Built in 1932 at the height of the Belle Epoque, the elegant Alvear Palace is considered by many to be one of the world's best hotels. Its illustrious guest list includes film stars, heads of state and royalty.
Rooms are luxurious, spacious and lavishly decorated with mock Louis XV furniture, original works of art and floral arrangements. Service throughout the Alvear Palace is excellent with a ratio of 2.5 staff per room including a personal butler service.
Location
The Alvear Palace is situated along Avenida Alvear in the wealthy and fashionable district of Recoleta in central Buenos Aires. The avenue is renowned for its fancy boutiques, art galleries and chic cafés. The financial centre is only a five-minute drive away.
Ezeiza International Airport is approximately a 40-minute drive along the motorway. A transfer to the domestic airport of Aeroparque should take about 15 minutes, but will depend on the traffic which can be very congested.
Things to do
The focal point of the city's historical centre is the Plaza de Mayo and adjacent Casa Rosada, from where Eva Peron made her famous speech. Nearby on the wide Avenida 9 de Julio is the elegant Teatro Colón, a world-renowned venue for opera, ballet and classical music.
The colourful and bohemian districts of La Boca and San Telmo are the spiritual home of tango, and the latter is also home to Argentina's most famous and fanatical football team, Boca Juniors. Recoleta has cafes and museums in abundance and a magnificent cemetery.
The Rio de la Plata separates Argentina from Uruguay. The charming Uruguayan colonial port of Colonia can be reached in an hour by hydrofoil from Buenos Aires.
Our comment
"A real Buenos Aires institution - traditional and relatively formal, with a sophisticated ambience catering for a top-of-the-range clientele." |