Frommer's Review
This is the second reincarnation of the Buenos Aires Park Hyatt, originally located in what is now the Four Seasons just down the block. After many construction delays, this hotel opened in July 2006, but it was certainly worth the wait. An intense amount of thought was put into the various rooms throughout the Palacio Duhau (one of the most important mansions along Avenida Alvear) and the main tower facing Calle Posadas. The two buildings are connected above ground by a terraced and layered garden, and below ground by an art gallery and airy tunnel full of natural light. Still, there is no true lobby culture as exists in some of the other 5-stars such as the Alvear Palace and the Four Seasons. Indeed there are two lobbies, one in the new tower and another dark one in the Palace, accessed by a gorgeous double staircase that fronts the building. The side rooms and waiting areas that spill from it are magnificent, however, utilizing the best of the original spaces in the Palacio Duhau -- once owned by the powerful Duhau family, who oversaw the Agricultural Ministry. This is most evident in what had been the ballroom, with its carved limestone walls and colored marble floor. Overall, there is a strong use of modern elements within the classical setting. The side rooms off the lobby include the Piano Nobile, a room in the style of Versailles painted in a light gray with silver accents along its intricate classical molding. This serves as one of the restaurants, and you can come for a meal or a light drink. Another is the Oak Bar, masculine and gothic with a fine selection of liquors. In spite of the new antismoking law, this is one of the few bars in Buenos Aires with the proper filtration system allowing smoking to actually take place. The walls are panels, which originally adorned a medieval Normandy palace and had been purchased by the Duhau family. The back of the palace maintains its original terrace and is a pleasant place for a drink or an informal meeting, and it overlooks the layered gardens with their gently cascading water-lily-filled pools. The entire garden is shaded by a 120-year-old tree which projects from the adjacent property. Rooms in the mansion offer the same mix of modern and classical that the public areas have. Brass handles on French doors, heavy wooden molding, and a mix of Louis XV style and contemporary furnishings adorn the rooms. Within the tower, the color palette is a modern and slightly masculine use of leather browns, charcoals and silver-grays, including the Chantug silk curtains imported from France, which open and close at the touch of a button. Rooms are spacious, and the suites come with extra bathrooms for use during business meetings. Some tower rooms have breathtaking views of the Río de la Plata. Bathrooms in both buildings are enormous, with both a walk-in shower and a tub. In fact, for each guest room, 30% to 40% of the space is taken up by the bathroom. The Piano Nobile restaurant is overseen by Maximo Lopez May, considered among the best young chefs in Buenos Aires. Other restaurants include the Gioia, offering modern Italian cuisine and open for breakfast lunch and dinner, and the Duhau restaurant, international with French touches, open for lunch and dinner. Murano glass chandeliers adorn the space. Within the spaces connecting the buildings underground, you'll find a wine and cheese bar, with about 45 artisanal cheeses produced in Argentina and wine to enhance the selection. This area then leads to the actual passageway, lined with art in the style of a museum. The art changes every 40 days, and all of it is for sale. In the middle of the passageway is the flower preparation area. The spa, called Ahin, takes its name from a Mapuche Indian word, meaning "welcome ceremony for honored guests." It and the adjacent health facilities are enormous, offering a range of treatments beginning at about US$80 to nearly US$270 dollars (£42-£143). Treatment rooms are spas in themselves, with no need to leave for showering, and there is even a room so that couples or friends can receive treatments together. There is a large heated swimming pool in the gym. A full-service business center offers translation and secretarial functions. Computers and fax machines can be rented here and brought to the rooms. Internet access is also available in all the rooms, beginning at US$12 (£6.35) a day and decreasing with multiday purchases. Fully loaded iPods are available from the concierge upon request. Wi-Fi is in all public areas of the hotel. Breakfast, a huge multicourse spread, is not included in the rates and runs about US$20 (£11) per day.
Facilities:
3 restaurants; lobby bar; heated indoor pool; health club; sauna; concierge; salon, multilingual business center; Wi-Fi in public spaces; room service; massage; babysitting; 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.
