First impressions
I had never visited Buenos Aires, Argentina, or even South America, and had really only seen the barrio Recoleta as being relatively central in the city.
Recoleta traces its roots back to the early 18th century, when Franciscan monks established the Recoleta Convent. By the 19th century, wealthy families moved into the area, turning it into a prestigious residential district. The Recoleta Cemetery, established in 1822, is the centrepiece, housing elaborate mausoleums and the tombs of prominent figures like Eva Perón. Today, the area is a symbol of Buenos Aires’ history, elegance, and cosmopolitan charm.
This hotel and the Sofitel are on Posadas, a street that runs through the Recoleta neighbourhood. It takes its name from Gervasio Antonio de Posadas, a lawyer and politician who was a member of Argentina’s Second Triumvirate in 1813-1814, and its Supreme Director until early 1815, so during an important period in Argentina’s fight for independence from Spain.
The hotel was once the residence of Eva Perón during the 1940s, so I expected a boutique hotel with some historical charm and elegance, hopefully mixed with the comforts of a modern hotel.
The room
The room did not look particularly inspiring, although it had all the expected comforts of a good quality hotel, e.g. minibar, TV, wall-safe, etc. There was even a useful sitting area, however the view was less than impressive.
I remember the bathroom as being, like the hotel itself, functional but uninspiring.
Possibly the most important defect was the bed. The sheets, etc. were of excellent quality, and the mattress felt fine. But I woke each morning with backache because the mattress was not hard enough, and dipped a bit in the middle. Not enough to complain about, but a negative nevertheless.
Breakfast
Breakfast was in the hotel’s underground jazz club. All the usual breakfast dishes were well presented, etc., but I just found the atmosphere dull and uninviting. And it took ages to get a coffee.
Room Service
I took room service one evening. It was fine, the meat in the hamburger was very good, but the chips were a little cold. The dessert did not look anything like what I expected, but it was rich and tasty.
