Faena Hotel, Buenos Aires
More photosTucked away in the upscale, waterfront Puerto Madero neighborhood, the Faena Hotel Buenos Aires is a masterpiece of dramatic, theatrical luxury. It opened in 2004, the brainchild of Argentine fashion designer Alan Faena and legendary French designer Philippe Starck. Together, they turned an abandoned, early 20th-century grain warehouse made from imported Manchester bricks into a local icon.
Inside, the industrial history fades into an unapologetically grand aesthetic dominated by rich red velvets, black marble, and crystal candelabras. One of the most famous and unique spaces is the “Cathedral,” a breathtaking, long hallway lined with dramatic lighting and plush seating that sets a surreal tone the second you walk in.
Beyond its wild decor—which includes mounted unicorn heads in the white-and-red Bistro Sur—the hotel is famous for hosting *Rojo Tango* inside El Cabaret, widely considered the most passionate, high-end tango show in the city.
Stepping outside, you’re right by the sleek *Puente de la Mujer* (Woman’s Bridge) designed by Santiago Calatrava. The lush Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve is just a short stroll away, and the historic San Telmo neighborhood, famous for its Sunday antique markets and street tango, is incredibly close by.
Expert reviews
“Conceived for the travelling rock star, the ultra-hip Faena is a recycled 1902 port building located in the exclusive Madero Este docklands zone. Its Philippe Starck design conserves the cavernous, red brick shell of the iconic building.”
“Traipse through the plush main hallway, lined with two top-notch restaurants, a sultry bar-lounge, a basement cabaret and – outside – a slick swimming pool. Also has a Turkish bath and spa.”
“Argentine fashion impresario Alan Faena and famed French architect Philippe Starck set out to create a “universe” unto itself with this hotel, and they succeeded: rooms are feng-shui perfect.”
Featured as Fodor’s Choice in Buenos Aires.
“The red brick exterior of Faena Hotel Buenos Aires projects a low profile, but the interiors of the luxury hotel are bathed in rich reds and black marble, creating a sexy, dramatic ambiance.”
“Think chipped antiques, clawfoot furnishings and white leather exploded onto a canvas that’s a fierce shade of red. But there is more to this hotel than its stomping interiors — not least its on-site tango theatre and rather regal swimming pool.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Friendly staff
- Comfortable beds
- Excellent Wifi
Location
Recent guest reviews
21 December 2025
Try the Alvear Icon.
Location and pool
The Room, (horrible layout), the complexity of the lights and how to use them, the 100 pound bedspread and no lighter blanket supplied even after we requested one, the food at the Italian restaurant. Who makes steak and puts it in a brick of crust? It was so dry and awful plus the tomato sauce in the seafood pasta was so sweet. Overuse of onions. I’m Italian. We never put onions in our tomato sauce. That’s what non Italians who don’t know how to cook make it. It ruined the meal.
We ate dinner out the next two nights because of this and found outstanding food at half the price.
6 August 2025
Won’t stay there another night.
Location.
Very old and the room does not level with the price they charge.
15 December 2024
Faena is still worth staying at, but select your room carefully and avoid Booking.com "upgrades"
Good pool and location is great for accessing the locality but also the rest of central BA. The main bar in the evening is buzzy and has good live acts.
The room offered (a duplex suite - part of an "upgrade" offered by Booking.com to Genius members) wasn't worth taking. I should have booked the room i originally wanted (park view). All the duplex suite consists of is a dark room on first floor with TV and then steps up to the bathroom/bedroom. If you had kids you might value the extra space, but i would have preferred having actual city or park views. Some of the hotel is also showing its age (frayed carpets/outdated sockets etc).
30 November 2024
Beautiful Hotel in Buenos Aires
Rooms were comfortable and restaurant is fabulous!
Pricey
2 November 2024
Ok but would not stay again
Location
Staff treated booking.com reservation as lower class than rest
27 May 2024
Excellent staff to help with all your needs
Our trip started with the airline losing our baggage, and the staff were incredibly helpful with getting it to us from the airport. They spoke excellent English, which was very helpful for navigating all our issues!
4 February 2024
Not staying here again!
Great location, close to many attractions! The food at any of the restaurants was just amazing, I mean... You're in Buenos Aires, guess anywhere you go food will be at least good. The hotel installations are pretty good, stylish and with a cool vibe. The pool is the main attraction I would say, pretty cool.
For what you pay, this hotel is defo not at a 5 stars level. Starting with the check-in where we arrived with 3 suitcases and not even the guy at the front door helped us. We booked 4 nights and wanted to extend it to 5 nights, however ended up moving to the Four Seasons on the last night as price was the same and gave us a proper 5 stars hospitality. Anyway, I need to highlight the staff which was not at the level of these type of hotels, and very rude! Specially want to mention, there was a blond girl working at the bar/restaurant (The Library) who's name is Florencia, SUPER rude! At the point of needing to call the manager of the restaurant, think his name was Gabriel, who just appologies. However, following night, another girl (didn't ask her name this time) from the staff extremly rude, looks like they are all unhappy working there.
Rooms: OMG we paid a fortune for a room that had humidity on some areas, basic details a hotel should take into consideration such as marks all over the walls, deco was OK but old, one lamp was broken, the wardrobe has some water marks, etc. Room Service: They offered a 24/7 room service when that's actually not true. The only room service they could offered us was just ham and cheese sandwiches and beef empanadas. When I asked the person on the phone why the menu is so limited, his answer was: Our team is working on the breakfast atm, they don't have time to serve rooms.
The hotel is definitely not at a 5 stars hotel standards, neither the staff AT ALL. They need asap to update the rooms with a more up-to-date furniture and attention to details! Again, if we are paying for a 3 or 4 stars I don't care about someone picking up my luggage or offering room service all night. In this case, you MUST offer your guests a five stars experience. Hopefully someone from their staff will contact me via email, or who knows... Not surpise if they don't.
23 January 2024
Great facilities and location but need to change front desk staff, remember they are the first contact to your customers
Location
Facilities
Spa
Front desk staff
6 January 2024
Great moments, it’s a must know
The pool is amazing. The environment is awesome. The breakfast is perfect. The restaurants inside are great. The tango show is the best of all Argentina.
The bed has a way too soft mattress.
16 October 2023
best place to stay in Buenos Aires
Excellent design, great hospitality, delicious food, beautiful tango show
nothing to complain
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Snack bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Barber/beauty shop
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Shuttle service (additional charge)
- - Airport shuttle (additional charge)
- - Grocery deliveries (additional charge)
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Spa & wellness centre
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Hot tub/Jacuzzi (additional charge)
- - Hammam
- - Evening entertainment
- - Spa facilities
- - Spa lounge/relaxation area
- - Spa/wellness packages
- - Fitness
- - Yoga classes
- - Personal trainer
- - Live music/performance
Outdoors
- - Terrace
- - BBQ facilities (additional charge)
- - Outdoor pool
- - Outdoor pool (seasonal)
- - Outdoor furniture
- - Outdoor fireplace
Entertainment & family services
- - Babysitting/child services (additional charge)
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping (additional charge)
Parking
- - Parking garage
- - Accessible parking
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
Transport
- - Airport pick up (additional charge)
- - Airport drop off (additional charge)
Pool and wellness
- - Sun loungers or beach chairs
- - Sun umbrellas
- - Swimming pool
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Thermometers for guests provided by property
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21 March 2026
I would have been disappointed if I'd only paid 1/3 of what we did. Really poor quality.