The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Bariloche, Argentina

While the original Argentinian art is certainly worth a look, it’s the views over Nahuel Huapi lake that are the real draw. Ingenious design frames those views from every angle: through the glass wall bordering the indoor pool, over steak and scallops at the Patagonia-inspired restaurant and from the bubbling outdoor hot tub at the spa. Art-filled rooms sport dark-wood furnishings and, in some cases, balconies overlooking the lake.

Aldebaran, with an intimate, cabin-like atmosphere, looks back at Bariloche over an inlet of Nahuel Huapi lake. A fire roars in the stone-walled lobby, wicker abounds in the dimly lit rooms and a sauna and pool invite you to unwind. Book your spot at Sirius restaurant, which has just 20 seats, serving smoked meats and asado, as well as a selection of more than 150 wines. Heading out to explore the area? The staff here specialize in organizing ski trips to nearby Cerro Catedral.

On the pine-forested slopes of Cerro Otto, in suburban Bariloche, accommodation at Monasterio is on the larger side – from the junior suite with hydromassage tub to the wood-paneled two-bed cabin, with fireplace and kitchen-dining room. Tired after skiing? A Scandinavian-style spa offers hot-stone massages and facial treatments along with the use of a sauna and pool. There’s also an on-site gym, if you have the energy.

Keen golfer? This timber-and-stone Marriott outpost overlooks an 18-hole golf course, near the north bank of Lago Gutiérrez. With vaulted, beamed ceilings and mountain views, rooms feel more boutique than chain-like. When hunger strikes, the Epic Restaurant serves Cajun cuisine and creative cocktails, perfect for rounding off a day spent exploring Cerro Otto by cable car or skiing on Cerro Catedral.

The Correntoso, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World Group, has in-room hot tubs and an isolated location on the northern bank of Nahuel Huapi lake. Relax in the huge hammam, part of a spa complex that includes a heated lake-view pool. Two gourmet restaurants serve Patagonian-Mediterranean fusion dishes cooked on a traditional parrilla grill and, if that wasn’t enough, a full roster of activities includes snowshoeing, kayaking and fly-fishing.

If you like the sound of soaking in a hot tub with views over Nahuel Huapi lake, book into this fairytale chalet. Take it one step further and treat yourself to in-room spa treatments, including deep-moisturizing facials and acupuncture. Elsewhere, the restaurant serves a healthy buffet breakfast, with a broad spread of fruit and seed toppings, while dinner ranges from warming Patagonian lamb stew to vegetarian pasta dishes.

Forget your idea of a typical Patagonian abode – this boutique hotel in Bariloche is all about hip design. A glass-paneled solarium fans out to a geometric pool and rooms, the latter of which come in double or split-level suite iterations. Work up a sweat in the fitness center, before unwinding in the wet-and-dry sauna and jacuzzi.

This five-star resort, overlooking the peninsular arm that divides Nahuel Huapi and Perito Moreno lakes, is palace-like in its grandiosity. Antique furnishings are mainstays in the opulent rooms, with four-poster beds, lake-view balconies and even double jacuzzis. Take a swing at the 18-hole golf course with 360-degree lakeside views, or indulge in a six-day spa program of algae baths and rosehip oil massages. A choice of 10 drinking and dining options range from poolside cocktails to prime Patagonian beef cuts.

On the southern bank of Nahuel Huapi, Alma del Lago features a huge health club with glass-paneled walls for peerless views. Treatments include hot-stone and shiatsu massages, mud baths and collagen facials. Meanwhile, rooms have a mid-century-inspired style, with a dining space for eight in the top-tier master suite, while the Terra restaurant overlooks the lake, offering Mediterranean-style seafood dishes and beautifully crafted cakes.