Before travelling we were not 100% sure if the Alvear would be the right hotel for us. We are in our mid 30s and were debating whether the Faena would be a better fit. But we are glad we stayed here. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. Service is fab, not sure how they do it, but they called us by name and anticipated our every need. Top location too! Will be back, don't cry for me Argentina!

I just returned from a memorable 7 night stay at the Alevar. The beauty and elegance of the hotel and the refinment of the staff exceeded my expectations in every way. The Alvear's reputation as one of the "Leading Hotels of the World" was demonstrated in the beauty of the public areas as well as my lovely "suite de lujo".
I enjoyed the magnificent buffet breakfasts every morning where patrons are served by white gloved waitstaff who sense your every need and deliver with genuine warmth and dignity in their profession. Everyone at the concierge desk was happy to go out of their way to provide addional information and suggestions and represented a level of service and pride that was so impressive.
I look forward to returning to the Alvear with family and friends and can only repeat what I've already stated-the hotel is a gem, rich in history and grace with a professional level of hospitality that is a rarity!

My husband and I just got back from another amazing stay at The Alvear. (also stayed there for 2 weeks May '07).
I was surprised to read some of the recent reviews concerning disappointing experiences with the hotel. We couldn't have been more pleased with the beauty of the hotel, its pristine condition, prime location in La Recoleta and the friendliness and level of professionalism of the staff. Upon entering the hotel you feel transported to another time and place. It is a gorgeous palace filled with fresh flowers - antiques, marble, etc.. Definitely a little piece of Paris without the attitude!
The breakfast in the hotel at L'Orangerie every morning is superb. The array of fresh fruits, breads, pastries,(homemade alfajores-their local cookies filled with Dulce de Leche), eggs, various cheeses,etc is so beautifully arranged and so generous. The service staff at the restaurant is so attentive and so thoughtful and they seem to always be there to attend to your every need with white glove service. Our room, which was a suite de lujo, was filled with fresh fruit and fresh roses every day. The bathroom was beautiful and I loved to luxuriate in a Hermes bubble bath and watch the flat screen TV which faced the tub!
The only complaint we had this time is that we were initially placed on a lower floor in the hotel and on Saturday night, we could hear loud music after midnight coming from a private party downstairs in the lobby. We complained to the manager and he accomodated us and moved us to a higher floor. So, if you are a sensitive sleeper and want to avoid the inconvenience of having to relocate to another room, make sure to specify a preference for a room on one of the upper floors- especially if you are going to be there on a Friday or Saturday night.
The Concierge staff was incredible during both of our stays. They are knowledgable regarding all the best restaurants, great ideas for tango shows,etc. Claudio, Brenda, Esperanza, Julian and Fabian are the best we have ever encountered in our travels! We know them by name because they remembered us from our previous stay (as we did them) and made us feel welcome and at home. So many of the staff welcomed us back as if we were family. They are so friendly and forthcoming and genuinely wanted to help us in any way to accomodate our stay. You will experience the real feel of Buenos Aires at this hotel. There is no hotel in Buenos Aires that can compare.

Also some other ideas in BA - The following restaurants were excellent- Casa Cruz, The Hyatt (ate lunch there twice - unbelievable filet mignon(lomo),
Green Bamboo, Piegari and Il Mattarello in La Boca.

This hotel has often been described as the best hotel in South America, and its rates reflect that image as a member of "The Leading Hotels of the World." However, our stay in May was very disappointing. Although the hotel is lovely and overall well maintained, and guests usually dress well (there is a dress code) the rooms are much smaller than the online photos -- our deluxe palace category had one small desk chair so the only place for the 2nd person to sit was on the bed; and there were almost no surfaces to put things on -- the small pieces in the room were cluttered with over-large phone consoles and other equipment. We felt claustrophobic and the front desk tried to relocate us, but while we were packing up to change rooms, they called and said the room was not available after all -- we lost a lot of one morning for nothing. A staff member said a major renovation will begin on some of the floors in June '08, with some room walls being knocked down, so perhaps this will improve. Although the staff were generally courteous and gracious, the concierge was arrogant and as another reviewer noted, did not always give correct information. Although reservations were handled fine, I had sent an email several weeks before the trip asking about room amenities (hairdryer, etc) and never received an answer. One big annoyance is the frequent use of the hotel by large conferences -- there is too much noise (not from rowdiness but too many people for the space), and the elevators can't handle the the crowds. During our stay a large conference had lunch on the top floor and afterwards most people gave up on the elevators and walked down 8 flights of stairs. For a hotel of this size, ambience and cost, it is offputting to have to work to get through the large numbers of people congregating in the lobby. The food is ok, not great, and room service quite rigid -- we couldn't order a plate of cooked vegetables even though the entrees included vegetables. Overall, if this had been a much less expensive hotel, we would have felt it was tolerable, but it was not at the level it thinks it is.