Housed in the 1902 El Porteno building on the banks of Rio De La Plata, the Faena + Universe Hotel is shrouded with historical magnetism. Like meeting an old lover, it echoes the past and promises the future. The five-star hotel is part of a grander vision for Buenos Aires… the creation of a lifestyle congruent to urban living whilst maintaining the significance of the past.
The hotel’s interior was designed through a close collaboration between Philippe Starck and owner, Alan Faena. Tall crystal mirrors, imperial furniture, unicorn heads, deep red and gold velvet, and marble bathrooms are all featured lavishly throughout the hotel’s interiors. Nowhere will you find modernity so comfortably placed within tradition. On entry through the red glass doors, guests are confronted by the elegance and worldly richness of the cathedral, the hallway that leads visitors into the eighty metre-long pathway of the Universe with floor-to-ceiling etched glass windows, separated by brick and gold velvet curtains.
Notwithstanding the already opulent comforts of the hotel’s public spaces, the hotel also guarantees an extraordinary experience that extends beyond expectations. The Faena + Universe assigns guests with their own ‘Experience Manager’ who is available 24/7 to cater to their every wish and whim, acting as butler, PA and concierge. If guests can be enticed out of the Faena +
Universe they will be delighted by the city’s diverse cultural offerings. Due to the 2001 economic crisis, everything is temptingly
affordable. Palermo Viejo barrio features Argentina’s coolest independent designers including the boho-chic styling of Rapsodia on Arguibel Street and Josefina Feroni on Armeni Street, which sells vintage inspired women’s shoes. Antique lovers should stroll down to Defensa Street in the San Telmo district, while art fans will be impressed by the Malba Modern Art Museum on Figueroa Alcorta. Lastly, do not leave Buenos Aires without visiting the 1858 old Café Tortoni on de Mayo Avenue. As Buenos Aires’ oldest café, its historic and lively ambience is unmissable.
www.faenaexperience.com
