Serena Hotel

From the street, this Serena Hotel's gray concrete facade, sleek black awning, and black-trimmed windows resemble a small, stylish condominium building, blending with the residential buildings and posh boutiques of the Recoleta neighborhood. The air of exclusivity begins right at the front door, which can only be accessed with a room key (limiting non-guests from entering). Inside, guests are greeted with a welcome glass of Champagne and a sleek, spotless lobby. Gleaming hardwood floors, suede and leather seating, and burnt orange accents set the tone. Tiny basin water features and plenty of diffused lighting reinforce the tranquillity -- as does the “no children under 16” policy. The restaurant with its rear courtyard, the fitness center, and the downstairs pool and spa with skylights and wall waterfalls, mimic the lobby’s combination of earthy tones and modern furnishings, achieving a similar blend of refinement and serenity. 

Serena Hotel Buenos Aires takes up some of the city’s priciest real estate as part of Recoleta, a neighborhood known for its affluent residences, historic architecture, tango shows, luxury shops, and restaurant. While it’s located on a quiet street amidst other apartment buildings and elegant hotels, the property is also within walking distance of several tourist sites in the area. The Patio Bullrich mall, a converted auction house now holding movie theaters and upscale retail brands, is a two-minute walk away. The famous Recoleta Cemetery, the Plaza San Martin public park, and National Museum of Fine Arts are all 15 minutes away on foot, while the historic Teatro Colon opera house is a 20-minute walk away. 

Other Buenos Aires attractions can be reached by public transport; the hotel is a 20-minute walk from the nearest underground subway station, and there are at least two bus stops within a six-minute walk. It takes about 30 minutes by public transport to reach popular sites like the botanical park in Palermo or the artisan market in San Telmo. Other notable areas, like the bohemian Lo Boca neighborhood with its many colorful houses, can take up to an hour to reach by public transport.

Ezeiza International Airport is a 40-minute drive away, and the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (serving domestic and regional flights) is 20 minutes away by car or taxi, traffic depending.

With only five to six units per floor, the setup of the rooms reflects the Serena Hotel’s priority on tranquility and privacy. Rooms borrow from the lobby’s design and color palette, with brown suede headboards and bed throws in warm hues like orange or tomato-red. Furnishings include narrow work desks and corner armchairs with velvety upholstery, but while everything is tasteful there's nothing especially memorable. Floor-to-ceiling windows occupy one wall, although the nicest views look onto the downstairs courtyard as opposed to anything outside the hotel. Blackout curtains offer total insulation from exterior light. 

Amenities in Standard Rooms (available with twin or double beds) include LCD flat-screen TVs, minibars, laptop-compatible safes, eco-friendly air-conditioning systems, and free Wi-Fi. However, coffee- and tea-making facilities are not provided. Ironing equipment is available on request. Executive Rooms provide more space and larger work desks, while Suites vary between 258 and 300 square feet and include two-seater sofas, additional dresser drawers, full-length standing mirrors, and larger living room areas. 

The all-white, marble-tiled bathrooms are pristine and elegant. Most have walk-in showers with sliding glass doors and rainfall showerheads, but a handful of Standard and Executive-level bathrooms offer shower/tub combos, and Suites go a step further, with jetted whirlpool tubs. Other bathroom amenities include bidet toilets, hairdryers, and hotel-brand natural toiletries. Special needs for guests with mobility issues, such as accessible bathrooms with roll-in showers, can be accommodated with advance notice.  

For a small-scale boutique property, Hotel Serena offers a surprising amount of features that reflect its pearl level, starting with the hotel's elegant indoor pool. While small in stature, the pool is bordered by a slat-wood sundeck and two large white sunbeds. The on-site spa is equally appealing, offering both a dry sauna and a Turkish bath, as well as holistic massage and facial treatments. Another surprise is the gym (a feature not always found in small urban hotels). It's tiny but equipped with cardio and weight-lifting machines. 

Business travelers can make use of the hotel's meeting room, which also has loaner laptops on request. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and the hotel offers a business center, though it's little more than a public computer workstation. There's also a library, providing space for quiet contemplation, and free newspapers are in the lobby.

For dining, the hotel's restaurant and bar serves all meals, and the space opens out to the rear courtyard that guests appreciate for its peaceful setting and plentiful seating. A free daily breakfast buffet of eggs, fruits, yogurts, breads, meats, and hot and cold beverages is served here, too. Rooms service is available 24 hours as well.

Airport shuttles to and from the hotel can be arranged with advance notice, and bicycle rentals are available for travelers wanting an alternative mode of exploring the area.