An Iconic Art Deco Tower in Buenos Aires Has Been Remade Into a Chic Boutique Hotel

As soon as one turns onto Arroyo Street in the tony neighborhood of Recoleta, it becomes obvious why Buenos Aires is known as “the Paris of South America.”

Beautifully preserved neoclassical buildings sit shoulder-to-shoulder along a sycamore-lined street where locals sip café con leches at sidewalk cafes. If the scene were a Woody Allen film set, the new Casa Lucia would be its star. Commissioned by shipping magnate Nicolás Mihanovich, the 20-story grande dame was the tallest building in Latin America when it was completed in 1929. The tower, which could be seen from Río de la Plata like a lighthouse, provided a perch for Mihanovich to watch his commercial ships sail in and out of the port, and for decades, the building housed wealthy immigrants from the Old World until it fell into despair. Revived by the Sofitel group, which moved on in 2018, the landmark property finally caught the eye of Pau Guardans i Cambó, founder of the Spanish lifestyle brand Único Hotels, who felt it was the perfect place to plant his first flag in the Americas.

As I pulled up to the commanding Art Deco tower, its imposing wrought iron gates were swung open to the street. A young bellboy rushed to receive my luggage and led me through the glass doors into what was once a carriageway for the skyscraper and its adjacent neoclassical buildings. Today, it serves as Casa Lucia’s stunning lobby lounge anchored by a wood-and-brass art deco bar and sunken sofas. A polished black-and-white checkered marble floor gleams under sunlight shafts pouring through the glass ceiling above.

“The bar replaced what used to be the reception area because we wanted to create a strong connection with the street,” explained Federico Uberto, the hotel's general manager, who greeted me upon arrival. The lobby lounge is flanked by the hotel’s signature restaurant, Cantina, on one side and Le Club Bacan, a cozy cocktail bar, on the other. A covered seating area overlooking the street was also added — an ideal spot for coffee and watching the world go by.

“The hotel was named Casa Lucia because it provides the intimacy of a home. We want you to feel that this is your living room, this is your kitchen, this is your patio, and this is your bar,” said Uberto, pointing to the various outlets as he led me behind the bar to the reception area decorated with a stunning 16-foot hand-woven artwork from textile designer Cristina Codern. I was welcomed by name and offered a glass of wine, Champagne, or a fresh-squeezed orange juice.

“The idea is that Lucia is your host,” said Uberto. She wants to welcome you, lead you, and follow you to ensure an incredible stay.”

How to Book

• Address: Arroyo 841, Buenos Aires C1007AABB Argentina
• Phone: +54 11 5218 4990
• Website: hotelcasalucia.com

The Rooms

The hotel’s 70 rooms and 72 suites feature a pared-back design layered with artwork that emanates Argentinian culture. The upper floors, when completed, will showcase privileged views of Río de la Plata and panoramic cityscapes. Ten rooms offer balconies, while the 18th floor has two large terrace suites with sun loungers. Original artwork can be found in all the rooms — some have charcoal drawings of horses, referencing Argentina’s estancia culture, as well as contemporary art from Cristián Mohaded, an award-winning Argentine artist. Two small framed photographs from Ricardo Piñeiro’s expansive archive of the beautiful doors of Buenos Aires hang over every bed, and hand-woven lampshades come from Catamarca. Dressed in down comforters and 300-thread-count cotton sateen linens from Liso, the beds are eminently comfortable — but if you’re picky about your pillows, there’s a menu to choose from. 

My junior suite had a separate living room with a small dining table and a welcome bowl of fruit (an amenity every guest receives upon arrival), a sofa, flatscreen TV, electric tea kettle, Nespresso coffee maker, and a selection of coffee table books highlighting different aspects of Argentine culture. Gin drinkers can mix a cocktail with local Bosque craft gin and packets of herbal and floral infusions. A minibar is stocked with sodas, juices, beer, sparkling wine, and a selection of alfajores (soft shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche), among other snacks. Black-marble bathrooms have glass-enclosed showers, bidets, magnifying mirrors, vanity sets, dental kits, and deep-soaking tubs with candles and aromatic bath salts.

Food and Drink

“We want our guests to have an authentic local Argentinian experience, and our restaurant and bar reflect that,” said Patricio Costa, the hotel’s sales director. Cantina is a nod to traditional tavern-style restaurants in Buenos Aires.

The walls are decorated with polo drawings, mallets, and helmets, while the restaurant’s menu speaks to the flavors and aromas familiar to Argentina. Starters include oven-baked empanadas, grilled provoleta cheese and faina, a chickpea-crust pizza with burrata and cherry tomatoes. Beef, however, is the country’s calling card, and Cantina offers a selection of premium cuts. Jorge Calvo, the gracious maître d', walked me through the menu, listing dishes that are staples of the local diet.

For an appetizer, he convinced me to order the beef tongue, a dish Argentinians typically prepared for Christmas and New Year’s. It came sliced as thin as carpaccio and bathed in a vinaigrette sauce with chopped garlic and parsley. It was tender, flavorful, and more delicious than I’d expected. I followed up beef with more beef (when in Rome!), digging into a juicy sirloin cut of bife de chorizo and grilled vegetables, cooked over smoking embers and served on heavy cast-iron plates atop wooden boards. The meat paired perfectly with a peppery cabernet franc from Matias Riccitelli’s winery in Mendoza, Argentina’s famous wine capital. Dessert was the dealer’s choice, and Calvo served up a local favorite: panqueques con dulce de leche or homemade crepes packed with dulce de leche and encrusted with burnt sugar.

Across the lobby lounge, Le Club Bacan gives the air of a private member’s club with sofa seating, a candlelit fireplace, and cocktail tables tucked in corner nooks. The back room is anchored by a central DJ booth and decorated in black-and-white photographs of Argentine rock legends. Cocktail master Martín Suaya created drinks with names like Mi Buenos Aires Querido (my beloved Buenos Aires) and Café Para Dos (café for two).

My affable bartender, Ravel, recommends the Puente, a libation of Tanqueray gin, berries, black cardamom, and roasted marshmallows. I ordered a zingy, spirit-free Casa Lucia Lemonade with fresh lemon, lime, lemongrass water, and green tea. Drawing on the brand’s Spanish roots, a menu of tapas offers several trios of small bites, from cheesy croquettes to sandwiches and empanadas, as well as sweet treats like pastries and chocolate truffles. A wine cellar is set to open just off the bar to house a collection of more than 400 wines curated by Master Sommelier Aldo Garcia.

Buenos Aires is a late-night city, but you’ll want to drag yourself out of bed in time for breakfast — each morning, a Bacchanalian feast is laid out across the lobby bar, complete with every craving one could want to satisfy to start the day.

Activities and Amenities

Every room has a printed city guide curated by Único's guest experience managers, who can arrange personalized tours and provide access to exclusive spots and under-the-radar experiences to ensure guests see Buenos Aires through the eyes of a local. A digital version can be downloaded from the hotel’s app, which is handy to have in your pocket while exploring the city. The first-floor fitness center has top-of-the-line cardio and weightlifting equipment, free weights, a stretching wall, and complimentary water and trail mix. In March, a luxury spa will open with a 16-meter pool, a sauna, a steam room, and three treatment rooms.

The Spa

The subterranean spa promises to be a sanctuary of tranquility with soothing neutral shades and a 16-meter heated indoor pool framed by mirrors and photography from artist Marc Zimmerman. A treatment menu offers a range of deep tissue and relaxing massages and reflexology. Other well-being activities can be booked through the spa reception, including yoga, a personal trainer, and running and cycling tours throughout the city. While the spa is under construction, a suite on the sixth floor has been transformed into a candlelit treatment room, where I received an unforgettable massage from Lorena, a seasoned spa therapist who fused deep tissue, lomi lomi, and acupressure techniques using lavender oil and a calming aromatherapy spray of eucalyptus, thyme, sage, pine, nutmeg, chamomile, and menthol.  

Family-Friendly Offerings

While Casa Lucia has connecting rooms for families, the vibe is much more of an adult-focused lifestyle hotel.

Accessibility and Sustainability 

Casa Lucia’s sustainability initiatives focus on reducing water consumption, using reusable glass water bottles for filtered water, avoiding single-use plastics or packaging, using 100 percent LED lighting, using fully compostable coffee capsules, and using sustainable brands and products in the spa.

Location

“If you Google the nicest street in Buenos Aires, Arroyo Street will always be in the top five,” Costa commented. And it’s easy to see why: Recoleta is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, and Calle Arroyo is the epitome of Recoleta chic.

The serpentine paver-laid street has the charm of a Parisian lane with Belle Epoque architecture, sidewalk cafes, the city’s top art galleries, fashion boutiques, and several embassies. Florería Atlántico, a flower shop with a speakeasy cocktail bar and restaurant in the basement, is located across the street, while the quaint wine bar, Pro Vin Cia, is just a few steps away. Following the street north, Arroyo Street turns into Alvear Avenue, another famous boulevard known for its historic palaces, high-end boutiques, and luxury hotels like Alvear Palace, Four Seasons, and Park Hyatt. The hotel is also within walking distance from other city attractions, including San Martin Park, Colon Theater, Recoleta Cemetery, and the Malba Museum.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay 

Casa Lucia is part of the Serandipians’ luxury network, which offers perks including room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out (all based on availability), a $50 hotel credit, and a welcome VIP amenity. The hotel also has plans to join Virtuoso and Amex Travel's Fine Hotels + Resorts.