The Most Romantic Hotels in Buenos Aires

Recoleta is a prime central point between the best dining and cultural districts in the city, with great sights of its own including the carved angels and saints of Recoleta Cemetery and the National Museum of Fine Arts. This outpost of stylish Spanish hotel brand Meliá fits in with the creamy, balconied mansion blocks all around it, tempting comfort-seeking couples with its traditional cream-and-gold rooms and outdoor hydromassage tub.

Also in well-heeled Recoleta, the Buenos Aires Four Seasons is as palatial as the price tag suggests, with the grandest outdoor swimming pool in the district. Laze out in the South American sun or swim a few laps before sightseeing. Later, settle into rooms fit for royals with heavy embroidered rugs, chandeliers and sculptural free-standing bathtubs. Stay on a Sunday to catch the firepit asado – a long, boozy barbecue in lieu of brunch.

In case the glittering marquee, suited doormen and fluttering international flags don’t tip you off, this is one of the most lauded stays in Buenos Aires. Inside, you’ll find palatial styling to suit contemporary tastes. Think Louis-XV-inspired furniture and burnished gold bathroom fittings with fresh-cut flowers and tasteful lamps. A jet set crowd of moneyed regulars keeps coming back for the members’ club vibes, world-class spa and cool sushi bar.

This relaxed Recoleta base has a rooftop pool for those sweltering summer days, and a switched-on front-desk team ready to help you 24/7 with tours, taxis and tips. Rooms are fairly pared back in style and decorated in shades of mushroom, biscuit and taupe, but the location is spot-on for jaunts into nightlife-packed Palermo or hipster San Telmo. The morning spread is generous and filling, with à la carte options as well as a buffet.

Alvear Icon is located in the underrated neighborhood of Puerto Madero, a revamped set of docks where many large Buenos Aires businesses keep their headquarters. This smart boutique hotel has traditional-luxe rooms with glossy bathrooms in monochromatic marble. Front and center is its high-rise, glassy restaurant and bar with twinkling views of the skyline, but there’s also a fresh silver-and-white spa with sauna, steam bath and whirlpool that couples will love.

In youthful, leafy Palermo Soho – home to buzzy pavement cafes and sought-after steakhouses – 1828 is a design hotel with a gorgeous sun-drenched courtyard terrace. Take a dip in its plunge pool or sip cocktails on your cushioned sunlounger, then retreat to fabulously plush rooms with cloudlike beds, large balconies and plenty of natural light. Book a massage in the mini spa for a post-sightseeing treat.

This slick five-star hotel runs like clockwork in central, well-connected Montserrat. The surprisingly homey rooms have polished parquet flooring, sprawling rugs and soft sofa nooks, plus views out over the rooftops of this business capital. Downstairs, the house pianist fills the high-ceilinged lobby with jazz standards. Fitness-minded folk will head straight for the indoor pool and top-spec gym, and luxury lovers will appreciate the clued-up concierge service. If you’re looking to step straight out into a charismatic Buenos Aires neighborhood, however, this location is rather in between things.

In Palermo Soho, where the young people hang out at al fresco wine bars and muralled cafes, you’ll find the Mine Hotel. This intimate 20-room design hotel is an exclusive, authentic spot for couples. Bohemian-styled rooms have pops of zesty lilac, orange or turquoise – the largest have private jacuzzis, too – while an alluring, vine-draped garden hides a refreshing urban pool and cushioned corners for an evening cocktail. In the morning, grab a coffee in the colorful, light-flooded lounge while you plan the rest of your day.

This swish collection of glossy serviced apartments in Recoleta give you a sense of how the most affluent Porteños live. Polished woods, glass partitions and contemporary furniture come in moody shades of slate and aubergine, the breakfast buffet has delicious hot options and there’s a cavernous urban spa for long soaks in a bubbling whirlpool. If you’d rather soak in privacy, opt for your fabulous in-room bathtub, sculpted from a hunk of varnished wood.