We stayed here on 26 September 2012, was meant to be two nights but due to our flight being cancelled the night before ended up only being one night. They were fantastic and only charged us for the one night. Alexander at reception is unbelievable, so chirpy, friendly, English speaking, nothing too much of a bother. The rest of the staff are all very obliging also. It is a small 12 room boutique hotel but boy does it deliver on service, beautiful rooms, contemporary in style, the most comfortable bed we had slept in for a month, crisp white sheets, king size bed, we wished we could have stayed longer. They even booked our private car to the airport for a very reasonable price and we travelled in safety and comfort for the hour long trip. The location is perfect, not far from the Recoleta cemetery which is fascinating. When we return to Argentina we will definitely stay here again. We didn't get a chance to try out the spa but it looked so inviting. Breakfast room is light and airy and buffet selection was incredible and included in the price. We stayed on the second floor and our room looked over the breakfast courtyard. Linda and Vance

Ilum was a tremendous find for my first stay in Buenos Aires - a small and friendly hotel in the beautiful and charming Palermo Hollywood. We'd been worried that Hollywood was the wrong side of the tracks - but found plenty of superb restaurants and fascinating architecture along El Salvador and surrounding streets.
The hotel was designed with detail in mind spacious and well appointed - although the room overlooking the street was a bit noisy with clubbers leaving the night club opposite in the early (and not so early) hours of Saturday morning!
Fantastic help from the reception staff meant my explorations of the city and its museums was successful - I even negotiated the local buses on day 2 and found my way over to San Telmo with ease despite having no Spanish!

If you are looking for a friendly, design forward boutique hotel in the heart of Palermo, this is your place. Only 12 rooms with large windows and beautiful common areas. The hotel is only 18 months old and there is attention to detail in the every aspect of the design from the recessed lighting, to the furnishings, to the bathroom fixtures, to the glass box elevator. Unless a balcony is a high priority I recommend staying on the garden side. The entire outward facing wall is glass windows looking out on the private garden. The balcony / street side of the hotel can be loud during the day and especially at night with two bars/restos across the street. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, although perhaps not up on the happening night life scene for the jet set. A very nice breakfast is also a big plus. The one niggle I have was with the interior noise of the hotel. The beautiful ground floor to 5th floor open space design comes with a compromise. We could hear people talking loudly in the lobby or at the elevator while in our room. Not a problem for the early risers or non-siesta traveler, but not ideal for others. That said, ilum is a fantastic boutique stay with a hard to beat location. Welcome serenity in an often hectic city.

We stayed at the Ilum Hotel in February and March 2012. When i read the reviews i was a little hesitant about the place as they were all glowing which always makes me suspicious but my suspicions were unfounded. This place is a real find. It's really well located - not in the thick of the action but close enough that you can get a nights sleep. The staff are outstanding, incredibly helpful, friendly and with good knowledge of local restaurants. Nothing was a problem. Breakfast is very good with a good selection on offer. While we were there the hotel was full but it was really quiet and it has a very chilled atmosphere. Rooms are a good size (we had a garden room) and the beds very comfortable. Very happy we stayed there and we will be back.