The Best Places to Sleep in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, or as locals refer to it “BA,” is like most modern cities – scattered with sectioned neighborhoods, each with their own unique flair.
You will find that in Buenos Aires, there are clearly districts that standout for their walkability, volume of bars and restaurants, late-night fun, and cultural treasures. We scoped them all out, and here’s our top picks for where to stay during your time in Buenos Aires.
Palermo SoHo is our favorite neighborhood in BA. You can find a new treasure on every street – it’s almost overwhelming. Each block has it’s own fast-casual restaurant, cafe, lunch spots, dinner spots, guys shopping, girls shopping, treats, gyms, parks, you name it. Truly, any block in this neighborhood is a gem.
But Palermo SoHo isn’t just a great walkable location in-and-of itself, it’s central to anything else you’d want to do in Buenos Aires. We found most of our favorite coffee and tea houses in Palermo SoHo, and there are plentiful parks, museums, and other restaurants all within a stroll. Locals agree: the younger generation is clamoring to find a place to live around here!
Casa-Chic Boutique Hotel Palermo
Budget and design friendly, this hotel chain actually has several locations in the greater BA area and even in Uruguay. It’s sister company, selling chic home wares, is usually intertwined into each location meaning their hotels are very design friendly.
1828 Smart Hotel
As a luxury hotel, 1828 earns it’s ‘smart’ name because tablets control each room. They go above-and-beyond to make sure you’re well taken care of. The breakfast is good and healthy (order to your room), the gym is well equipped, and the pool is a nice gem after a long walk throughout Palermo. Don’t skip the wonderful bar downstairs with live piano or the spectacular rooftop for incredible sunsets over the city.
1555 Malabia House Hotel
Boutique and perfectly located, Malabia House hotel is literally a house converted into a wonderful little hotel. The staff is attentive and will help you with anything you need. It’s location on the south side of Palermo SoHo is blocks (if not, steps) from our favorite shops.
Be Jardin Escondido
With plants and parilla galore, this small hotel has a beautiful courtyard where you can make your own ‘parilla’ (BBQ). It’s actually an American company with their Coppola wine shipped in, but skip it for a Malbec from the Salta region.
CasaSur Palermo Hotel
Good in all the right ways, it’s your standard hotel, but they do all the things you expect well: clean rooms, nice pool, good gym, great people, delish breakfast.
Palermo Hollywood is just as splendid as it’s neighbor.
The Hollywood side of Palermo is less shopping and little cafes. It’s more dinner, clubs, and late-night fun. On this side, you’ll be hard-pressed to sleep if your bedroom is on the street-side window. People can be found out every night of the week til late, but that’s how BA rolls. It’s littered with fantastic dinner restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs, and people watching. Even if you don’t stay here, come for a night or every night.
Home Hotel
Luxury and awesome, the Home Hotel is exactly as it’s named—a place you wish were your own very home. It’s in a prime location one block off the busy dinner streets. The design is great. Food is great. Staff is great. It won’t disappoint.
Krista Hotel Boutique
Bang for the stylish buck, the overflowing floral walls and complementary colors are only as great as the service. A top pick for anyone traveling on a budget, but wants tot relax in a nice place.
Rendez-Vous Hotel
Chic and affordable, the Parisian-style decor and facade remind you why BA is the ‘Paris of South America’. It won’t break the bank, it’s good, and you’re spending most of your time outside the hotel anyway.
If you’re looking for a bit more luxury close to downtown and all the best restaurants in Palermo, you can stay in Recoleta.
It’s a more affluent neighborhood with mostly locals in-and-around the corner stores. Here you’ll also find your standard hotels (think Hiltons) if you’re a points person. Surely, if you’re in BA for business, you can’t go wrong here. Walk, bike, or take a 5 minute cab to downtown.
Alvear Palace
With the best rooftop of all the hotels on this list, Alvear Palace is offers spectacular views of the city. You’re welcome to breakfast, lunch, cocktails, or dinner inside their covered roof or afuera (outside in Spanish) on their terrace. The rooms are opulent at this luxury hotel, making it one of our favorite luxury hotels.
Intersur Recoleta
For your late-night or sunset cocktail enjoyment, Intersur Recoleta offers a beautiful, hidden rooftop jacuzzi. It’s a standard hotel that’s nicely kept-up since the decor sometimes has an older feel. Can’t go wrong here.
Monserrat / San Telmo are right next to each other and, while bustling with energy and people, are more for the weekday warrior local and weekender tourist buying antiques.
That said, the neighborhoods are worth a visit if you have time. Some of the top sights include the San Telmo market (smaller than you might think), watching locals on their lunch break in line for the salad restaurants (who knew not everyone ate empanadas?), and the Casa Rosada (it’s their the White House, basically, but it’s pink! Way cooler).
Faena Hotel
If you’re into ultra-lux, and if red and over-the-top decor is your thing, then this ultra luxury establishment won’t mix up which side the fork and knife are on. If not, you can still go for a nice facial at their spa.
These neighborhoods didn’t live up to the hype other travel blogs expressed about them.
La Boca, the famous ‘Italian’ district home to the renowned Boca Juniors football club, is a tourist trap such as Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco or Times Square in New York. Bad, overpriced, and low-quality restaurants and shops are only worsened by the constant badgering by each attendant.
Downtown is…a downtown. Sure, there are shops and restaurants, but nothing you’d be upset at missing. Even the famous bookstore in a converted theater is a yawn.
San Isidrio is the ‘Beverly Hills’ of BA, but it doesn’t earn it’s stripes. The beaches and water-sport shacks along the Rio Plata are disappointing. The town is small, unexciting, and dilapidated. If you’re into wind sport, it’s a good place ONLY if the wind is good. San Isidrio is only good for Alo’s at lunch. Then take a cab home.