When it opened in 2010 following an extensive three-year renovation, the Algodon, set in a 1912 French neoclassical townhouse surrounded by the posh Belle Epoque mansions of Buenos Aires’ Recoleta district, quickly became the city’s most exclusive boutique hotel. There’s little glitz or glamour, however; rather, the luxe setting is more refined. In place of the typical modern glass and steel additions, the Algodon showcases worn leather armchairs, silk curtains, and suede wall fabrics, not to mention bathrooms with Italian Calacatta marble and French limestone. The property isn’t stuck in the 20th century, though. There are Nespresso coffee machines, geeked-out sound systems, and winetasting sets. On the rooftop, teak decks and loungers sit alongside a small pool and petite counter with a cognac and bar selection that matches any in the nearby embassies. The ground-floor wine bar and charcuterie, reimagined in 2013, emphasizes seasonal Medocinean-style small plates paired with premium wines from the hotel’s own vineyard estate project outside Mendoza.
