Alvear Palace Hotel

The height of luxury, sophistication and Belle Epoque elegance in what is often dubbed Argentina’s finest hotel

There are luxury hotels and there are luxury hotels, but Alvear Palace exceeds all expectation. As your airport transfer swoops into the entrance of the imposing 1930s French building, red-suited porters take your luggage, and you’re escorted along the peacock-blue carpet into the grand Louis XVI foyer. You know you’re somewhere exceptional.

Elegance is everywhere: from the foyer's marble splendour to the darkened lobby bar of antique wood and period lamps - ideal for cocktails and a romantic encounter. Then there’s L'Orangerie - all cream marble and shimmering silver - the perfect setting for the exquisite tea ritual, a Buenos Aires hallmark. Breakfast is the most lavish buffet imaginable, served in a palatial ballroom. And the bedrooms and suites continue the grand style, with Louis XVI furniture, crystal chandeliers, fresh fruit and flowers, butlers and really sumptuous bathrooms. Add to this a smart spa and a top-notch restaurant serving innovative French cuisine, and there’s no question: Alvear Palace is quite simply the best place to stay in Buenos Aires.

Highs

• Repeatedly voted the best hotel in Latin America, yet it doesn’t rest on its laurels
• Nothing is too much trouble for the bilingual staff (a ratio of 2 per guest)
• Great location for Recoleta's cultural and retail delights. Posh shops abound, and you’re 3 blocks from the swanky Patio Bullrich shopping centre
• The perfect place for the first night of your trip: head straight to the spa for a jet-lag recovery massage

Lows

• All this splendour comes at a price, but it's worth every peso
• With 197 rooms and suites, this is larger and better-known than most i-escape properties (not exactly a hidden gem)
• Light sleepers should request a room on one of the upper floors as noise can carry from the bar at the weekends
• Expect a delay if checking in mid-morning, when lots of guests arrive from trans-Atlantic flights. Take advantage of the hospitality suite or head to the spa first