Buenos Aires has left the dark days of economic crisis far behind. But with the peso still weak and hoteliers and restaurateurs in ebullient mood, the Argentine capital is again one of the best cities to find yourself doing business in Latin America. Sleeping
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt. This mansion with restored oak floors, antique chandeliers and 1930s’ carved wood paneling raises the bar for luxury. All rooms have personal safes with built-in laptop chargers, marble baths and butler service. There is also a wine library with cheese room and terrace dining overlooking gardens beautifully landscaped by Carlos Thays, designer of the city’s botanical gardens. Rooms start at $410 for a park deluxe. www.buenosaires.park.hyatt.com Alvear Palace. An icon of traditional luxury with modern conveniences. The Alvear offers a welcome “jet lag massage” to arriving guests, butler service and fresh flowers daily. Its French restaurant, Bourgogne is one of the best in the city. Rooms start at $550. www.alvearpalace.com InterContinental. Conveniently located in the Montserrat area of downtown Buenos Aires, this modern hotel offers all the usual business class perks. The average room rate is $190. www.ichotelsgroup.com. Faena Hotel + Universe. This Philippe Starck velvet-and-glam hotspot is a little self-consciously cool, but cool nonetheless. Modern rooms, all with home theater systems and enormous bathrooms. Kick-start your day with coffee in the library lounge, which has a wood burning fire and a selection of more than 500 books. Dine at the slick, all-white, unicorn-adorned Bistro. Average room rate is $350. www.faenaexperience.com Bo Bo Hotel. An urban boutique hotel in a converted 1920s mansion set amidst the ivy covered houses and cobbled streets of Palermo Soho. It is attached to a hip restaurant offering generous portions of contemporary Argentine food. Rooms start at $150. www.bobohotel.com Eating Nectarine. Tucked away on the first floor of an art nouveau house, this little gem offers modern French cuisine with a menu that changes every six weeks. Hope that it has the lamb with vegetable ragout. The wine list should satisfy even the pickiest connoisseur. (Vicente López 1661, Recoleta. Tel: 54 11 4813 6993). Thymus. Young chef Fernando Mayoral has won numerous accolades for his innovative dishes –roasted quail with quince jelly and homemade ricotta, for example – served in the former studio of sculptor Martín Vergara. (Lerma, 525, Palermo. Tel: 54 11 4772 1936). Bar Uriarte. One of our favorites. Sleek and comfortable, Bar Uriarte offers an excellent menu and wine list. The perfect place to have a leisurely lunch, especially in the winter. Get a seat by the warmth of the huge clay pizza oven and feast on homemade ravioles de ternera con jugo de carne. (Uriarte. 1572. Tel: 54 11 4834 6004). Duhau Restaurant & Vinoteca. The cozy restaurant emphasizes seasonal produce in elegantly simple dishes. Service is impeccable. Move through to the fireplace in Vinoteca for an introduction to the best artisanal regional cheeses selected by the Maitre Fromager and the greatest of Argentine Malbecs. (Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt. Tel: 54 11 5171 1340). El Obrero. For something a little less sophisticated but perhaps even more Argentine, keep your wits about you and head for dinner in La Boca. El Obrero’s small dinning room gets packed with locals dining on Puchero – a stew of brisket, sausage, calabaza, potatoes and corn – washed down with free-flowing wine. (Agustín R. Caffarena, 64 La Boca. Tel: 54 11 4362 9912). Drinking
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Buenos Aires has left the dark days of economic crisis far behind. But with the peso still weak and hoteliers and restaurateurs in ebullient mood, the Argentine capital is again one of the best cities to find yourself doing business in Latin America.