Alvear Palace Hotel

For a hearty dose of old-school porteño aristocracy at its finest, check into Recoleta’s  Alvear Palace Hotel, an historic five-star landmark resembling New York’s Plaza Hotel, renowned for its superluxe amenities and European flair.

• Prime location on the Avenida Alvear
• Palatial public spaces where the who’s who of Buenos Aires still congregate
• Luxurious Louis LX furnishings reminiscent of Paris

Hermès toiletries, 500-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens, daily fruit baskets, and fresh flowers everywhere are just a few of the amenities that make the Alvear Palace popular with traditionalists looking for a taste of Argentine opulence. A recent renovation at the hotel updated the 210 rose-, beige- and cream-hued Louis XV–style rooms and suites with marble bathrooms and LCD screens above the in-room hot tubs, though rooms still feel surprisingly dated. There are all-new accommodations on the top floors, with an ever-so-gentle veer towards a more contemporary style. Guests in these rooms have a private check-in experience on the 10th floor, and access to a club level.

Butlers will unpack for guests as well as secure reservations at the hotel’s refined French restaurant, La Bourgogne, the first Relais Gourmand restaurant in Latin America. The hotel’s spa has also been refurbished, and the gym features top-end equipment. For cocktails or high tea, don’t miss the dark and romantic lobby bar, usually busy with a local crowd. The multi-tiered rooftop bar is also a local favorite, and has some of the best views in city. Sunday brunch in the main restaurant is the best in the city, worth attending even if you’re staying elsewhere.

Travelers looking for a real sense of history and who want to stay in the Buenos Aires equivalent of the Plaza Hotel. The hotel opened in 1932 and is the true Grande Dame of Buenos Aires, with warm, friendly service and top amenities to match, though rooms feel relatively dated compared to the city’s other top hotels.