Pros

  • On Avenida Nueve de Julio within walking distance of historic San Telmo neighborhood
  • Independencia Metro station a two-minute walk
  • Elegant lobby bar serves coffee and cocktails
  • Large outdoor terrace with kids’ area
  • All rooms have minibars and some have balconies
  • Breakfast buffet with hot and cold options
  • On-site restaurant with 24-hour room service
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Basic on-site fitness center
  • 24-hour front desk that can provide concierge services
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Cons

  • Breakfast is only included with some bookings
  • Wi-Fi can be spotty in guest rooms
  • Some guest rooms look austere
  • Upgrades mean pool and sauna aren’t yet functional
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Bottom Line

The 143-room upscale Scala Hotel offers a modern take on classically elegant Buenos Aires living. Details throughout the hotel hearken back to the city’s early 20th century golden age, and the hotel retains a bygone sophistication without feeling stuffy. Located at the fringe of the historic San Telmo neighborhood, the hotel is a 15-minute walk from the famous Sunday market, though the immediate area can feel a little shady at night. Upgrades are ongoing here and the hotel will have a pool and sauna sometime in 2015. Guests looking for those amenities may want to try Dazzler Palermo, located in the hip Palermo neighborhood, though rooms come at a higher price point. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Scala Hotel Buenos Aires by Cambremon

Scene

New hotel with classic touches throughout; ideal for tourists

Erected in 2010, the building’s Neoclassical facade, curved brick driveway, and rows of balconies make a grand statement on the tree-lined street, an impression that continues upon entering the expansive lobby. White marble floors are lined with solid wood tables flanked by satin and velvet armchairs in navy and red stripes and floral patterns, while a bright, yet intimate, bar at the back of the lobby feels lifted straight from the early 20th century. Art Nouveau flourishes add some sophisticated visual drama to the lobby, a motif that continues up the wide staircase to the mezzanine, and is enhanced by bursts of bright wall art and antiques collected throughout. The hotel has a lovely garden terrace with a small children’s area -- and a smoking area -- that is a great option for families or guests looking for a little fresh air. Most of the hotel’s guests are couples and families, though the location and features can be ideal for business travelers, as well.

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Location

Metro one block away, walk to historic San Telmo sights

Porteños -- residents of Buenos Aires -- like to claim that the giant road abutting this hotel, Avenida Nueve de Julio, is the widest road in the world. Whether or not that is true, it means that staying here can be convenient for traveling throughout the city, and the historic San Telmo neighborhood is just around the corner. The district is a blend of crumbling Colonial buildings, antique markets, trendy boutiques, cafes, and traditional parillas (no-frills steak houses), though the area immediately around the hotel can be dodgy at night. A 15-minute walk east will lead to the neighborhood’s famous Sunday market along Calle Defensa that offers street orchestras and vintage wares, and which culminates in public tango performances at Plaza Dorrego. La Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, is a 20-minute walk from the hotel, though the Independencia Metro station is just one block south of the hotel and the same trip can be done in 10 minutes. The trendy Palermo neighborhood is 35 minutes away by metro, or 25 minutes by cab, while the city’s two airports, Ezeiza and Jorge Newbery, are both about 30 minutes away by taxi depending on traffic.

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Rooms

Simple rooms with contemporary amenities, some including balconies

Guest rooms have a classic, early 20th century vibe and minimalist decor that can feel almost austere in Classic Rooms. Warm oak furniture with simple, antique lines matches wood laminate floors. White mirrors and antique sconces along the white walls give the rooms an inviting air. Breezy linen curtains hide French doors that open onto small terraces in most street-facing rooms, and beds are good, though duvets would have been a more luxurious choice of bedding than the white comforters currently used. Each room has an electronic safe, minibar, 32-inch flat-screen TV, a small table and chair set, and individually controlled heat and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are spacious and clean, with light gray tiled floors and walls, shower/tub combos, and large, marble-topped vanities with wooden bases. Most of the bathroom fixtures have a vintage look and bathrooms include towels and a full range of toiletries, though we did notice some water stains on the showerheads. Superior Rooms have more personality, with black-and-white throw pillows and matching paisley bed runners, while Suites have separate sitting areas and mostly white furniture with black-and-white accents. Even though this hotel sits on one of the city’s busiest streets, the soundproofing is excellent and noise is not an issue.

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Features

On-site restaurant and lobby bar, though other facility upgrades are ongoing

A decent breakfast buffet with hot and cold options is served everyday at this hotel, but it is only included with some bookings. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, with traditional Argentine dishes like pastas, and room service is available 24 hours a day. Cocktails, wine, beer, and coffees are available throughout the day at the elegant, yet comfortable, lobby bar. As of spring 2015, the hotel is in the process of upgrading its facilities, including the addition of a pool and sauna, but when we visited neither were finished and the hotel’s fitness center was being housed in a temporary space on a lower floor. The 24-hour front desk can provide concierge services, including car rentals and airport transfers (though guests should beware of fees for this service), and babysitting services can be arranged. Additionally, a small play area on the hotel’s terrace is a great place for families; children under age two stay for free in cribs, and one child under age eight may stay free in each room using an existing bed. There are four meeting and event spaces on-site with space for up to 150 guests, and though Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, it can be spotty in some guest rooms.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Scala Hotel Buenos Aires by Cambremon

Scene

New hotel with classic touches throughout; ideal for tourists

Erected in 2010, the building’s Neoclassical facade, curved brick driveway, and rows of balconies make a grand statement on the tree-lined street, an impression that continues upon entering the expansive lobby. White marble floors are lined with solid wood tables flanked by satin and velvet armchairs in navy and red stripes and floral patterns, while a bright, yet intimate, bar at the back of the lobby feels lifted straight from the early 20th century. Art Nouveau flourishes add some sophisticated visual drama to the lobby, a motif that continues up the wide staircase to the mezzanine, and is enhanced by bursts of bright wall art and antiques collected throughout. The hotel has a lovely garden terrace with a small children’s area -- and a smoking area -- that is a great option for families or guests looking for a little fresh air. Most of the hotel’s guests are couples and families, though the location and features can be ideal for business travelers, as well.

See More Scene

Location

Metro one block away, walk to historic San Telmo sights

Porteños -- residents of Buenos Aires -- like to claim that the giant road abutting this hotel, Avenida Nueve de Julio, is the widest road in the world. Whether or not that is true, it means that staying here can be convenient for traveling throughout the city, and the historic San Telmo neighborhood is just around the corner. The district is a blend of crumbling Colonial buildings, antique markets, trendy boutiques, cafes, and traditional parillas (no-frills steak houses), though the area immediately around the hotel can be dodgy at night. A 15-minute walk east will lead to the neighborhood’s famous Sunday market along Calle Defensa that offers street orchestras and vintage wares, and which culminates in public tango performances at Plaza Dorrego. La Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, is a 20-minute walk from the hotel, though the Independencia Metro station is just one block south of the hotel and the same trip can be done in 10 minutes. The trendy Palermo neighborhood is 35 minutes away by metro, or 25 minutes by cab, while the city’s two airports, Ezeiza and Jorge Newbery, are both about 30 minutes away by taxi depending on traffic.

See More Location

Rooms

Simple rooms with contemporary amenities, some including balconies

Guest rooms have a classic, early 20th century vibe and minimalist decor that can feel almost austere in Classic Rooms. Warm oak furniture with simple, antique lines matches wood laminate floors. White mirrors and antique sconces along the white walls give the rooms an inviting air. Breezy linen curtains hide French doors that open onto small terraces in most street-facing rooms, and beds are good, though duvets would have been a more luxurious choice of bedding than the white comforters currently used. Each room has an electronic safe, minibar, 32-inch flat-screen TV, a small table and chair set, and individually controlled heat and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are spacious and clean, with light gray tiled floors and walls, shower/tub combos, and large, marble-topped vanities with wooden bases. Most of the bathroom fixtures have a vintage look and bathrooms include towels and a full range of toiletries, though we did notice some water stains on the showerheads. Superior Rooms have more personality, with black-and-white throw pillows and matching paisley bed runners, while Suites have separate sitting areas and mostly white furniture with black-and-white accents. Even though this hotel sits on one of the city’s busiest streets, the soundproofing is excellent and noise is not an issue.

See More Rooms

Features

On-site restaurant and lobby bar, though other facility upgrades are ongoing

A decent breakfast buffet with hot and cold options is served everyday at this hotel, but it is only included with some bookings. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, with traditional Argentine dishes like pastas, and room service is available 24 hours a day. Cocktails, wine, beer, and coffees are available throughout the day at the elegant, yet comfortable, lobby bar. As of spring 2015, the hotel is in the process of upgrading its facilities, including the addition of a pool and sauna, but when we visited neither were finished and the hotel’s fitness center was being housed in a temporary space on a lower floor. The 24-hour front desk can provide concierge services, including car rentals and airport transfers (though guests should beware of fees for this service), and babysitting services can be arranged. Additionally, a small play area on the hotel’s terrace is a great place for families; children under age two stay for free in cribs, and one child under age eight may stay free in each room using an existing bed. There are four meeting and event spaces on-site with space for up to 150 guests, and though Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, it can be spotty in some guest rooms.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.