Hotel del Casco

In the last few years in Buenos Aires, boutique hotels have been popping up left and right. Some are perfectly stylish urban havens, while others are minimalist knockoffs that miss the mark. The Hotel del Casco, steeped in genteel history, doesn’t fit into either category. The palazzo was restored in 2003, but the building’s grand rooms, patios, and conservatory retain their original old-fashioned elegance.

The quiet hotel’s twenty guest rooms, many facing the central courtyard, are classically luxurious, featuring Egyptian cotton sheets, king beds and roll-top baths. But it’s the character of the historic building that makes the Hotel del Casco special: the exposed brick walls, high ceilings, intricate tapestries, and antique chandeliers are reminders of a gentler past. The freestanding Casa del Casco, a four-bedroom villa with its own swimming pool, is a splurge-worthy indulgence. Other guests have access to the hotel’s solarium, pool, spa area, and fitness center. Somewhat surprisingly, there is no in-house restaurant, though a continental breakfast is served in the conservatory — it would be a shame, at any rate, to stay holed up in the hotel when restaurants serving world-class steak and wine surround you.

It must be noted that the Hotel del Casco’s charm depends in no small part on its location in the leafy, moneyed neighborhood of San Isidro. This north-of-downtown suburb isn’t really in the city at all, and though cultural attractions can be easily reached in a taxi, the place is better suited to those seeking turn-of-the-century sophistication and repose rather than travelers on a tight sightseeing schedule.