Reviews of Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Review of The Alvear Palace, by Caroline Major

Against the cobalt sky of Buenos Aires, The Alvear Palace's grand form is breathtaking in the afternoon sunlight. In the lobby, crew-cut boys, dressed in black and trimmed with red, sneak looks at pretty women. The décor is luxurious, with thick blue and gold carpets, winged-back chairs and silver service set against sparkling glass and shining marble.

The butler arrives just as the porter leaves. He is laden with fresh pink roses, a bowl of summer fruits and a cold drink, and his easy manner and agile exit, thwarting any uncomfortable tip moments, is pleasantly surprising.

When the last women finish high tea, the bar fills with well-heeled Argentines, passionate for cocktails. There is nightly live jazz on the outdoor terraces, and the rooftop ballrooms and garden restaurant are stylish places to watch the sun sink over Recolector.

The Alvear maintains its romanticism and charm by discreetly hiding its modern technology. Touch screen telephones work the TV, stereo and air-conditioning, as well as connecting your PC to the internet on a second line. Thoughtfully, each room has a cellular phone to use in Buenos Aires, billing calls to your room.

The function rooms and business facilities are the most prestigious in South America. Cast an eye behind the drapes or above the cornicing and you'll find subtle speaker systems and hidden projection screens.

With 70 years of tradition, the locally-owned Palace continues to indulge an appetite for fine French furniture and Italian textiles. Alvear is a reinvented but traditional Grand Dame - functional yet luxurious.