15 Best Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Resembling the old-money mansions of San Telmo, this hotel's rooms open onto a central patio where many guests choose to take their breakfast. From the balcony ringing the patio, the San Carlos Basílica—where Pope Francis was baptized—is visible and the chiming bells audible. The colorful, quiet rooms incorporate elements of an original building dating from 1904, including exposed brick ceilings and stained glass. The working-class neighborhood of Almagro where the owner was born and raised is a taste of "real" Buenos Aires.

This boutique lodging feels like home—if home were a high-ceilinged, lavishly decorated Palermo town house dating from the 1890s. The owner is a well-traveled history professor who worked personal touches into the hotel's decor, including a large black-and-white photo of four girls reading a book, one of whom is the owner's grandmother. Red walls complement cowhide area rugs, deep leather couches, and dark wood furniture for a stylishly rustic aesthetic in the spacious downstairs living area, where guests can read, relax, and tinker on the piano beside the check-in desk. Rooms have ample natural light, embroidered sheets, and antique furniture. Don't miss the terrace with large, plush outdoor couches and a barbecue grill.

This enchanting boutique hotel offers thoughtful and personalized service starting the minute you walk in the door. The inviting property smartly combines the charm of the original 1930s-era building with up-to-the-minute amenities. Walls painted in deep colors, ebony floors, and wooden furnishings are found throughout the shared areas and in each of the rooms, most of which also feature crystal chandeliers and cast-iron balconies. The hotel's wine cellar stores superb Argentine vintages, and the on-staff sommelier regularly hosts wine tastings complete with delicious finger foods.

Behind the unassuming white facade of this century-old town house and convent is what the proprietors have dubbed Argentina's "first designer B&B." Common areas have bold, colorful paintings and fanciful sculptures that give it the feel of an art gallery. Done up in creamy shades of white, the smartly decorated rooms all have private, though not necessarily en suite, bathrooms. Both sides of the narrow hallways are lined with rooms, eliminating any sense of privacy, but the bustling Palermo Soho location is hard to beat. A complimentary afternoon picada (Argentine snack tray) is offered daily. The young staff can steer you toward the neighborhood's newest restaurants and nightspots.

Behind the wrought-iron doors and up the marble staircase of this art nouveau mansion is a beautifully restored 19th-century home with wooden floors, French windows, and decor that smartly blends the past with the present. Each of the seven rooms is unique—a different Argentine artist decorated each—and they take full advantage of every inch of space. The Louisa Suite has a four-poster bed, a glass-encased bathroom, and a private garden. Sister hotel Hotel Boutique Bonito is located at Chile 1507, in nearby Montserrat.

Quirky BoBo shrewdly combines the bourgeois with the bohemian—in fact, the hotel's name subtly references David Brooks's thought-provoking book Bobos in Paradise, about the blurred lines between these two concepts. Each of the simply furnished rooms has a different motif, such as art deco, minimalist, and techno. All have creature comforts like soft robes, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi access. The downstairs restaurant-café is a nice place to relax after pounding Palermo's pavement all day.

As the name suggests, this 1920s French-style hotel is fit for a duke—or even a president, as the mansion once served as an Argentine president's private residence. The hotel is a romantic option for couples, and its standout factor is its welcoming and knowledgeable staff. They ensure the dining room's espresso machine is always at the ready and that baked goods are on display. The rooms are simple, though fresh and comfortable, done up in creamy whites and filled with elegant furnishings. For relaxation, there's an outdoor terrace with a pool.

Home Hotel oozes coolness, style, and class, much like its hands-on owners, an Anglo-Argentinean couple. Each room is decorated with vintage French wallpaper and has a stereo system. On-site there's a beautifully kept garden, a barbecue area, swimming pool, a holistic spa, and a funky lounge bar where you can sip a cocktail and listen to mood music.

This lodging has an impressive ground-floor gallery where exhibits of paintings, photographs, and sculptures by acclaimed Argentine artists change monthly—you may run into art aficionados sipping wine and admiring the creations. Rooms are classified as "small and cozy," "queen," or "king," and many have wrought-iron beds hung with white canopies. The building's 100-year-old elevator takes you to the rooftop patio, where there's a hot tub and plenty of room to soak up the sun.

A cobblestone walkway with a canopy of vines leads to the heart and soul of this rustically elegant property: a verdant back garden with colorful blooms, wrought-iron chairs, and a pleasant pool. The impressive green space connects two renovated houses filled with simple, French-inspired furnishings. Rooms are sunny and bright, with stone bathrooms, sleek beds topped with snowy linens, and chairs hand-picked from the city’s antique markets. Once you're inside, it’s easy to forget the hotel is smack-dab in the center of Palermo Soho’s dining, shopping, and nightlife scenes. The friendly staff is helpful in getting guests out and about to the best spots.

This reformed casa chorizo—named such because the connected rooms resemble the links of a chorizo sausage—dates back to 1820, a fact that won't escape you as you enter the long, open-air entrance with plants and fountains on the left and rooms on the right. Each of the rooms is decorated in a different color scheme; some have sky-high ceilings, while others have quaint alcoves and lofts; all sit behind imposing wooden doors. Other boutique properties offer more amenities and luxury for the same price, but stay here to revel in the charm of Buenos Aires' past.

Blessed with the city's most gorgeous sitting room, the Legado Mítico also has an enormous library with plush leather couches, antique furnishings, a fireplace, and bookshelves stocked with English- and Spanish-language classics. The place evokes the legacy of Argentine icons, after whom the hotel's 11 spacious rooms are named. You can stay in the "Idealista" room, inspired by Che Guevara and decorated with black-and-white photos of him in military fatigues, or the "Tanguero" room, featuring sheet music from tango legend Carlos Gardel, an acoustic guitar, and a beautiful wooden armoire.

The biggest draw at this sunny B&B is the location in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Villa Crespo, a 10-minute walk from Palermo. The gleaming white exterior, highlighted with goldenrod trim, sets just the right tone. Inside you'll find a ground-floor common area, a kitchen, and a pleasant patio. The attentive husband (English) and wife (Brazilian) owners are enthusiastic about the neighborhood, offering insider tips about the best places to shop and advice on hidden restaurants many visitors overlook.

The fresh exterior of this French Petit Hotel pops on the streets of Palermo Hollywood, while the warm oranges, creams, and dark browns decorating the ground floor lure guests inside. Each room in the century-old house has its own color and theme, and if they bring on a feeling of calmness, it could be because they were arranged with Feng Shui principles in mind. While the style is overwhelmingly French-modern—the owner is French—Argentine touches such as Pop Art portraits of famous porteño personalities run throughout.

Built from two carefully restored private homes, this Palermo Soho hot spot's crisply decorated rooms have high ceilings, hardwood floors, and enormous beds topped with luxe linens. Decorated in colorful ceramics, the bathrooms have funky freestanding sinks; some also have hydro-massage tubs that are great for after a day of shopping. Ambient music plays in a large living area, where you can work on your laptop or lounge on a sofa. The upstairs terrace is a great place for morning breakfast, which can be made to order. The hotel is conveniently located just blocks from the zoo and several parks.