Our Experts’ Choice awards are are based on recommendations from leading travel media. Winners are determined by taking into account placement in published “best of 2018” lists, as well as the quantity and quality of reviews for hotels, restaurants and attractions. We’re pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s award for best South American destination is
Buenos Aires.
From its sultry tango halls and Belle Époque architecture to its dynamic restaurants and timeless cafes, Buenos Aires has long counted itself among the world’s greatest cities. The city promises to become an especially sought-after destination with publications like Travel + Leisure and the Robb Report listing Buenos Aires as one of the best places to travel in 2018.
Buenos Aires boasts world-class museums like the Museo Nacional, the MALBA, and the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, as well as a vast collection of galleries and the multi-year Art Basel initiative reinforces the Argentine capital’s place in the international art scene.
Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires
In addition to art, Buenos Aires boasts a flourishing design community. Hot independent boutiques like Animaná (a fashion store located in founder Adriana Marina’s Palermo apartment), Vacavaliente (a leather goods showroom in up-and-coming Villa Crespo), and Tamara Lisenberg’s jewelry workshop in Palermo Soho showcase the vibrance of the city’s creative sector.
The culinary landscape continues to evolve, too, as a wave of hungry young chefs infuse new flavors onto Buenos Aires menus. Among this year’s most notable restaurant openings: Proper (featuring an ever-changing menu of small plates showcasing indigenous ingredients), La Alacena (an all-day restaurant-bakery serving sourdough croissants and fresh tagliatelle), and Los Galgos (offering Negronis on tap and contemporary twists on classic Argentine dishes).
Meanwhile, local food lovers continue to swear by Tegui, an eight-year-old restaurant in the trendy Palermo neighborhood, which was recently named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants while La Cabrera Sur, a parrilla that serves what might be the best beef in BA is TripExpert’s highest-scoring restaurant in town.
If you’re a beverage enthusiast, you’ll also find a cluster of new craft beer bars (Buena Birra Social Club, Bierlife), speakeasies (Harrison, Victoria Brown) and coffee shops (Cafe Registrado, Lab) to satisfy your thirst.
The Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires boasts a trio of hotels with a TripExpert score of 90+: the Palacio Duhau, a Belle Époque mansion; the landmark Alvear Palace Hotel; and the massive and massively luxurious Faena Hotel.
The city also welcomed a new luxury property in 2017: the Alvear Icon Hotel, a five-star location with 159 rooms and 50 residencies in the waterside neighborhood of Puerto Madero is a sister to the Alvear Palace and the Alvear Art Hotel. Across from the Faena Arts Center, the stylish hotel features a high-end spa and fitness center and a bar with 360-degree views of the city — not to mention Glitter, South America’s first upscale kosher restaurant, which is set to open imminently.
If you’re searching for a city that blends old-world charm with a modern sensibility, look no further than Buenos Aires. Long considered the cultural capital of South America, the city continues to be one of the most exciting places to visit in the hemisphere.
One of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, Berlinale is a major annual event that draws a fascinating crowd of A-list stars, movie makers, and film lovers from all over the world.
If you’re searching for the perfect place to stay during the festival, take a look at our expert picks for the best luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodations. All nine locations are within walking distance, or are just a short taxi ride away, from Berlinale headquarters at Potsdamer Platz.
The best luxury hotels near Berlinale
Historic luxury and megawatt movie stars
The grande dame of Berlin hotels, the Hotel Adlon Kempinski re-opened in 1997 after being destroyed in World War II. Its deluxe interiors pay homage to its storied past, striking a lovely balance between romantic nostalgia and modern elegance. A Michelin-starred restaurant, an indoor pool, and stunning views of Brandenburg Gate make it a perennial favorite with movie stars like Angelina Jolie and Penelope Cruz. From here, it’s a half-mile walk, or a 5-minute taxi ride, to Potsdamer Platz.
Swanky, modern, and next to Potsdamer Platz
Just steps from Potsdamer Platz, the Grand Hyatt Berlin is a modern sandstone hotel by the famed Spanish architect José Rafael Moneo. Thoughtful design touches, from the Bauhaus photos to the minimalist furnishings, attract fashion-forward guests and luminaries like Madonna. Don’t miss the views from the rooftop spa, or the Michelin-starred food at Vox, their top-rated restaurant.
Contemporary outside, lavish inside
Overlooking Potsdamer Platz, the Ritz-Carlton may look like a modern-day skyscraper on the outside, but the interiors in this splendid, 303-room hotel ooze traditional glamor and 19th-century sophistication. Luxurious decor, from the cherry wood closets to the gold-leaf fixtures, along with fantastic service and a decadent in-house restaurant, help make this one of Berlin’s most lavish hotels.
The top mid-range hotels near Berlinale
Ultra-hip rooms in the city center
A fashionable, 65-room boutique property in one of Berlin’s trendiest neighborhoods, The Circus Hotel attracts a youngish crowd with an eye for style. Each of the bright, modern rooms features its own unique décor, but all of them boast comfortable beds, rich oak floors, and smart design details. Just ten minutes by car from Potsdamer Platz, the hotel is next to an U-Bahn subway station and is surrounded by popular cafes and restaurants.
Relaxed elegance near the park
Located about a mile from Potsdamer Platz, between a picturesque canal and Tiergarten park, the Grand Hotel Esplanade exudes modern luxury. Beautifully furnished rooms come with feather beds and views of the canal or of the park. A sleek cocktail bar, three restaurants, and a private yacht make it an ideal place to unwind after a day of movie-binging.
Nestled among the upmarket art galleries, fashionable shops, and flashy restaurants in the Mitte district, Lux 11 is a hip hotel featuring tastefully decorated minimalist apartments. One of the former homes of the East German secret police, the property is now part of the Design Hotels group. Created by noted design duo Claudio Silvestrin and his wife, Giuliana Salmaso, the hotel also boasts a lovely rooftop terrace and an Aveda spa on the ground floor. A taxi ride to Potsdamer Platz takes about 10 minutes from here.
The best budget stays near Berlinale
Set in a neoclassical building near the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, The Arte Luise Kunsthotel started off as an art studio in 2008. Today, it’s a home away from home for artists and media types, where each of the 30 rooms was designed by a different Berlin artist. If Alice in Wonderland murals and hot-pink velvet sheets aren’t your taste, they also have plain rooms with shared baths on the top floor. The hotel is 10 minutes via subway, or 5 minutes via taxi, from Potsdamer Platz.
Simple but stylish – and easy on the wallet
In a city brimming with sub-par hostels, The Circus Hostel sets itself apart from the rest: clean, stylish, and friendly, it’s the cheaper sibling of the popular Circus Hotel on the same street. Knowledgeable staff and a prime location near bars, restaurants, interesting shops, and public transportation make it a favorite with young travelers. From here, it’s a 10-minute taxi ride, or a 20-minute subway ride, to Potsdamer Platz.
Communist-era kitsch you can afford
A two-star hotel in Friedrichshain with rooms outfitted in true Eastern-bloc style, Ostel – GDR The Hostel is further afield than the rest of our Berlinale-friendly hotels: it’s a 15-minute taxi ride (or a 20-minute subway ride) from the film festival’s headquarters at Potsdamer Platz. If you have a thing for communist-era design, this place is worth the added travel time. Choose from simple, dormitory-style beds or check into the Stasi suite, where the bugging devices don’t work but the décor will take you straight back to 1970s East Germany.
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