurant and lobby bar on-site with room service available during limited hours. The fitness center has cardio and weight options with towel service, and the hotel also includes a business center and meeting rooms with audiovisual services. Wi-Fi is only free in the lobby. The 24-hour front desk is available to provide concierge services, and laundry and dry cleaning can also be arranged. Guests should be sure to check a map ahead of time as the ongoing street construction means that cabs cannot pull up outside and pedestrians are not able to cross the road in front of the hotel, which can be a pain when carrying heavy luggage.