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Faena Hotel + Universe

Faena Hotel + Universe, Puerto Madero
Fodor's Hotel Awards 2011 Design  |  Winning Attributes

At a Glance

    Pros

  • quite simply, one of the most dramatic hotels on the planet
  • luxury abounds
  • feng shui galore

    Cons

  • an "are you cool enough?" vibe is ever-present

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Faena Hotel + Universe Review

Argentine fashion impresario Alan Faena and famed French architect Philippe Starck set out to create a "universe" unto itself, and they have succeeded in spades: Rooms are feng-shui perfect, with rich reds and crisp whites, sporting velvet curtains and Venetian blinds opening electronically to river and city views. Marble floors fill expansive bathrooms; velvet couches, leather armchairs, flat-screen TVs, and surround-sound stereos lend more luxury. The "Experience Managers" are basically personal assistants, making reservations and tending to every whim. Other highlights are two excellent restaurants and an elaborate spa with a Turkish bath. In El Cabaret, a blood-red music box dotted with red-leather couches, you can swig champagne and watch sensual tango shows. Next door in the Library Lounge you never know who might show up: Coldplay and local rock legend Charly Garcia once held an impromptu jam session around the piano, playing Beatles songs until the wee hours.

2011 Fodor's 100 Hotel Award Winner

A Whole New World
That the term "universe" is incorporated into the Faena Hotel + Universe's name is more than fitting. The belle-époque luxury hotel—featuring several restaurants, a regal piano lounge, outdoor pool, and intimate cabaret venue—really is a world unto itself, evidenced as soon as one slips inside the voluminous entry hallway "cathedral," with its dramatic blood-red carpet, rich wood floor, and gold velvet curtains. Argentine fashion impresario Alan Faena and French architect Philippe Starck collaborated on the 126-room hotel in Puerto Madero, and the result is a contemporary, comfortable, and sensual property where "experience managers" take the place of concierges and front desk staff.

    Hotel Amenities

  • 110 rooms, 16 suites.
  • Restaurants, bars, pool, gym, parking.
  • Rooms have: safe, Internet, Wi-Fi.
  • Rate includes breakfast.
  • Credit cards accepted.

Member Reviews

  • plp4ever, from Boston
    1/12/08

    I was Highly disappointed with the Faena... The Experience mangaers do their best to accomidate your every need, but when we asked for recomendations we specifically said that we wanted local places not tourist joints... and they sent us to tourist joints... thankfully I had a friend tell us where to go... The other guests at the hotel were very disruptive and not considerate what so ever. the shades int he room did not work and it was like jockeying for position at the pool.. people were putting their things on chairs at 9 am and leaving for 4 or more hours... the front door men were excelent... sixty pesos for a cocktail.... thats 20 US... PLEASE.. oh also I had ripped sheets two of the nights I stayed there... they did the best they could to accomidate us but it just wasn't in the cards... if your going to spend the money stay at the four seasons or other hotels... all you really pay for is the pool... But I do have to say the spa was great and the people that worked there were very nice...

    Ratings details: Room: 2 | Atmosphere: 4 | Service: 3 | Value: 1
  • sameden21, from New York City
    7/24/07

    I found this hotel a complete disappointment. Not quite the "hot scene" it might be in a couple years when the rest of the "Faena Universe" is built, the rooms are nice to look at but painful to stay in - there was no desk and complete inefficiency in use of space. The views from the room were nice and everything was clean (minus the flowers that were left to die on our singular small table), however, we could never find someone to help us when we needed a reservation and we were sent to a club that was not open among other service failures. The hotel is over priced for Argentina, where everything is inexpensive - use your money to stay at other tried and true hotels in BA that are in better locations.

    Ratings details: Room: 3 | Atmosphere: 3 | Service: 3 | Value: 2
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