Romantic Boutique Hotel in Hip Buenos Aires Neighborhood

An enormous portrait of Pablo Picasso reminiscent of his early cubist period hangs from the walls of Palermo Deluxe Suite 1. Paintings of Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci, and Vincent van Gogh each watch over their own respective Palermo Deluxe Suites. Each is just a sample of the overall artistry that characterizes the décor at the Baucis Palermo Boutique Hotel, which is set in Buenos Aires’s ultra-trendy Palermo Hollywood neighborhood. Owners Patricia Etchehún and Mariano Martinez—one an experienced hotelier, the other a professional tango dancer—sought to lend a sophistication and passion to the rooms that emanates throughout Buenos Aires; in turn, the rooms feature bold red-and-white color schemes, and walls decked with tasteful art give the feel that each room is its own curated museum.

The hardwood lining the hotel's living-room area transforms into an energetic dance floor six days a week during tango lessons. It's just one of the many transformations the hotel has undergone since its 2007 renovation: what was once an alternative theater and music venue became today's 11-room boutique hotel complete with a wine bar and an outdoor courtyard. Red malbec wine from Mendoza and white torrontés from Salta highlight the menu at Baucis’s elegant wine-tasting room. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night, guests can make their way to the courtyard to pair a sampling of wines with specialty cheeses and sushi under the night sky; the courtyard's tiled floor also sets the stage to start an impromptu tango or to recruit a roller-hockey team.

None of Baucis’s four Palermo Deluxe Suites are exactly the same, though they all include a whirlpool jacuzzi. Suite 1’s crystal chandelier illuminates a hypnotizing black-and-white starburst pattern on the wall, and Suite 5 touts a freestanding bathtub in the middle of the room and velvet curtains draped over two balcony windows.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Tango Traditions Infused with European Swagger

Six 43-foot-long metal petals are attached to Buenos Aires’s iconic Floralis Genérica; each night at dusk, the statue's petals close up in a 20-minute procession that mimics the natural movement of a flower. When the bud closes up, the nightclubs and restaurants in Palermo Hollywood just start to buzz with activity. The trendy barrio is best known for its dense concentration of fine-dining restaurants, many of which pair parrilla barbecue with delicious and affordable Argentine wines. Celebrities often frequent the stylish neighborhood, which reflects the city's European-inspired aesthetic and keen fashion sense.

The tradition of tango is ingrained in Buenos Aires and put on full display at Tango Porteño, which preserves the beloved dance with live performances in a theater steeped in Old World elegance. Professional dancers, colorful costumes, and steam-powered concession stands lend an old-fashioned authenticity to the show.