CasaSur Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Location

Buenos Aires’ is Latin America’s take on a European city. French palaces and world-class art galleries rub shoulders with Argentinian steakhouses, all to the infectious rhythms of the sensuous tango halls. And, CasaSur enjoys an enviable location in the upmarket barrio (neighbourhood) of Recoleta. Originally favoured by Franciscan monks who set up shop away from the bustle, it’s now the city’s go-to destination for fine dining and culture. However, the name still links back to the monk’s meditation, or ‘recollection’. The hotel is also just a few minutes’ walk from the neighbourhood’s most popular site, La Recoleta Cemetery, where Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Baroque sensibilities unite in elaborate marble mausoleums. Slightly further on, the green spaces of the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Buenos Aires Zoo make for atmospheric walks.

Accommodation

Stylish rooms, bold and chic in design, come with solid wood floors, fabrics in browns, creams and whites, LCD TVs and L’Occitane products. French balconies look out over Callao Avenue where you’ll find imposing Art Deco brickwork and delicate Belle Époque architecture alike. Upgrade for larger rooms and Nespresso machines as Superior Rooms come with tables on their balconies – ideal for breakfast. If you feel like splashing out, the Grand Suite has a double balcony and even a private wine cellar; the Jacuzzi and lounge chairs on the upper deck are a particular highlight. In all the rooms, complimentary, high speed WiFi is available throughout.

Dining

As Buenos Aires takes its style notes from across the globe, so does CasaSur’s restaurant, serving mouthwatering creations from the Indian subcontinent and the Mediterranean. At breakfast you’ll enjoy a wide selection of handmade pastries along with fresh jams and marmalades, a welcome foil to Argentina’s obsession with rich steaks. Then, Indian curries make for richly flavoured evening meals; think fragrant basmati rice and spiced sauces accompanied by fluffy naans and delicately seasoned chutneys. This being Argentina, you’ll also find an excellent range of fine wines.

Facilities

From tango show reservations and nightlife recommendations to baby-sitting and wine tasting, the excellent concierge is able to recommend you through this fine city. Complimentary bike hire is also available to help you explore while back at base the delightful spa eases any sightseeing aches and pains with a wide range of massages and treatments. Following the global theme, there’s Swedish, Japanese and Californian massages all available while fashion-obsessed Buenos Aires bleeds into the make up, cosmetology and hairdressing services. End the evening with a drink in the bar, perhaps snacking on tapas or a light meal.