At a Glance
The avant-garde Faena, housed in a century-old former granary in Puerto Madero, is both cutting-edge and historically relevant. Think 21st century Buenos Aires meets the Belle Epoque.
Indagare Loves
- People-watching by the Faena’s hip outdoor pool area
- One of the city’s most renowned tango shows
- Sleek and sexy rooms and suites
Review
Buenos Aires entrepreneur Alan Faena and designer Philippe Starck teamed up to produce Faena Hotel + Universe, a stunning 88-room hotel that opened its doors in late 2004. Floor-to-ceiling silk and velvet curtains line the hallway leading to the popular Sunday brunch spot (El Mercado), charmingly designed with ceramics and glassware and knick-knacks from the city’s antiques district, San Telmo, and the funky restaurant Bistro, bedecked with white unicorn heads mounted on the walls and white leather sofas with gold claw-feet. Rooms and suites (including over-the-top residence-style accommodations) are equally dramatic, with cherry wood floors, red-velvet curtains and funky glass- and mirror-clad bathrooms. The reception area, four small desks in front of the elevators, is where the hotel dispatches its “experience managers,” butlers–cum–personal assistants who attend to guests’ needs. The state-of-the-art gym, spa and hammam area is divine. Note: The hotel lies a few miles from the Recoleta area, so some guests find it a bit out of the way for many of the main sites.
Who Should Stay
Couples, singles or groups of friends looking for a party scene in Buenos Aires.
Who Should Not Stay
Those in need of a central location, recently renovated rooms or traditional décor should try the Recoleta properties.
Written by Suzy Buckley