Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetiro
Casa Lucia Member of Meliá Collection
Restored Art Deco tower
Retiro Buenos Aires, Argentina
Renovated
2024
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LuxeOutside the door
The house
MeliaRestored Art Deco tower
The 1929 tower feels more like a relaxed boutique than a formal grande dame, bringing easygoing energy to historic Art Deco architecture.
“It blends Art Deco charm with modern luxury and locally sourced design touches, making it the ideal spot for those seeking a comfortable stay.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Nicolás Mihanovich commissioned the 1929 Art Deco tower, once South America's tallest building.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Once the tallest building in Latin America, this 1929 Art Deco tower in Recoleta was originally commissioned by shipping magnate Nicolás Mihanovich.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Calle Arroyo is lined with sycamores and art galleries, with the subterranean cocktail bar Florería Atlántico just down the block.
The rooms
Rooms have black-and-white checkered marble floors and sunken sofas, lit by hand-woven lamps from local artisans.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A heated 16-meter saltwater pool stretches beneath an illuminated photographic mural of the misty Río de la Plata.
The spa and gym
Underground, Aura Pampa Spa has three treatment rooms and a dry sauna. Down the hall, a gym holds stationary bikes.
Restaurant
Cantina
Cantina serves Argentine comfort dishes like beef milanesa and artisanal empanadas in a dining room lined with mirrors.
Now all three buildings make up the hotel, and the alley has been turned into an atrium that’s enclosed with a glass roof, paved with a retro black-and-white tile floor, and decorated with jewel-toned sofas and tables.
At the table
Breakfast is served beside the glass atrium. Le Club Bacan pours rock-inspired cocktails to live DJ sets each evening.
How it began
Architects modeled the tower on a lighthouse so its founder could watch his steamships navigate the Río de la Plata.
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.