I have had the great fortune to stay at many of the great city hotels in the world and this is truly one of the best. Spectacular architecture, gorgeous urban garden to have your breakfast, seamless service, very well thought-through at every level. Insist on having your room in the palace section. Not inexpensive, of course, but worth it, I think.

We stayed there from Mar 9 to 17. The hotel is beautifully done. The service is good. But there are plenty of rooms for improvement.

First of all, it's absolutely not acceptable to find human waste on a clean bath towel. I had to have another an hour shower to clean it up from head to toe.

Secondly, there is no steam room in the spa. Compare to the Park Hyatt in Mendoza, the spa is very much over price. For that price, everything should be spotless. But everytime I use the Jaccuzi, it was either not clean or not useable as the water was not hot enough. The first day, the water was cold so I could not use it. When it was usable, the water is just warm with a yellow rim on top of the water. I had to get out of water as soon as I notice the dirty rim.

For the price they charge, guests should be provided with better toilet paper. The paper was better in Mendoza or Hilton. I am sorry, the toilet paper just too rough for a 5 star hotel.

For the restaurants, including the Italian restaurant, no one knows what Balsamic vinegar is.

Other than that, I like the hotel location but I will prefer go back to stay at Hilton even I have to take a taxi to downtown. It has better value.

My wife and I stayed here 3 nights from 28th February after a 12 day wine tour. I had booked this via the hotel website and had received prompt replies from the reception team. I can only reiterate the comments of the last few reviews. This hotel is the BEST. I know it is only a year old but everything looks so wonderful. I disagree with the reviewer that thought the decor was bland - the decor is modern/contemporary and the renovation of the old building has been very sympathetically done. The staff we came across were very polite, efficient, very smartly dressed and spoke good english.

The best was that we were double upgraded! When checking in at 1pm we were advised we had been upgraded but the room was not ready, which was ok as we wanted some lunch. When we went back at 3.45 (check in is from 3pm) we were advised that as the room was still not ready we would be upgraded again - to an executive suite, which was fantastic: very large lounge, bedroom with small study off it, large dressing area and large bathroom.

We had buffet breakfast (waitered service is available at a second restaurant) each morning which was excellent, and one snack in the Oak Bar which was also excellent.

Overall an excellent hotel which FULLY justifies 5 star rating.

PLACES TO EAT
I would recommend the following restaurants (probably 4 of BAs top 10). All had excellent wine list and served excellent food - and not expensive - £60 per couple including wine.

Sucre - modern, buzzy
Oviedo - classic, best fish in BA?
Tomo 1 - slightly dated decor and genteel ambience but a BA institution
Cabana Las Lilas - top steak restaurant, very busy and popular with tourists

I am from New York City and just spent the week in Buenos Aires, the last 3 nights at this hotel. This property is AMAZING. I can't say enough good things about it. It is hands down the best in BA and it takes your breath away when you walk in. (If you're debating between the Four Seasons and Alvear Palace, this is the one you want.) The property is only a year old. It has two sections - a converted mega mansion with the most expensive suites, connected to a modern tower. Both sides are stunning, with limestone and Jerusalem stone finishes, original artwork, and gorgeous floral arrangements everywhere you look. In the center "courtyard" of both buildings is a huge lush landscaped garden where you can dine in one of two restaurants (very good food) either alfresco or indoors. We stayed in a Park Deluxe Room in the new tower which was enormous and elegant with a glass stall rainshower, soaking tub, separate toilet area, hardwood oak floors, walk in closet - all super high end finishes. Maid service was top-notch and you are hard pressed to find an area in the hotel which isn't spiffed up the second after it is used by someone. Turndown service every evening with such attention to detail that we were floored and always excited to return to the room at night to see what they did! They literally wrapped up cords for us into neat knots, organized our toiletries in perfect rows on the bathroom counter, folded clothing. The biggest surprise was that after traveling for a week subsisting on one electrical converter for recharging all of our electronics (cell phones, Blackberry, Ipod), this hotel has US sockets at every plug site in the room (side-by-side with Argentinian sockets) - totally ingenious. It is touches like this that sets this hotel apart into its own class. Got a wonderful massage at the immaculate and gorgeous spa; you are handed a kettle of tea to relax with in the spa room after the massage while you are free to relax on the in-room chaise, use the shower, etc. An army of hotel employees wait outside to hail and escort you to a cab. If you want to feel like a VIP close to all sites worth seeing in B.A. (including Rodeo Drive-esque shopping), this is definitely the place for you.