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CASA SUR ART HOTEL, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
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Casa Sur Art Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Stay in the heart of Buenos Aires, in a gorgeous hotel, and still get all your work done. It’s the best of all possible worlds.
Text Bridget McNulty
Photography Mark Peddle and courtesy of Casa Sur Art Hotel
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An art hotel might not seem like the first choice for a business stay, but you’ll see as soon as you arrive at the Casa Sur Art Hotel in stylish Recoleta, one of Buenos Aires’ favourite neighbourhoods, that this is not just an art hotel. Yes, the walls are adorned with paintings by local artists, an exhibition that rotates every month and keeps the lobby looking fresh and fascinating. Yes, the décor is stylish and subtle, with cowhide seats and dark wooden furniture offsetting the palette of neutral tones. Yes, it feels like an extremely stylish place to rest your head.
But it is also, and this is the important part, an extremely comfortable place to rest your head, and a smooth-running machine when it comes to business facilities.
Each room has a large wooden desk, topped with Argentine leather, and the high-speed wireless internet connects with such ease (no log-in or password necessary) that it feels as if it was waiting for you to sit down on your cowhide seat and get to work. The rooms are spacious and light-filled, with views out over the city, and wooden balconies or French balconies for you to get some fresh air and breathe in the distinctive energy of Buenos Aires. An LCD TV with over 40 cable channels, deliciously verbena-scented L’Occitane amenities, and a pillow menu (where you can select the pillow that will ensure a peaceful night’s sleep) means that your comfort is entirely taken care of.
If you need to clear your head, there’s a small gym and spa, with the latest running machine, stationary bicycle and weight machine, perfect to work up a sweat before unwinding in the large Jacuzzi, complete with candles, soft music and relaxation beds. A masseuse is on call to provide you with a range of massages and facials, including an intriguing Chocolate Dreams option, which wraps you up in chocolate before giving you a Thai massage. Delicious!
Once you’re all relaxed, it’s back to work. The Salon Sur is a chic 30 person conference centre, fully equipped with digital Dolby 5.1 sound, a projector on a 120 inch screen, wifi internet access and various seating arrangements to suit your needs; and when it’s time to eat you can either have Croque Madame, the in-house restaurant, cater for you, or pop upstairs to the restaurant space to enjoy some of the delicious Mediterranean dishes and homemade patisseries. As the day draws to a close, choose from some of the most prestigious wines in the country in the upstairs wine bar, and unwind before you explore all the Buenos Aires night has to offer.
But it is also, and this is the important part, an extremely comfortable place to rest your head, and a smooth-running machine when it comes to business facilities.
Each room has a large wooden desk, topped with Argentine leather, and the high-speed wireless internet connects with such ease (no log-in or password necessary) that it feels as if it was waiting for you to sit down on your cowhide seat and get to work. The rooms are spacious and light-filled, with views out over the city, and wooden balconies or French balconies for you to get some fresh air and breathe in the distinctive energy of Buenos Aires. An LCD TV with over 40 cable channels, deliciously verbena-scented L’Occitane amenities, and a pillow menu (where you can select the pillow that will ensure a peaceful night’s sleep) means that your comfort is entirely taken care of.
If you need to clear your head, there’s a small gym and spa, with the latest running machine, stationary bicycle and weight machine, perfect to work up a sweat before unwinding in the large Jacuzzi, complete with candles, soft music and relaxation beds. A masseuse is on call to provide you with a range of massages and facials, including an intriguing Chocolate Dreams option, which wraps you up in chocolate before giving you a Thai massage. Delicious!
Once you’re all relaxed, it’s back to work. The Salon Sur is a chic 30 person conference centre, fully equipped with digital Dolby 5.1 sound, a projector on a 120 inch screen, wifi internet access and various seating arrangements to suit your needs; and when it’s time to eat you can either have Croque Madame, the in-house restaurant, cater for you, or pop upstairs to the restaurant space to enjoy some of the delicious Mediterranean dishes and homemade patisseries. As the day draws to a close, choose from some of the most prestigious wines in the country in the upstairs wine bar, and unwind before you explore all the Buenos Aires night has to offer.
What to Do in Recolata:
One of the most refined areas in the city, Recoleta is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Here are our pick of the best activities for this part of Buenos Aires:
Shopping: The Buenos Aires Design centre, one block from the Recoleta Cemetery, is filled to overflowing with intriguing, chic design ideas, homeware, and irresistible artworks.
Restaurant: Find the perfect steak at Fervor, on the corner of Callao and Posadas (1519), a classic Argentine Parrilla (grill) and Seafood Restaurant, and the ideal place to relax and enjoy an authentic taste of Buenos Aires.
Activity: The famous (and fascinating) Recoleta Cemetery, home to mausoleums of the rich and famous (including numerous past presidents and Evita Peron), is only two blocks from the hotel. The cemetery is a fascinating place to spend an afternoon, and if you’re there on a Saturday or Sunday, you can wander around the handicrafts market just outside and pick up some handmade leather or silverwork, or a little homemade trinket to take home with you.
One of the most refined areas in the city, Recoleta is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Here are our pick of the best activities for this part of Buenos Aires:
Shopping: The Buenos Aires Design centre, one block from the Recoleta Cemetery, is filled to overflowing with intriguing, chic design ideas, homeware, and irresistible artworks.
Restaurant: Find the perfect steak at Fervor, on the corner of Callao and Posadas (1519), a classic Argentine Parrilla (grill) and Seafood Restaurant, and the ideal place to relax and enjoy an authentic taste of Buenos Aires.
Activity: The famous (and fascinating) Recoleta Cemetery, home to mausoleums of the rich and famous (including numerous past presidents and Evita Peron), is only two blocks from the hotel. The cemetery is a fascinating place to spend an afternoon, and if you’re there on a Saturday or Sunday, you can wander around the handicrafts market just outside and pick up some handmade leather or silverwork, or a little homemade trinket to take home with you.
CASA SUR ART HOTEL,
BUENOS AIRES
Style Modern, chic Argentinean. Neutral tones, right angles, dark wood and plenty of cowhide chairs make this a hotel unlike any other.
Setting In Callao Avenue, the main street of Recoleta, one of Buenos Aires’ most sophisticated neighbourhoods. Just two blocks from the famous Recoleta Cemetery, restaurants and museums.
Why you'll appreciate it The hotel offers a free three-hour city tour on Saturdays, they can easily organize museum tickets or tickets to a tango show, and on Sundays there are free transfers to San Telmo to visit the antique market. So there’s no excuse to be all work and no play.
Business Facilities:
Type of Internet Connection
High-speed wireless in the room and public areas (complimentary).
Number of in-room phone lines
One in the Executive and Superior Suites, two in the Deluxe and Grand Suites.
Type of Desk Space
Large wooden desk in each room, Deluxe Suites have a separate table and chairs area for business meetings.
Fax Machine
At reception, or in-room on request.
Printing Facilities
At reception, or in-room on request.
Good to know Wireless internet is free throughout the hotel. There’s a small work-out room for those who like to work up a sweat, and a Jacuzzi to relax in afterwards. The front desk staff are wonderfully helpful, and can assist with any travel requirements or other needs in the city.
Best rooms or suites to book The Superior Suite has a lovely wooden-deck balcony with table and chairs, looking out over the city. The Deluxe Suite is far more spacious than the Superior, and has two separate rooms, two bathrooms and an espresso machine, with a lounge space that’s perfect for meetings. But the Grand Suite is the crème de la crème, located on the 12th floor, and with a private deck with a Jacuzzi and a panoramic view of the city.
Room for improvement There are no tea and coffee making facilities in the suites, as it is not customary to drink tea or coffee in your room in Argentina. Still, it would be a nice addition for international desks. There is only one bedside table in the Superior Suite. The ‘daily newspaper’ delivered to each room is simply a sheet of news highlights, and not the Buenos Aires Herald, which would be a better choice.
Address Av. Callao 1823. C1024AAE. Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Tel +54 11 4515 0085
Fax +54 11 4515 0085
How to Get There
Fly into Buenos Aires International Airport and take a taxi to the Recoleta area (about 45 minutes, depending on traffic) or the Casa Sur Airport Transfer (US$52).
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