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.

From the outside, this boutique hotel, located at the base of Patagonia’s premier ski destination (with 53 slopes), resembles a clapboard chalet resort. Inside, however, rooms have a modern feel and range from king-size studios with a jacuzzi to a four-bedroom villa that sleeps up to 10. Unusually, there’s an astronomical observatory on site, with a Celestron telescope and weekly visits from an amateur guide during the winter season. During the summer, staff can organize biking and paddleboarding trips.

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.