The Best Cultural Hotels in Argentina

In the Buenos Aires creative hub of Palermo Hollywood you will find the award-winning Home Hotel. The area was named after the many local film studios, TV stations and resident celebrities, so it’s ripe for tapping into the cultural scene of the Argentinian capital. The chic, statement-wallpapered rooms each center around one color, whether a lush lawn green or a deep magenta. The hidden pool garden is a verdant oasis offering respite from the bustling city outside. Each guest gets a free Home guidebook pointing you to hidden gems in the area, and the concierge can set you up with city tours, soccer games, tango shows and estancia excursions.

The epic Estancia El Colibri sits at the foot of the Córdoba mountains in Santa Catalina. Rustic yet luxurious, it’s an ode to the traditional 20th-century Argentine ranches of the region, with gaucho-style activities ranging from horse riding to open-air asado barbecues. Four-poster beds and elegant fireplaces up the elegance in the deluxe rooms and suites.

Tucked onto the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi in Patagonia is the calming Las Balsas. The ample, high-ceilinged rooms cocoon you in Egyptian cotton sheets for well-deserved, decadent relaxation. To fully appreciate the majesty of the natural surroundings, practice the art of fly fishing in the town of Villa La Angostura or head out on a birdwatching excursion.

In the refreshing alpine Lake District hub of Bariloche, El Casco Art Hotel lies on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, with views over the water and a blanket of lush trees surrounding the hotel. Inside, there are more than 400 paintings and sculptures by Argentinian masters, providing plenty to admire for the artistically inclined.

Kkala Boutique Hotel sits on the outskirts of Salta city in the wild northwest of Argentina. There’s a homey, rustic feel about the hotel; the rooms are each named after a notable national park or landmark in the region, and are infused with pops of bright red, orange and green. Take a day trip to the salt flats and rainbow-colored rocks of Purmamarca, or stroll along the quaint, historic streets of Salta itself.

A pristine, white mirage in the rugged landscape of rural Salta province, La Merced del Alto is a refuge at the foot of the snow-dusted Cachi mountain range. With an in-house art exhibition space and an aquamarine pool with wooden sun loungers positioned to help you admire the natural landscapes, La Merced del Alto is a museum-worthy masterpiece in the northwest of Argentina.

Find Jardin Escondido in the effervescent Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo Soho. There are three tiered levels of garden as well as a solar-heated pool and an outdoor kitchen. The elegant rooms and balconies make this a beautiful place to stay – so much so that Oscar-winning film director Francis Ford Coppola used it as his base while making 2009 drama Tetro and then added it to his burgeoning boutique hotel collection, Coppola Resorts.

Casa de Uco in Mendoza, offering both vineyards and a wine resort, is a vinophile’s dream come true. There’s a sommelier to guide you on your wine-drinking journey, a seasonal menu comprising ingredients sourced in the Uco Valley and a mixologist to shake things up. The contemporary, minimalist rooms, with rusty orange and dappled gray interiors, look out onto the vines, and let you drink in views of the Andean foothills.

Faena is a cultural hub in the revamped Puerto Madero docks barrio. Thick drapes and arabescato marble bathrooms await in each of the rooms, with red carpets offering a Hollywood experience. The Library Lounge is a perfect spot for casually sipping coffee during the day or listening to live music. Don’t miss a trip to the Faena Art Center, housed in an old flour mill, or the live performances at the in-house El Cabaret venue, home to the Rojo Tango troupe.

If wine is your favorite cultural activity, head to Cavas Wine Lodge in the heart of vine-threaded Mendoza. Sitting on a 55-acre (22ha) vineyard, this lodge has rooms and villas with exposed stone walls, private plunge pools, deep bathtubs and magnificent views over the sinuous vines. Ride through them on horseback, gaucho-style, before indulging in a facial at the soothing spa.

The historic ranch of La Bamba de Areco lies in the heart of the Pampa region of grasslands, just beyond Buenos Aires, and is steeped in tradition and folklore. Immerse yourself in genuine gaucho culture, sampling folk dances, horseback games, and classic Argentine asado barbecues with chunks of meat grilled on an open fire. The graceful ranch has a central courtyard, a cozy library and refined, high-ceilinged rooms with shutter windows to swing open as you start your day.