Palacio Duhau sits at Avenida Alvear 1661 in Recoleta, the city's most elegant residential district, and combines two buildings: a Belle Epoque palace and a more modern wing, linked by terraced gardens and a marble art corridor. The hotel opened in 2006, has 165 rooms and carries a sustainability certification from the Hoteles mas Verdes programme. Rooms range from Deluxe rooms, some with garden views or balconies, to Park suites in the modern wing and Palace rooms and suites in the historic building, so the choice between old-world and contemporary is yours when you book. Food is a strong suit. The booking page names three on-site dining venues: Duhau Restaurante, Gioia, a plant-based Italian restaurant recognised by the Michelin Guide, and the Salones del Piano Nobile, where tea is served with sparkling wine. Breakfast is available as a buffet at a listed price per person, or as an in-room American breakfast. Wellness is equally generous, with a 25-metre indoor pool, a gym, a sauna, a hot tub and the Ahin Wellness and Spa, which has five treatment suites.
Cultural touches set it apart
The hotel offers guided art tours with an Art Ambassador and private tango lessons, which suit travellers who want culture without leaving the building. The garden and terrace give a calm retreat from the avenue, and free bicycle rentals make the nearby parks easy to explore. Valet parking and an airport shuttle on request are listed for an extra charge.
Location
The hotel is a three-minute walk from Avenida 9 de Julio and four minutes from the Patio Bullrich shopping centre. Recoleta Cemetery and the Recoleta Cultural Center are about seven minutes on foot, and the Exhibition Center of the City of Buenos Aires is about eleven. Aeroparque is roughly sixteen minutes by car, and Ezeiza is a longer drive of around twenty-one miles. Recoleta is quiet and upmarket, so evenings are for dinners and walks rather than nightlife, though taxis to Palermo and San Telmo are easy.
Who it suits
Couples, anniversary trips, and travellers who prize service, architecture and a restful base. Compared with the Alvear Palace Hotel nearby, which leans toward classical grandeur, Palacio Duhau offers a modern wing and gardens, so check which room category you are booking. Check-in is from mid-afternoon and check-out is before noon, with early and late options for a fee, subject to availability.
Rates sit near the top of the market, so watch for seasonal offers. Afternoon tea in the Salones del Piano Nobile is a pleasant way to experience the palace even on a short stay, and the gardens are at their best in spring.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor 25-metre pool
- ✓Ahin Wellness and Spa
- ✓Gioia plant-based Italian restaurant
- ✓Duhau Restaurante
- ✓Terraced gardens and terrace
- ✓Guided art tours
- ✓Private tango lessons
- ✓Free bicycle rentals
Good questions
How far is it from Recoleta Cemetery?+
About a seven-minute walk, according to the booking page.
Does it have a pool and spa?+
Yes, a 25-metre indoor pool, a sauna, a hot tub and the Ahin Wellness and Spa with five treatment suites.
What is unusual about the hotel?+
It joins a Belle Epoque palace with a modern wing, and offers art tours and private tango lessons.
