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Source: Melissa Biggs Bradley
By: Indagare.com
04.13.2010

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Algodon Mansion

Montevideo 1647, Recoleta map it » 54 (11) 3530-7777 www.algodonmansion.com

If Madonna, Nicole Kidman or Lady Gaga were coming to Buenos Aires to film a remake of "Evita," they would be sure to stay at the Algodon Mansion. Until the opening of this beautiful new townhouse hotel, the most palatial place to stay in the Recoleta area-or all of Buenos Aires for that matter-was a room in the palace section of the Park Hyatt hotel. Now, however, the more exclusive option is to check in to this ten-suite mansion just around the corner where you will be among a much smaller group of guests and in more private circumstances. The new all-suite hotel in the Recoleta has not officially opened yet, but I did get to spend a night in the palatial townhouse, and it is definitely the city's most glamorous place to overnight. The stunning Belle Epoque-style residence was built as a family home in 1912, and its grand classical façade and proportions have been meticulously restored but now a valet in a well-cut suit greets guests outside and ushers them into salons that are sleek and modern. The check-in desk sits in a marble hallway and to its left is an elegant bar with a fireplace flanked by handsome suede club chairs. Next door is the intimate dining room of the restaurant Chez Nous, where French/Argentine cuisine is already being served to "Algodon friends" and downstairs is a wine cellar, which includes bottles from the Algodon Estates in Mendoza. The ten guest suites feature sleek contemporary furniture from B&B Italia and Capelinni and all have vast marble bathrooms, including major steam showers, and the latest technology from WiFi and plasma TVs to electronic window shades, iPod docks and Nespresso machines. Some of the larger suites contain separate living rooms and baby grand pianos. To ensure that all guests feel at home, each room comes with an Algodon wine-tasting set and a 24-hour butler who can assist with cars, personalized business cards, reservations, or, in our case, fresh-baked cookies as a late-night snack. Though there is no gym, guests can go up to the rooftop for massages or for a dip in the small pool, which is surrounded by a teak deck, complete with loungers. Individual suites or the entire mansion can be rented. For details or to make reservations, contact our advisory team.

Who it's right for: Anyone who wants to be in the heart of the Recoleta at a discreet address with a very attentive staff.

Who it's wrong for: Families who need a big pool for kids to enjoy in the summer (Four Seasons is better option) or who want all of the amenities of a larger hotel like a great spa, gym, business center and multiple restaurants (Park Hyatt is the choice then.)

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