Design Suites Bariloche

Forest-fringed mountains and glacier-fed lakes made Bariloche’s Swiss settlers feel right at home in the early 1900s—and their influence endures in the city’s many twee chalets and chocolate shops. However, there isn’t a whiff of Heidi-esque quaintness at this design-oriented hotel. Opened in 2004, it instead honors the sublime natural setting, incorporating age-old materials with new-millennium style. Architecture is one component because curvaceous walls of windows maximize views from the open-plan lobby/lounge and adjacent resto bar by bringing the outside in. Decor is another: the stone, leather and rough-hewn wood elements that dominate it are offset by polished concrete floors and sleek fireside couches, thereby creating an atmosphere that’s contemporary yet still cozy. Given the aesthetic, which carries on throughout the property, it’s no surprise that this place attracts a hip younger crowd that is too cool for the in-town kitsch.

Beloved by Argentines and vacationing Europeans, the Lake District is Patagonia’s premier holiday destination, and Bariloche is its hub. This water-view hotel sits on the western edge of the city proper, about a five-minute drive from the tourist-y Swiss-style city center (Centro Cívico). Translated into pedestrian terms, that’s about 30 minutes on foot; however, the walk along a busy road isn’t particularly pleasant, so guests who haven’t come with their own car may want to get acquainted with the local cab companies or Bariloche’s efficient public transit system. Aside from running you downtown, the latter can also link you to Cerro Catedral’s ski hills or the San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (both trips take about 30 minutes). Private transport, as well as add-on excursions to popular places sites such as Isla Victoria, El Bolson, or Cerro Tronador, can be arranged on-site. 

The spacious options here range from 484-square-foot standard rooms to 861-square-foot suites, and all share an airy minimalist style that’s so spare it borders on Spartan. (Picture edelweiss-white walls and a surfeit of clean-cut blond wood covering the headboards, floors, and cool, convenient built-ins.) Moreover, all units list coffeemakers, minibars, digital safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi among their amenities; hydro-massage baths of varying sizes (some in the bathrooms, others positioned in front of bedroom windows to provide lake or forest views) are standard issue, too. Studio-style suites add pull-out sofas and balconies or patios, while the top-tier digs feature separate living areas and wee kitchenettes. Bidet-equipped bathrooms have a matching look across the board (vessel sinks, for example, perch on blond wood counters), and all save for the standard rooms have a separate walk-in shower. Note that the accommodations are in three buildings set on a hill behind the central structure housing the common areas. A shuttle van ferries guests between them when available, but it's a steep walk otherwise.

Although setting is the star attraction here, the hotel does offer a number of welcome features. Chief among them is the lobby-level resto bar: a handsome, hip space with an earthy modern look that’s accentuated by floor-to-ceiling windows. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, it typically scores high points for the quality of its food, though past guests have offered mixed reviews of the service, both here and in the hotel as a whole. The main building also houses a small indoor pool with a slightly larger infinity-edged section outdoors, which means guests have the opportunity to swim year round while soaking up the alpine scenery. Wellness facilities located behind the pool area consist of a reasonably equipped fitness center and a rather tired spa outfitted with a sauna and massage areas. Other amenities include a 24-hour front desk; a lobby computer corner; an in-house art gallery; concierge and dry-cleaning/laundry services; room service; free parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.