Along with adding reviews of new and notable boutique hotels in Buenos Aires, we’ve been working on some updates as well.

I liked what I saw when I visited the elegant Sofitel in Buenos Aires several years ago, but wasn’t convinced it was in the same company as the other luxury hotels we’ve included in the city. After some reader feedback and some upgrades in the rooms, however, we’ve decided to add it to our reviews of the best hotels in Argentina. Here’s what our reviewer had to say about this converted apartment building near the Recoleta Cemetary:

The Sofitel holds a lot of elegant charm if you are looking to stay in a larger chain hotel that can still manage to maintain a lot of personality. They say that Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America, and a stay at the very French-influenced Sofitel only adds to this feel.

So now you can see the full review of the Sofitel here.

Since our Four Seasons review was a few years old, we just updated that as well. Once again, our reviewer confirmed that this is, in most aspects, the best hotel in Buenos Aires. Some prefer the old-world feel of Alvear Palace, others the hipster vibe of Faena Hotel + Universe, but it’s hard to top the service standard that Four Seasons sets.

See our new review of Four Seasons Buenos Aires.

It seems like every month or two we get a press release about some new Buenos Aires boutique hotel that has been featured in a magazine’s “hot list” or “it list” some other accolade of trendiness. Very few of these hotels are as good in practice as they are through a magazine photographer’s eyes.

I’m happy to say we’ve added reviews of two new ones, however, luxury boutique hotels that held up to the scrutiny and are worth your consideration.

MIO Buenos Aires is in Recoleta, the fashionable district that houses most of the city’s other upscale hotels. MIO is different though, with only 30 rooms and plenty of friendly, personal service. You don’t have to put up with the tiny, underfurnished rooms offered by many other boutique hotels in the city and these are stocked with more amenities than even some of the big luxury brands nearby. (For starters, there’s an espresso machine and chilled wine dispenser in the rooms.) Our reviewer says, “From the quirky textural details that make the place truly comfortable and one-of-a-kind, to some of the friendliest service in the city , there is something about MIO Buenos Aires that gets under your skin and leaves you wanting to stay forever.”

Fierro Hotel Boutique is in Palermo Hollywood, a neighborhood teeming with hipsters and fashionistas, so of course it had to be stylish and modern—that’s a given. Beyond the sleek lines and contemporary furniture, however, are basics done well: effective double-glazing to keep out the city noise and ultra-comfortable bedding. The terrace suite is well worth the splurge, with its own terrace whirlpool and outdoor grill.

Fierro is a magnet for foodies, thanks to the well-known restaurant Hernán Gipponi. Our reviewer says, “Ranked in some publications as the number one rated restaurant in the city, chef Hernan brings his years of experience from the Guggenheim Bilbao and Quique Dacosta’s El Poblet in Valencia, both of which received two Michelin stars under his guidance. To be able to experience his ever-changing, seasonal menu, complimented with organic vegetables and herbs grown in an on-site garden, without leaving the comfort of your hotel, is a rare treat. A must to try is the 9-course tasting menu, which includes a tapa, two entrees, fish of the day, a rice dish, a meat dish, pre-dessert, and two desserts, all paired with great wines. The massive wine list is overseen by Andres Rosberg, who happens to be the President of the Argentine Sommelier Association.”

A lot of Buenos Aires boutique hotels look pretty and are staffed with beautiful people, but these two actually function well and have staffers who can meet your needs—often before you even know what you need.

It’s been a while since a notable new luxury hotel opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but now we have one to talk about: Algodon Mansion.

Apparently the Recoleta neighborhood is still the place to be if you want to attract guests with money as this one is set up there as well. This converted 1912 mansion is more of a boutique hotel than its competitors though, with only 10 rooms. Our reviewer, Nicholas Gill, says these are 10 rooms worth getting excited about though, especially at the high end:

The top level Royal Suites rival any other top suite in Buenos Aires and will certainly see their share of rock stars and celebs. They add private chef service, a baby grand piano, a fireplace, a wine-themed wet bar, adjoining den, and roll-down projection screens.

Although this building doesn’t have a big footprint, the architects managed to squeeze in plenty of facilities. There’s a restaurant, bar, spa, and rooftop pool. With butler service for all guests and a high level of service in the bar and restaurant, this new hotel already ranks highly compared to the competition. See our full detailed review of Algodon Mansion.

More info on luxury travel in Argentina.

One thing magazine editors love to do is highlight some concept that’s been around for years and act like it’s a new trend they just discovered. Thus this May article in National Geographic Traveler about wine lodges in Mendoza, Argentina: Bodegas Open Their Doors.

After years of studying Spanish, I have found this word “bodega” to mean a lot of different things. When I lived in New York City, it meant a little corner food store run by Cubans or Puerto Ricans. In Colombia it’s a pantry. In other countries it’s a bar. The original meaning has something to do with storing barrels in a cellar though, so in Argentina this has led to the word being applied to most any winery. (Not a “guesthouse” as that article says.)

So this article is about places around Mendoza’s wine regions where you can stay at the winery itself, or at least among the vines growing outside. Readers of Luxury Latin America know this is nothing new as we’ve featured detailed reviews of the two best wine lodges for years: Cavas Wine Lodge and Club Tapiz (the latter pictured here). Both can give you the opportunity to be smack up against the grape vines and you can set up wine tasting tours, pruning workshops, winery tours, or grape picking depending on the time of year.

We also have details on another one with only two rooms in this Boutique Hotels of Argentina story.

Whichever place you choose, you will have great views of the Andes range, you’ll eat well, and you’ll drink well. In the ones we highlight, you’ll get plenty of pampering as well and at Cavas Wine Lodge you can get all kinds of vinotherapy treatments—if soaking in wine and getting scrubbed with grape seeds is your kind of thing…