An exciting new points hotel in Argentina's capital: The Recoleta Grand
Editor's Note
Buenos Aires has a plethora of points hotels, including old favorites like the Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires. However, the latest points hotel to open in Argentina’s capital comes courtesy of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio.
The hotel officially began welcoming guests in June 2025 and comprises 142 rooms and suites. Although it’s in one of Buenos Aires’ most elegant neighborhoods, the nightly rates are a relative bargain for upscale accommodations in the city.
We recently had the chance to stop by, and here’s what you can expect during your visit to the Recoleta Grand, Buenos Aires, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
First impressions
The Recoleta Grand is something of a palimpsest, where several layers of history coexist. The hotel now incorporates a renovated wing that was previously a hotel without a Marriott affiliation, the historic 1922 Mansion Mihura, and a graceful new glass tower and atrium, complete with a 13-foot indoor waterfall flanking the main restaurant's dining area. Though disparate, the three edifices somehow meld into a unified whole that feels just right.
Guests still enter through the previous hotel’s doors on Avenida General Las Heras, but depending on your room assignment, you might head straight up in the nearby elevators, or traipse through the hotel’s skylit all-day cafe, past the side of the historic mansion and through the atrium to another set of elevators (don’t worry, there are also connecting corridors between the two buildings on various floors).
The mix of guests you’re likely to encounter, meanwhile, includes international tour groups laying over between visits to other parts of the country or departing on a cruise, business travelers in town to meet with colleagues, and the odd solo or couple travelers here for a few nights to experience the city’s culture.
The rooms
Under the eye of local interior designer Lucas Gashu, the old rooms and the new have a coherent look with parquet flooring reminiscent of Recoleta’s grand apartments, colorful geometric wall splashes giving the spaces some texture and, in some, proscenium-like paneling that creates the feeling of a deconstructed four-poster canopy bed to delineate the sleeping area.
Look out for other midcentury modern-inspired touches like circular sconce lights by the beds and Scandinavian-chic chairs and tables by panoramic windows overlooking the surrounding streets.
They also have 40-inch flat-screen televisions and workdesk-minibar combinations. Amenities include coffee makers, hot water kettles, and a typical array of snacks and drinks. Beware of scant closet space, though, since the hotel has opted for popular open-concept versions.
My junior suite in the new wing had an open floor plan with the bedroom to one side of the entrance and a small living room with a low-slung chair, a love seat and nesting tables to the other, separated by a chest with the TV on top.
In the new rooms, bathrooms are tiled in black stone with frosted-glass walk-in showers and basin-style sinks, while older ones have gray marble counters with sunken sinks and walk-in showers. All offer verbena-scented bath and body products made locally.
Though spare, the rooms feel contemporary and chic. If you have the option, request a room in the new tower since the windows are bigger and the bathrooms feel more updated.
Dining
The hotel will eventually be home to several dining and drinking establishments, but during our visit, only two were open.
Just behind the lobby in a sunken atrium of its own, the light-filled Cafe de Prensa is a chic bolt-hole serving a variety of coffee drinks plus Argentina’s national drink, mate.
Invite some friends, then get cozy in one of the seating vignettes or at the tall marble counter as you settle in to discuss Buenos Aires’ literary legacy or thumb through one of the many vinyl albums and art books displayed on the dramatic coffered shelves.
At the heart of the hotel, the main restaurant, Atrium, is in a soaring ... well, atrium, so it’s bathed in natural light throughout the day and, thanks to plentiful plants (and a soon-to-grow living wall) and a jaw-dropping indoor waterfall — not to mention enormous, birdcage-like chandeliers — the space feels like a secret garden in the heart of the bustling city.
Here, Buenos Aires-born chef Maximiliano Matsumoto, whose credentials include other Buenos Aires icons like Casa Cruz and Faena, serves both tasting and a la carte seasonal menus that blend South America’s bountiful produce and proteins prepared with international flavors and classic techniques.
The cured Patagonian trout with herb bavarois and fennel ($13) was savory and fresh, as was the asparagus with vinaigrette with charred lemon, creamy peas, mint and baharat sauce ($10). I also spied a neighboring table enjoying a massive Angus rib-eye steak with chimichurri ($28) that looked positively incredible.
The hotel’s cocktail list was created by the award-winning mixologist Ignacio Maggio and includes a long list of classics, plus some more creative options to come.
Atrium is also the setting for breakfast ($7 per person), with an extensive buffet and included options like eggs made to order and a variety of omelets.
The hotel will eventually open Rayuela, a swanky restaurant and cocktail lounge in the Mihura Mansion. We only got sneak peeks of the unfinished spaces, but they are already stunning, with art deco furnishings, dramatic chandeliers and sculptural bars.
Amenities and service
- The hotel should have a fully equipped fitness center soon.
- It also will be home to the small Floralis Spa with a range of treatments including massages and facials.
- Up on the roof, there’s a small seasonal pool that should be popular over the summer.
- There are several event spaces in both the historic mansion and the newer wing.
Location and logistics
The Recoleta Grand is in one of the city’s most central, upscale neighborhoods. Ubers and taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, so rides to major tourist attractions like the Casa Rosada and the MALBA museum are quick and inexpensive. You can walk to the famous Recoleta Cemetery, where Evita is interred, in about 10 minutes. An Uber to Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) takes about 45-90 minutes depending on traffic and will cost $30-$50.
What it costs
Rates at the Recoleta Grand start at $248 or 41,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night over the next several months.
To make the most of your stay, consider the following Marriott Bonvoy cobranded cards:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
All of them have lucrative welcome offers, confer automatic elite status and have elevated earning rates at Marriott properties.
Alternatively, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) directly to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, which may put an award stay within reach.
Accessibility
The Recoleta Grand’s street entrance and public areas are all wheelchair accessible, including the Atrium, which features a wheelchair lift. Guest floors and the pool are all accessible via elevator and ramp.
The hotel has four total Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant rooms, two in the old building and two in the new tower, so be sure to call the hotel directly to confirm that you can reserve a room that meets your specific requirements.
Bottom line
The Recoleta Grand, Buenos Aires, a Tribute Collection Hotel is an exciting addition to Buenos Aires’ hotel scene. The hotel’s location in Recoleta puts it within easy reach of many of the city’s top attractions, and its reasonable nightly rates — both paid and points — should make it a top choice for international visitors. All the more so once its bars and restaurants are all fully operational.
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