Sizing up the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Palacio Duhau
Recoleta is Buenos Aires's most exclusive neighborhood, and the gay-friendly Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, which opened in July 2006, ranks among its most exclusive addresses. The property is built around two structures, the elegant 1930s private mansion known as Palacio Duhau, and - across from a beautiful terrace and courtyard - the sleek and contemporary 17-story Posada Building, in which most of the guest rooms are located. It's an intimate property with a high staff-guest ratio and impeccable service - the ultimate splurge in that most European of South American cities.
A beautiful terrace and garden separates Palacio Duhau from the Posadas Building (an underground walkway also connects the two - it's lined with fine artwork by some of the country's leading contemporary artists). In fact, more than half of the space occupied by the hotel site is used for the hotel's extensive gardens. Most rooms are in the newer building, but the 23 rooms in the palacio are the most interesting, with their antiques and the feel of staying in a private manor home.
Pros:
- The sleek newer wing and classic palace section provide guests with a nice balance between old world Buenos Aires elegance and the city's hip and contemporary design aesthetic.
- The cloistered gardens here are lovely - it's hard to believe you're right in the heart of the busy Recoleta neighborhood.
- If you're a fan of Argentinean wines and cheese, you'll love the on-site Vinoteca bar and cafe - it's even more of a foodie's reason for staying here than the hotel's still excellent main restaurant.
- The location is handy to other grand shopping and dining in the swish Recoleta neighborhood, and it's a short walk to the city's downtown area.
Cons:
- Although service and accommodations are the Park Hyatt are superb, this is a very pricey hotel in a city with some comparatively inexpensive properties - this can be a stretch for all but the most deep-pocketed visitors.
- You could walk to the gay-popular neighborhoods of Palermo Viejo and San Telmo, but these sections are a good 30 minutes from Recoleta, so you'll probably need to take taxis.
The Details:
Address, phone, and web: Avenida Alvear 1661, Buenos Aires, 54-11-5171-1234 or 800-633-7313 in North America); book online at the hotel's web reservations page. The hotel is along swank Avenida Alvear in leafy Recoleta, a dapper neighborhood close to downtown.
Rates: Rates begin around $400 per night during quieter times, but generally you can expect average rates of about $500 to $650 during the busier times.
Rooms and notable in-amenities: About 210 rooms and suites. In each room you'll find elegant contemporary wood furnishings, earthy tones, and black-and-white photos of the city, but the Palace has the most lavish suites, with crystal chandeliers, silk curtains, and antique Persian carpets. Amenities include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, safes with laptop outlets, three phones, butler service, DVDs on demand, Wi-Fi, full climate control, and excellent work desks. Products in the marble bathrooms are Celedonio Lohidoy brand, an unusual collection of fragrances, gels, and products.
Noteworthy hotel amenities: In Duhau Restaurante, dine on fine modern French and Argentinean fare, with an emphasis on wood-grilled meats. Or sup on mod Italian cooking in the airy and refined Gioia Restaurant, whose floor-to-ceiling windows offer marvelous views of the gardens - there's also outdoor seating on the adjacent terrace.
In Vinoteca, you can choose from an enormous wine list (some 350 different labels) as well as nearly 50 fine cheeses from throughout Argentina. You can order a plate of these delicious cheese, which comes with dried fruits, homemade breads, and air-dried as well as Iberian-cured ham.
The AHIN Spa and Wellness Center is amazingly well-equipped, with a lovely indoor pool, an extensive fitness studio (especially for a property with just 165 rooms), and five serenely decorated spa suites where a wide range of treatments are offered. One room has a Vichy shower, and all are brightened with natural light, looking onto private interior patios, plus travertine marble floors.
