There's a reason why this place is so hard to book -- it's cheap, it's charming and it's in a great neighborhood. There appears to be an English speaking member on staff at all times and the accommodations are stylish and modern while maintaining the rustic, spartan trappings of the original building and district. It's quiet and contemporary and all for less than you would ever expect to pay. I definitely look forward to staying here again.

We stayed at the Art Hotel in the beginning of October and found the staff to be very helpful and friendly. The location was great as well. HOWEVER: We booked a Queen room, and while we expected it to be small based upon previous reviews (and we were not disappointed), we were not prepared for the location of our room. We were given Room 8, which was on the ground floor, just off of the lounge. In fact, our bathroom window (made of frosted glass) was right opposite a sitting area in the lounge. Our window to the outside faced a shaftway that stored the recycling from the cafe (or so we thought). We asked the front desk whether we actually had a Queen/Superior room, were told we did, and then asked for another Queen room that didn't face the lounge and the recycling. Unfortunately, there were no others, so we decided to make the best of it. When we returned to the room, we were in our room relaxing and getting changed, when right outside our window a man appeared - clanging bottles and putting them in the recycle bin. We had the shades open for some natural light, because it was a very dark space and that was our only window other than the bathroom. At this point, I became very upset with how we had been duped...a Queen room? We decided the only way to deal with the situation was to go out and see the town and stay in our room as little as possible, but it gnawed at us. When we returned some time later, we tried to open our window for some "fresh air," and now the recycles had been joined by some true garbage. That was the last straw. We went to the front desk, explained the situation again and luckily, this time the staff had changed and they offered us a king at the same price, which was an appropriate size and did not have garbage outside the window. This is a very cute, very interesting hotel with a kind and helpful staff. Just make sure you specify that you DO NOT want room 8. We felt that the room was one that should be doled out to guests ONLYif the entire hotel was full, and ONLY with the caveat that you will have garbage outside your window and will be unable to open it, as well as the possibility of the staff seeing you and your significant other in bed, if choose to have any natural light and not have the shades drawn all the time, and EVEN THEN, this room should be rented out at half price.

We stayed at the art hotel for 2 days in November, and never gonna stay here again. As we went out to exchange some reals from brazil we didn't bother to bring the euros we had on the same place while sleeping. Went out for 45 min and when I come back the euros I put in the closet under a bag was missing (I know it was stupid not to look them in the safe when I went out). Later on that night after turning the whole room up and down, I went down to the reception to report this. Could not get hold of the manager, so we had to wait to next day. The manager didn't get in touch with us, I had to seek assistance again. He tells me the great lie that they haven't had anything stolen for the last 3 years from the rooms. Anyhow we changed hotel, and I visit the tourist police station to file a report. The policeman asks me which hotel this happend at, and when I give him the card from the hotel he replies: YOU ASWELL? This means it happend with other tourists at the same time when we was staying there... Nice hotel, but I guess the cleaning lady just gav e 50% to the management and she could keep her job.

Really, just fabulous. On my first trip to Buenos Aires, I decided to follow the Lonely Planet advice and stayed at the Art Hotel. This was definitely the right decision. Buenos Aires, being the most European city of South America, I was expecting a place with a cosy "European" athmosphere and ... found it. The hotel combines modern design and old architecture in a brilliant way. The staff is very helpful and competent. I simply loved it and will surely return, as soon as i can.