Best Boutique Hotels in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires can be a difficult city to get a handle on, as it’s HUGE & seems to sprawl in every direction.  And each neighborhood has its own, very distinctive flair (which I’ll break down below).  One way to make this city feel less overwhelming is to choose a hotel that’s more intimate than a chain, in a neighborhood that suits your personality.  Enter: Boutique Hotels.  They have more quirk & charm than luxury hotels, & typically a more personalized feel ~ which helps make the city seem friendlier & less intimidating.  Here, we’ll break down the best boutique hotels in Buenos Aires, filled with charm & style! 

Definition of a Boutique Hotel = A small, stylish hotel, typically situated in a fashionable urban area.

The Mine Hotel in Buenos Aires’ trendy Palermo district is one of the city’s quintessential boutique hotels.

Overview of Buenos Aires Neighborhoods

• Palermo = Trendy & chic, & where the majority of international visitors stay. Lots of hip restaurants, nightlife, & shopping. 
• Recoleta = The “Rodeo Drive” of Buenos Aires, & where all the luxury, 5-star hotels are ~ plus, famous Recoleta Cemetery. 
• Puerto Madero = Modern, sleek, & the newest part of town: right on the waterfront.
• San Telmo = The most historic & eclectic part of town, with cobble-stone streets & the famous Sunday Market on Defensa Street. 
• Almagro = Central Buenos Aires, more commercial & with the highest-density population. 
• La Boca = Working class barrio, & home of the massive soccer stadium ~ as well as daytime tango shows.  Due to safety concerns, not my pick for hotel stays: visit here in the daytime only. 
• Retiro = Home to Plaza San Martin, Retiro is a great walking district, & quieter than Palermo or San Telmo.  Filled with art galleries, cafes, & four-star hotels.

Map of Buenos Aires Hotels

As you can see from this map, the bulk of Buenos Aires’ boutique hotels reside in fashionable Palermo ~ which makes sense, as boutiques perfectly fit the Palermo vibe.  Recoleta is almost exclusively luxury hotels, like the Four Seasons, so you won’t find any boutiques here…but you will in neighboring Retiro. 

I stayed at the Moreno Hotel Buenos Aires ($55+) in San Telmo, which is the least expensive hotel on this list ~ & the only one in historic San Telmo, which is home to the amazing Sunday Market: a weekly can’t-miss event in Buenos Aires.

Best Boutique Hotels in Buenos Aires

The main thing to decide when choosing a hotel in Buenos Aires is to first decide which neighborhood sounds most appealing, & then pick a hotel there.  Each district is big enough to provide hours-worth of walking entertainment.  For true luxury-lovers, head to Recoleta.  If faded grandeur & historical sights like old book stores & underground jazz clubs are your thing: San Telmo is for you.  For the hippest restaurants & tons of people out & about on the streets at night, Palermo is by far your best choice.  If modern is your vibe, then Puerto Madero is where you’ll want to go.

Best Boutique Hotels in Buenos Aires

That’s a wrap on the best boutique hotels in Buenos Aires!  Which neighborhood sounds like the most fun to you?  And do you prefer chain hotels, or boutiques like me?  Let me know in the comments below…

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