Breakfast in 'Elena' at Four Seasons Buenos Aires showcases everything that is exceptional about this hotel. Argentinian details, sensational food and the best of Four Seasons staff. It was made even better by General Manager Tulio coming for another chat with me, on his way to the gym! I have been visiting Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina for almost 20 years now and my association with Four Seasons Buenos Aires has been for just as long.
I had intended to stay with a special friend in his elegant Buenos Aires apartment but Tulio (the hotel General Manager) inviting me to stay for a night at the hotel meant I was too tempted and I was so glad I did.
Four Seasons Buenos Aires, like the whole of Argentina, has had to deal with so many adversities but does so with true 'Buenos Aires flair' and the staff exhibit all that is best about Four Seasons service.
I had intended to stay with a special friend in his elegant Buenos Aires apartment but Tulio (the hotel General Manager) inviting me to stay for a night at the hotel meant I was too tempted and I was so glad I did.
Four Seasons Buenos Aires, like the whole of Argentina, has had to deal with so many adversities but does so with true 'Buenos Aires flair' and the staff exhibit all that is best about Four Seasons service.
| The Arrival & Welcome I stayed at my friend's exquisite apartment the night before and got a Four Seasons Mercedes to collected me from there. It was the perfect way to get to Four Seasons Buenos Aires and meant General Manager Tulio was waiting for me in the lobby. Pony Line Bar We went straight for a drink in the hotel's Pony Line Bar. We talked about the hotel's former GM, now married to the GM of Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square, and Tulio explained the Emirati owner of the hotel adores Polo and horses, hence the 'horse stall booths' etc in the Pony Line Bar. I also got to meet charming Samantha, who had been a huge help in planning my trip. US$49MN Refurbishment Tour After our drink, Tulio took me on a tour of the hotel to explain some of the changes since the US$49MN refurbishment. He explained the leather for the chairs in the Pony Line Bar came from Salta, pointed out the lobby chandelier in the Argentine colours and the polished macassar ebony reception desk. Outside he showed me The Nuestro Secreto 'secret garden' that is a new space since I last visited and looks like an elegant venue for lunch and the beautiful 'conservatory' by the 'secret garden', which is a grill restaurant and a vision of former GM Rebeca. I explained I had read about the hotel's Cielo spa in the magazine on the ferry from Montevideo and still recalled the tango themed massage I had there during my last stay. Getting a chance to see the hotel through Tulio's enthusiastic eyes made me appreciate it even more. My Junior Mansion View Suite Then I went to my 3rd floor suite. The sitting area was so stunning it took my breath away and the views of the Mansion could not have been better. Water and fruit had been left for me but I was more interested that a gift meant Argentine national footballer Lionel Messi is now the latest member off the #travelblog www.sifrew.com 'gang'. The bedroom area of my suite was spacious but I was disappointed to find the 'new bright white' Four Seasons bed linen was not being used. However, I later learnt this was because of Argentine import restrictions on textiles. The bathroom of my suite was beautiful and I loved the rainforest shower with L'Occitane products. I still recall the period when foreign bath products were prohibited in Argentina too. I smiled when I saw the slippers in the suite were branded with the Four Seasons 'tree'. The lack of Four Seasons branding, on my last stay, had been an 'argument' with GM Rebeca. The Heated Pool Before I went out that evening I had a swim in the heated pool watching a glamorous party at the Mansion. However, the cold wind when I got out of the pool meant I needed a warm bath when I got back to the suite. Back in the Pony Line Bar That evening I met more of my Buenos Aires based friends in the Pony Line Bar. I had www.sifrew.com branded baseball caps as gifts and we ate warm empanadas while having such a laugh about my last visit to this bar, during the 2015 Argentine elections, when no alcohol could be served etc. The very dry Grey Goose martinis I was made were perfect and our server was incredible, even arranging a power pack to charge my iPhone 8 at our table. It was an outstanding evening and I am so lucky to have so many incredible friends around the world. My Last Full Day in Buenos Aires This started finding Samantha had arranged for the Weekend Financial Times to be printed for me and the Ferragamo shoes I bought in Rio had been perfectly polished. On the way to breakfast I asked if the hotel could repair the hat Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square had made for Issy, when I was leaving London for Cayman Islands. At Four Seasons, this was no problem. Breakfast in 'Elena' I decided to have breakfast in 'Elena', named after the bride who was given the Mansion as a wedding gift in the 1920s, rather than in my suite and was so pleased I did. The coffee machines were broken when I first arrived but had been repaired within 10 minutes, it was Four Seasons. I got food from the buffet and was blown away by the flavours of the cold meats and sausages. The whole offering was of such high quality, staff perfectly attentive and this dry aged steak restaurant makes a great space for breakfast. Tulio even came for another chat with me, on his way to the gym. The Mansion Friend & Twitter Follower Theresia had asked about the interior of the Mansion and so I went to 'investigate' this after breakfast. It is an incredible building and a fantastic venue for a glamorous party. Postcards & Handwritten Thank You Notes I spent my final morning at Four Seasons Buenos Aires writing thank you notes & postcards, while sipping a refreshing cocktail. I think handwritten thank you notes are so important, I just got one from my 7 year old godson in the UK and it made my day, on my busy first day back at work in Cayman Islands. I ended the morning switching to a double espresso, because of the cold wind after my swim. Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy At check out Tulio came for a 'last' chat and I almost felt emotional about leaving the hotel, with the staff making you feel so quickly at home. I got a Four Seasons Mercedes, with the same friendly driver as the day before, straight to Casa Cavia to meet friends for lunch. Lunch at Casa Cavia We had lunch in the garden courtyard at Casa Cavia. This is a beautiful space and perfectly protected from the cold Buenos Aires' winds, I had a divine rump beef which came with fried potatoes & mushrooms, that were also mindblowingly good. Lunch ended with creamy Creme Brûlée with tart citrus ice cream. A superb meal, in every way. A Travel Gift from Four Seasons Buenos Aires In the late afternoon I returned to the Four Seasons to collect a Four Seasons Buenos Aires branded suit bags that GM Tulio was kindly giving me as a travel gift. I admired this perfect gift over a martini at the Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt. The suit bag will be ideal for my Christmas trip, trying the First Class suites on American Airlines, and staying at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square before Christmas and Four Seasons Park Lane after Christmas. Piazzolla Tango I spent my last night in Buenos Aires at Piazzolla Tango being mesmerized by the fast tango footwork and Astor Piazzolla's hypnotic tango music. I was most thrilled by the reactions of my Uruguayan and Argentian friends to the music & songs they have known since childhood. A stupendous last night in Buenos Aires. 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - the lack of 'new bright white' Four Seasons bed linen would have lost this hotel 'teddies' but Tulio, Samantha, all the staff I met, my suite, breakfast and Buenos Aires clearly rate '7 teddies'. My tips:- make the effort to leave your suite for breakfast and go to a tango show with friends from Uruguay or Argentina. The latter will be an unforgettable experience. |  I travelled to Four Seasons Buenos Aires, from my friend's elegant apartment, in www.sifrew.com style.  General Manager Tulio was waiting to greet me in the hotel lobby and we went for a drink to get to know each other. It was so good to chat about former GM Rebeca and the Argentinian economy.  After a drink Tulio took me on a tour of the hotel to explain some of the changes since the US$49MN refurbishment. Note the lobby chandelier in the Argentine colours.  The Nuestro Secreto 'secret garden' that is a new space since I last visited and looks like an elegant venue for lunch.  The beautiful 'conservatory' by the 'secret garden', which is a grill restaurant and a vision of former GM Rebeca.  The sitting area of my 3rd floor Junior Mansion View suite was so stunning it took my breath away.  Fuit & water had been been left for me in my suite. Please note the www.sifrew.com baseball cap.  Argentine national footballer Lionel Messi is the latest member off the #travelblog www.sifrew.com 'gang', thanks to Four Seasons Buenos Aires.  The bedroom area of my Junior Mansion View suite was spacious but I was disappointed to find the 'new bright white' Four Seasons bed linen was not being used. However, I later learnt this was because of Argentine import restrictions on textiles.  The bathroom of my suite was beautiful. I later had a bath, watching TV, to 'warm up' after my swim. The next day I loved the rainforest shower with L'Occitane products. I still recall the period when foreign bath products were prohibited in Argentina.  The view of the Belle Epoque Mansion from my suite, where Madonna stayed while Evita was filmed in Buenos Aires.  The view of the Mansion from the heated pool, where I swam that evening.  The group of friends I met in the Pony Line Bar in the hotel that evening. I am so lucky to have such incredible friends around the world.  I woke the next morning to find Samantha had arranged a copy of the Weekend Financial Times for me and Ferragamo shoes I bought in Rio had been perfectly polished overnight.  This photo of the cold meat selection at breakfast in 'Elena' gives an indication of the quality of their breakfast offering.  Over breakfast I replied to emails from my friends, & family, around the world.  Friend & Twitter Follower Theresia had asked about the interior of the Mansion and so I went to have a look at this after breakfast.  This photo gives an idea of the elegance, and quirky decoration, inside the Mansion.  I spent my final morning at Four Seasons Buenos Aires writing thank you notes & postcards admiring the Four Seasons Buenos Aires repair to Issy's Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square's hat, while sipping a refreshing cocktail. I later switched to a double espresso because of the cold wind after my swim!  The polished macassar ebony lobby reception desk that I admired during check out.  I left in as much style as I arrived, with another Mercedes. You can just spot the 5 horse sculpture by Vivienne Duchini on the lawn at the front of the hotel.  I went straight from the Four Seasons to Casa Cavia for lunch in their garden courtyard with my friends from the previous evening. This is the divine rump beef I ate with fried potatoes & mushrooms, that were mindblowingly good.  In the late afternoon I returned to the Four Seasons to collect a Four Seasons Buenos Aires branded suit bags that GM Tulio had given me as a travel gift. I admired it over a martini at the Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt.  I spent my last night in Buenos Aires at Piazzolla Tango being mesmerized by the fast tango footwork and hypnotic music and thrilled by the reactions of my Uruguayan and Argentinian friends to the familiar music & songs, which they have known since childhood. An unforgettable night. |
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