The Best Hotels in Buenos Aires — And the One I Keep Coming Back To

1. Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires – MGallery

Recoleta

This is the hotel I keep coming back to.

The Palladio just gets a lot of things right.

The rooms are perfect for me. They're upscale, modern and extremely comfortable, but they're not overly fancy. I don't need gold fixtures, chandeliers and a room that looks like Louis XIV might be stopping by later. I want a room where I can actually relax.

The Palladio gives me that.

The location is also excellent. It's on Avenida Callao in Recoleta, putting you in a great position for actually getting out and enjoying Buenos Aires. The hotel is also only a couple of minutes on foot from the Callao station on the Subte's Line D.

And then there's Negresco Bistró.

The restaurant is fantastic. This isn't a hotel restaurant I'd eat at simply because I was tired and didn't feel like going anywhere. It's somewhere I'd actually choose to have dinner. The restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine with seasonal dishes and a strong selection of Argentine wines.

That's important to me.

There's also an outdoor heated pool, spa and fitness center, plus Negresco Bar and the rooftop La Terrazza. So you're certainly not giving up the amenities of a luxury hotel.

But what I really like is the balance.

It's nice without being stuffy. The room is comfortable without being overdone. The restaurant is excellent. And the location works.

That's pretty much exactly what I want from a hotel.

If someone asked me where I personally like to stay in Buenos Aires, the Palladio would be my answer.

That doesn't mean it's the only great hotel in Buenos Aires. Far from it. Depending on what you're looking for, there are some fantastic alternatives.

2. Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires

Retiro

If you want to go all-out, it's hard to argue with the Four Seasons.

You get the unusual combination of a modern luxury hotel and the historic La Mansión, a Belle Époque mansion that gives the property some real Buenos Aires character. It's also home to Elena, one of the city's better-known upscale hotel restaurants.

The Four Seasons is polished, beautiful and extremely luxurious.

Would I personally pay substantially more to stay here instead of the Palladio? Probably not.

But if the price doesn't bother you and you want the complete luxury-hotel experience, this is a fantastic choice.

3. Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires

Recoleta

This may be the hotel I'd recommend most strongly to someone planning a romantic trip.

Palacio Duhau is a historic palace on Avenida Alvear connected to a contemporary hotel wing by beautiful terraced gardens. It's one of those rare city hotels where you can walk outside your room and almost forget that you're in the middle of a huge city.

There's art, beautiful architecture, excellent dining and a serious luxury spa.

If Palladio is my practical choice, Palacio Duhau might be my splurge choice.

It's a gorgeous hotel.

4. Alvear Palace Hotel

Recoleta

If you want old Buenos Aires, go to the Alvear.

This is unapologetically old-school luxury: marble, chandeliers, gilded details, formal service and afternoon tea.

Some travelers are going to absolutely love it. Others may find it a little too formal.

But that's the point.

You don't choose the Alvear because you want another modern five-star hotel. You stay there because you want to experience one of the classic grand hotels of Buenos Aires.

5. Faena Hotel Buenos Aires

Puerto Madero

Faena is completely different from everything else on this list.

It's dramatic, theatrical and a little outrageous — in a good way.

The Philippe Starck-designed hotel occupies a converted building in Puerto Madero and incorporates art, nightlife and tango into the experience. It's the kind of hotel where the hotel itself becomes part of your vacation.

I personally prefer staying around Recoleta, but if you like Puerto Madero and want something memorable, Faena is a hell of a hotel.

6. Casa Lucia

Retiro

Casa Lucia is one of the newer luxury choices in Buenos Aires and occupies the historic Mihanovich Building in Retiro.

What I like about Casa Lucia is that it combines the architecture and history of Buenos Aires with a much more contemporary interior.

It doesn't feel like it's trying to recreate 1920.

If you want a sophisticated five-star hotel that's modern without being generic, Casa Lucia is definitely worth considering.

7. Park Tower, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Retiro

The Park Tower is one I'd always check before booking because sometimes the pricing makes it very interesting.

It's near Plaza San Martín and offers traditional five-star service, including butler service and indoor and outdoor pools.

It's also part of Marriott's Luxury Collection, which makes it an obvious hotel to investigate if you have Marriott Bonvoy points or status.

At the right price, this can be one of the better luxury values in the city.

8. Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta

Recoleta

The Sofitel is a very easy hotel to recommend.

It's comfortable, upscale and in an excellent Recoleta location.

It may not have the wow factor of Palacio Duhau or the personality of Faena, but not everybody wants their hotel to be an attraction.

Sometimes you simply want a really nice room in a really good location with dependable service.

That's the Sofitel.

9. Be Jardín Escondido by Coppola

Palermo Soho

This is probably the most interesting alternative if you don't want a traditional hotel at all.

Jardín Escondido was once Francis Ford Coppola's Buenos Aires residence and is now an intimate boutique property in Palermo.

There's a beautiful courtyard garden and pool, but the real attraction for me is the location.

You're in Palermo Soho.

Walk outside and you've got restaurants, cafés, bars, shops and nightlife all around you.

If you're a couple and want to experience Palermo rather than stay in a big luxury hotel, I'd take a serious look at this one.

10. InterContinental Buenos Aires

Monserrat

And finally, there's the InterContinental.

It's not going to compete with Palacio Duhau or the Four Seasons for glamour.

But it doesn't have to.

What can make the InterContinental attractive is value. It's a full-service luxury hotel in Monserrat, convenient to the historic center and places like Plaza de Mayo, Avenida de Mayo and San Telmo.

I prefer Recoleta as a neighborhood, particularly in the evening, but if I found a great rate at the InterContinental, I certainly wouldn't dismiss it.

It's a very good hotel that can sometimes make a lot of financial sense.

So where should you stay?

I wouldn't get too caught up trying to determine which one of these is technically the "best."

They're different.

If you want serious luxury, look at the Four Seasons.

If you want romance and one of the most beautiful properties in the city, look at Palacio Duhau.

If you want classic old-world Buenos Aires, stay at the Alvear Palace.

If you want something dramatic and sexy, try Faena.

If you want Palermo and a small boutique experience, Jardín Escondido would be high on my list.

And if you find a fantastic rate at the Park Tower or InterContinental, take a good look at them.

But for me?

I'm going back to the Palladio.

The room is exactly what I want. The restaurant is fantastic. The location is excellent. The hotel is upscale without being over-the-top.

And when I'm in Buenos Aires, that's enough luxury for me.

I'd rather spend the rest of the money eating my way through the city.