Cyan Recoleta Hotel

Guests at the Cyan Recoleta Hotel are typically couples and families who repeatedly cite value and location as their top reasons for staying here. The Recoleta neighborhood has some of the most expensive real estate in Buenos Aires, and the eight-story white building sits on a cobblestone street lined with leafy trees. Guests who stay at the Cyan can save money by making their own food in the kitchenettes in each room, and on the weekend, they can shop for food at the street markets around the hotel. However, the hotel decor can feel industrial and harsh: the floors are shiny, the lights bright, the walls white -- and there are no throw pillows or magazines on the one sofa and armchair across from the dark-wood reception desk. There's a small niche beside the breakfast room with three computers under paper-lantern lights, a counter top, and uncomfortable-looking cage-like seats. The breakfast area, under small pendant lights and opposite the courtyard, has a long buffet with appealing platters and pitchers brimming with a wide array of food; black wood tables and chairs are lined up along one wall. The most appealing common space is the small courtyard, where ivy-covered walls surround several blue umbrella tables and chairs, along with some greenery in contemporary planters. 

The Cyan Hotel is across the street from the Recoleta Cemetery, what is arguably the most visited attraction in a neighborhood of private mansions, embassies, museums, luxury hotels, restaurants, and cafes. The Nuestra Senor de Pilar Church and Centro Cultural Recoleta are just three minutes away on foot. The National Library of Argentina, built in 1992 and containing a rare copy of Dante's Divine Comedy, is an 11-minute walk from the hotel. The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (or MNBA) is a 10-minute walk. The Palais de Glace, a former ice skating rink and now an exhibition space, is a seven-minute walk northeast of the hotel. And Argentina's national pastime -- the tango -- is also in easy reach; one of the most-storied dance spots, Club Villa Malcolm, is a 20-minute drive away. The Ezeiza International Airport is 35 to 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic, and includes tolls.

The industrial aesthetic continues in the rooms. Walls, sometimes with a dent or two, and flooring are white, while overhead pendant lights are bright, and windows are covered in dated sheer curtains. Furnishings are sparse: tiny side tables, black-cloth headboards, glass dining tables cantilevered with wires, and contemporary chrome and white stools. Each room has a kitchenette consisting of shiny black cabinetry, a sink, a mini-fridge, and a microwave; some have kettles. All rooms are air-conditioned and have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and safes. Standard Rooms with city views are available, and there are also Suites with sofas, views, and/or balconies -- some overlooking the street of Recoleta Cemetary, where Eva Peron is buried. Moderately sized bathrooms have bright lights, black marble sinks, bidets, Cyan-brand toiletries, and shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads. But the white tile floors in the bathrooms could use scrubbing. 

Guests are treated to a free breakfast with cooked eggs, fresh fruit, pastries, and more. Wi-Fi is free and there are three computers and business services available to guests -- although some guests complain the copy/fax machines are buggy. The hotel has an outdoor courtyard with umbrella tables that provides some quiet in the otherwise busy neighborhood. Staff at the 24-hour front desk provide concierge and room services, and will sell guests wine and snacks. There are also luggage storage and airport transfers, for a fee. The hotel offers 24-hour emergency medical services, cribs, and laundry and dry cleaning for a fee. The hotel also offers massage treatments for a fee, a good perk if guests overdo it at neighborhood tango classes.