Suited perfectly to the contemporary, condominium-strewn, gentrified port neighbourhood it is in, the Hotel Madero is a luxuriously, understated, modern gem of a hotel. It is set in a location where today’s Buenos Aires, with its eclectic high-end eateries and art galleries, merge seamlessly into its historic quarter of tango bars and parilla restaurants in San Telmo just across the water. Many we asked considered it out of the way – yes, it is a good taxi journey from Palermo or Recoleta – but it gave us a more authentic perspective of the city. Our suite was an apartment-sized dwelling, complete with spacious balcony, kitchen and breakfast bar with glossy surfaces and a large, comfortable melt-into bed. We couldn’t help but feel that there was a distinctly American ambience to it all and to prove our point – at the hotel’s themed Red, White and Blue dining and drinking options – the tipple of choice is a Dirty Martini or Cosmo. You’re also likely to find hipster locals and media-types grazing on sushi rolls and enjoying an international dinner menu – which for us was a welcome respite from a fortnight’s worth of Bif de Chorizo and Malbec pairings.
