Frommer's Review
Opened in 1929, the Hotel Castelar is considered a historic highlight of Buenos Aires, as it was once an important stopping point for Spanish-language literary stars during Argentina's golden years as an intellectual center in the 1930s. It is most famously associated with Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca, who lived here for several months in 1934. A plaque at the entrance commemorates his stay. The room he lived in has also been preserved, though with a slight sense of kitsch. The lobby retains much of the brass, marble, and heavy plaster elements from its opening. These details extend into the dining area, which, when it was a confitería (cafe), was as culturally important as the Café Tortoni farther down Avenida de Mayo. Mario Palanti, the eccentric architect of the nearby Palacio Barolo, designed the Castelar. While the golden years of Avenida de Mayo are long over, the hotel allows you to bask in at least some of the charm that remains. The Castelar's spa in the hotel's basement is free for all guests of the hotel (men and women are separated in this area), with additional fees for various services. Enormous, full of white Carrara marble, and built in the Turkish style, it is worth paying the entrance fee of about US$8 (£4.25) just to see the place, even if you are not a guest of the hotel. Renovations in all of the units were completed in early 2005; all now have new color patterns, new mattresses, and comfortable furniture. The old wooden touches, speckled glass, and tiled floors in the bathrooms have been retained through the remodeling. The rooms are not very large, but the setup -- a small antechamber with the bedroom to one side, the bathroom to the other -- adds a sense of privacy to the spaces, even when shared by a couple. Suites are similar but with an added living area. There are no true rooms for those with disabilities, but some units have slight accommodations such as wider spaces and a few grip-bars in the bathroom. Internet access is free in the rooms, along with Wi-Fi in the lobby.
Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; small health club; extensive spa; business services; limited room service; laundry service; dry cleaning
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
