Alvear Palace Hotel

This hotel has that old-world elegance, great service, and a location walkable to restaurants and attractions. The bed was neither comfortable or luxury. It was a spring mattress without a pillowtop, and it was old. The bed was also not a modern platform bed; it felt dated and old. The rooms were nice, and we had a suite with two bathrooms. The showers were on the smaller side and single sink, so it was great to have two. The carpet in the room was dirty, and I hate carpet in hotel rooms; it feels unclean. There was no minibar, snacks, or coffee maker. The hotel has great spaces, but they weren't all operational; the rooftop is only open on certain days, as well as the grill. The hotel was full; this is not customer-centric. What really disappointed me was that on new year,s the bar was closed and so was the rooftop. We climbed out there to see the fireworks, but what a missed opportunity to use the space. They need to update the rooms and beds. When the hotel is full, all the spaces should be open and staffed.

Excellent top class hotel. Beautiful decor lots of marble and polished brass. Very nice restaurant but closed Sunday and Monday. Good breakfast buffet. Spacious comfortable bedroom. Only possible drawback was that there were only two or three restaurants within easy walking distance but taxis are cheap so this might not be a problem.

After a long New Year’s Day layover in Miami, we flew overnight to Buenos Aires and arrived early the next morning. When we checked into the beautiful Alvear Palace Hotel, I realized my handbag was missing from my carry-on luggage, where I always keep it. Inside were my credit cards, Global Entry card, driver’s license, and health insurance cards. I was completely distressed. We went straight to the concierge desk and were fortunate to meet Esperanza. From the moment we explained the situation, she took charge calmly and confidently. She immediately began calling American Airlines and repeatedly contacting the Buenos Aires airport lost-and-found department. Despite many unanswered calls, Esperanza never gave up and patiently kept trying. Finally, a security officer answered. Esperanza clearly presented my case and stayed on the phone while he checked thoroughly. Soon came the wonderful news: my purse had been found. Esperanza’s compassion and determination were extraordinary. When she told me, I burst into tears. She quickly brought me cold water, held my hands, and looked me in the eye, assuring me she would never stop trying. She arranged transportation, coordinated retrieval at the airport, and ensured our safe return to the hotel. We’ve lived overseas and traveled the world for years - you never know what might happen and having concierges like Esperanza that work to solve guests’ most challenging issues is a big plus! And the rooms, food and surrounding neighborhood are great to boot. Stay here!

We arrived at 5:45 pm, having skipped both breakfast and lunch, and were immediately encouraged by the front desk to enjoy the gym and pool after grabbing a snack. A thoughtful suggestion. The room wasted no time asserting its personality. What began as “hand issues” quickly evolved into a safe that locked our valuables inside and then refused to open. Assistance arrived and, without either my wife or me present to observe, opened the safe containing our belongings. A second person was summoned, batteries were changed, and after a prolonged pause the safe decided to cooperate again. One can only assume this was all part of the security theater. We then prepared for the pool, only to discover the robes provided were too small for both of us. I called the front desk and was confidently informed that “the robes are only one size.” This was fascinating, given that I was looking directly at two visibly different sized robes hanging in the room. When I pointed this out, the call ended. I later clarified that I disconnected after being lied to. They called back anyway, perhaps hoping the laws of physics had changed. To compensate, the hotel delivered a complimentary bottle of wine worth approximately seven dollars. A bold choice, and exactly the caliber of gesture one expects from what was once marketed as the best hotel in the world. Eventually, correctly sized robes appeared. Properly robed at last, we headed to the pool. After navigating the earlier adventures, we arrived shortly after 7 pm to discover the pool closes at 6 pm. This was particularly impressive since the receptionist had explicitly recommended we use it. A masterclass in coordination. Upon returning from the closed pool, I called the concierge to arrange dinner at a restaurant we know well and have visited multiple times. We were told it was full, along with virtually every other restaurant this Monday evening. Curiously, this did not prevent a recommendation for a restaurant they had pushed years ago, which was mediocre then and apparently remains a favorite. I passed. We walked one block, found a restaurant immediately, and returned to discover the key system had decided we no longer lived in the room. Back to the front desk. An employee accompanied me and explained that the keys must be separated in order to open the door. An elegant solution, had anyone bothered to mention it earlier. The door opened. While standing inside, it was casually remarked that the room “feels hexed,” which was comforting. Moments later, the elevator doors opened directly into the hallway while he was standing in our doorway, allowing passing guests to enjoy a full view into the room. Privacy, it seems, is an optional upgrade. In conclusion, this stay felt less like a luxury hotel experience and more like an interactive exhibit titled What Happens When Reputation Replaces Competence. The building remains impressive. Unfortunately, excellence has clearly checked out, likely sometime before 6 pm.

We'd been to the Alvear Palace quite a long time ago and liked the hotel way back then. The hotel is maintained to the highest order. Service is professional yet friendly and very helpful. Try the breakfast buffet and drinks at both the rooftop and lobby bars. Good location.