Fodor's Expert Review Alvear Palace Hotel

The standard-bearer for upscale sophistication since 1932, the Alvear Palace is undoubtedly the shining star of the city's hotel scene: scores of dignitaries, celebrities, and VIPs have passed through its doors over the years, and they keep coming back for the world-class service and refined atmosphere. Elegantly decorated rooms feature silky carpets, gorgeous draperies, and featherbeds topped with Egyptian-cotton linens. Guests staying in any one of the 100 suites receive the services of a white-gloved personal butler who will unpack your bags, press your wrinkled clothes, and tend to your every need. The lunch buffet and afternoon tea at L'Orangerie are out of this world, and the superchic French restaurant La Bourgogne is one of the city's best.