Garzon Hotel & Restaurant

We stayed here one night and dined at the restaurant. The hotel - very average, dark room without windows (if not counting the door), noisy the whole night, mosquitos coming through holes around the door. The worst part was that there is a plastic bed cover under the sheets, which makes you sweat profusely during the night and also makes a rustling sound every time you move... This is crazy in a room that costs 480 USD per night... What's the reason? Do guests here routinely pee or defecate in bed??? Sleep quality 0/5, unfortunately. The hotel actually reminded me very much of a place I stayed last year in France (attached to a Michelin starred restaurant) - but there, the room was 99 EUR per night. The prices at Garzon are just crazy and detached from reality. Now onto the meal - it was average, at best. Just like some other reviewers, I don't have an issue with paying for an expensive meal that's worth it... But here, the steak was the weakest one of all the steaks we had in Uruguay - both texture- and flavorwise. The gnocchi was overcooked. The cheap wine that's marked up 10x doesn't help either. Stay away. Just spend another night in Jose Ignacio and go to Cruz del Sur, Marismo or Juana for a satisfying dinner.

We found the hotel difficult to book as they only accepted bank transfers for the initial deposit via a New York bank to Uruguay. The difficulty was that the name of the recipient account was ambiguous and so our money went backwards and forwards a few times. They did accept a credit card for the remainder when we arrived in person. However, I now see that you can book the hotel through agoda and booking.com. On arrival we realized that reservations were totally unnecessary as only one other room was booked on both nights of our stay. The first night it was a single gentleman carrying out business with the hotel and the second a couple who had won their stay and been upgraded from Casa Anna. Not a very profitable weekend for the hotel. Matias gave us a warm welcome before asking us to pay the outstanding bill straight away. Usually, we are asked to pay on check-out. Our room was comfortable and quiet and the hotel outdoor spaces very pretty. There is a pool but no sun beds. When we lay down on towels a waiter quickly found a couple of mattresses for us. Our first lunch was good with us both enjoying the zucchini salad and fish. We did not realize at the time that we would be offered the exact same restricted menu for our next four meals. The portions were huge and we would have preferred smaller options so that we could enjoy all the courses. The desserts were delicious. We started by sitting outside but were forced to move inside because of the ferociousness of the many flies. It was a huge shame as the weather was beautiful. For the following two dinners and one lunch we were disappointed that the menu did not change. I tried the sweetbreads but the portion was overwhelmingly large and fatty and the rack of lamb was literally a huge piece of meat deposited on the plate. It had been cooked to medium instead of my husband's preferred medium rare. The presentation was minimal. We escaped the close confines of this small hotel during the day to Casa Anna (the sister bnb a short walk away). It has a much better pool with sun loungers, albeit they could all do with a lot of repair and TLC. We decided that we would have preferred to stay at Casa Ana and forgone the lunches. The 'all inclusive' wine was restricted to two whites and two reds from the nearby Garzon Bodega. On our visit there we noticed that they were the cheapest that the vineyard produces. They were served generously however and other drinks were also included in the rate but I was a bit dismayed to be told that they had run out of rum and so a Mohito was out of the question. Breakfast in the morning was disappointing and took ages to be served despite us both just choosing just fruit, yogurt and juice. The first cup of coffee took over twenty minutes to arrive and the juices arrived just as we were getting up to leave. We thought that they had been forgotten and so were just about to give up on them. Goodness knows how long breakfast would take if the hotel had been full. For the US$780 per night neither the hotel or the restaurant offered us any 'wow' factor. We had enjoyed what we felt was tastier and better presented food in many other places throughout Chile and Uruguay. We had left Garzon to the end of our trip thinking it would be a great finale so were somewhat disappointed. The serving staff were all very young and what they lacked in experience they made up for in willingness and friendliness. If you asked for something they were delighted to bring it but they were not proactive in offering. The fact that the hotel and restaurant (both at lunch and dinner) were virtually empty both nights that we stayed might be a result of the exorbitantly high prices. We would advise just one night and to stay at Casa Anna. Beware of the flies during the daylight hours and share a main course. Be aware that there is not much to do in the small village of Garzon. We are used to paying high prices but did not feel that it was worth it here.

The score is based on relative expectations for an accommodation that charges $850/night (breakfast/lunch/dinner included). Location: it’s a half hour inland from the coast. The rolling green hills & and the animal life along the drive make it a magical rural drive. As this town is remote from any civilization (30 min from Jose Ignacio). Rent a car. Try and take a slightly longer route as it will prob a bit more scenic thru the farm lands. But hotel Garzón and Casa Anna (sister hotel at $350/night with big beautiful rooms). Staff: A+++ We were first met with a big smile and a warm greeting from Matias. He made a great first impression on us. Such a good guy with really good energy. Nicole was also so pleasant to deal with, as she arranged horse back riding for the sunset/moonrise at $30/hr. Per person. (I wouldn’t recommend riding for more then an hour. There is not much to see except for the sunset. Plus, when the hour was up, my back was barking. My wife and I were over it. The guide is very nice man. He doesn’t speak English tho). Nicole was a good representation of the hotel. Segundo (sorry if I misspelled) was a very professional server. He was very good at his job, and helped make our dining experience even nicer. The room: the decor was extremely tasteful. The room was solidly spacious. The bedding was really good. The bathroom and it’s toiletries were tasteful. The AC however was lack luster at best The food: our must haves were both specials of the day: the grilled fish fillet and the fresh pasta were an absolute home run. The presentation was a piece and art and the flavors matched. The zucchini and Parmesan salad was so delicious and light. You can order everything off the menu btw. The eggplant Milanese was decent, as was the rack of lamb. The Sweetbreads were really tasty, but obviously rich in fat-So I’m not sure my arteries were loving me :/. But it was a divine combo to dip that tasty focaccia bread they give you, into that fatty drippings. Yum yum Both steak dishes (tenderloin and rib eye) were just ok. I asked for rare and they were both medium. Plus, the flavor of the meat here and in other restaurants throughout Argentina, I feel are a bit overrated. I have no doubt that their meat is fresh. That their cattle are grass fed and free to roam. It’s quality meat. But as an American, I just don’t think the beef is as good as it is back home. The fresh made ice cream though. Wow. Make sure u get that. The wine: you only have several Choices between the whites and reds as for the unlimited servings. They are so good. The Garzón wine is ridiculous (so if you see it at other restaurants, I highly recommend ordering a bottle. (Albariño, Tannat, Cab Franc) In conclusion: opt for the hotel stay at $850. I’d do it all over again. Because if you go there as just a dining guest, you will pissed when you see the prices ($25 salads, $50 fried eggplant, $100 bottles of wine are the cheapest). And also, you’d want to take in the stay as an experience. It all comes together and makes the everything on a whole a lot more digestible, figuratively, and literally. *watch Francis Mallmann documentary on Netflix Chef Table series before you go. It gives the hotel and restaurant a back story that I find necessary to view before you arrive. I think you’ll enjoy that show. And I think you will really enjoy the delicious food and wine, along with a pleasurable staff. Even though it’s $850 for your stay, I believe you would regret not staying here one night if you are in this part of the world.

Pueblo Garzon is beautiful - great place to stroll, star gaze and befriend the local canine contingent. The hotel, both inside and the outside courtyard, are stunning. They are designed for the setting of this spot in the world - shabby chic done to excellence. Come sunset, candlelight fills the entire space - both indoor and out - and there is a very inviting fire pit in the courtyard. The rooms are well designed and match the aesthetic elsewhere. The staff was very attentive to all our needs. However, as there are no phones in the room, it is you who must make the short walk to the hotel lobby to present any requests or ask any questions you may have, such as can you borrow a hair dryer as there is not one in the room. For dinner we opted for the ribeye and rack of lamb. Both were done to perfection but the chops were not split, which created some grueling work at the table (chef should have done so prior to serving). The charred sweet potato and lemon mashed potatoes were both heavenly. The roasted tomato however, was far too thick to carry the char flavoring throughout, and the charred potato squares were unseasoned and bland. The lemon tart was outstanding but the crepe of dulce de leche and charred orange slices fell far short due to the greatly oversized portions - a refined concept, but somewhat amateur execution. The staff did light the fireplace in our room while we dined and thus we returned to a warm glow. However, they neglected to light the candles on the chandelier which hung beautifully over the bed - what should have been an assumed magical touch for a romantic end to a sensual dinner experience was instead a missed opportunity. The breakfast fruit was a grand disappointment - the peaches, pears & kiwi were all more than shy of being ripe. The scrambled eggs with cheese was tasty as was the fresh squeezed orange juice. We opted for the $500 USD option - dinner, room & breakfast. The critical comments above are done so with that expense in mind. Though we visited during off season in spring, this very young staff seemed a little green to be running the show solo. On the business end, it seemed the only way to secure a reservation is via wire transfer with credit card deposit not being an option. We had no ability to do so, and they did accept a credit card to settle the entire bill once we arrived. However, had it been high season or simply a busier Saturday night, it is hard to say if we would have had a room upon arrival due to our lack of ability to wire the up front 50%. To throw in lunch for an additional $250 USD does not seem worth it - however please realize there is nowhere else to eat in this sleepy village. All said, if you can afford it, do treat yourself to a special stay.

My husband and I decided to spend 4 nights on the second leg of our honeymoon at Hotel Garzon, this was by far the highlight of our trip, saying it exceeded our expectations is an understatement. From the moment we arrived I kept thinking I somehow stumbled upon the set of a quaint and chic film. Staying at Garzon is the equivalent of sleeping in a gorgeous restaurant where you simply have breakfast, lunch, dinner and wine at your leisure. We made our way through the entire menu and everything was mouth watering. We were fortunate enough to be staying over New Year’s Eve and celebrated with the other guests, diners, local artists, staff and Francis Mallmann and family, at a traditional lamb roast compete with bubbly and fireworks! The staff, especially Nicole, was outstanding and very tentative. I hope to return with friends someday soon!