Faena hotel – a universe of its own

The owner Alan Faena, earned his money as a clothing designer in Buenos Aires, before he decided to spend them on establishing the hotel and an area around in Puerto Madero, to a culture area with parks, galleries and shops.

Potential

Originally El Porteño Building was an old silo, built of brick stones from Manchester in England a century ago, in what is called Belle Époque in Argentina, the great time. Alan Faena saw potential in this seven floor high building and united old and new in an exiting universe, along with Philip Starck.
The entrance to Faena Hotel + Universe is not very grandiose. It is a modest door in bricks, which leads to an overbuilt corridor between flower pots towards a 10m high double door with red glass windows. From there on the hotel is an experience.

The universe

It is like entering a fantastic world, a dark world. But when your eyes gets used to the dark, you can see details that are really special. It is like coming inside the ship in a cathedral. It is ten meters under the ceiling and an 80m long corridor, with mirrors and glass windows from the floor to the ceiling with long golden drapes. The floors are wooden with a long red carpet.

Strong contrasts

From the corridor there are glass doors leading to the different areas of the hotel. The first door on the left leads to El Mercado, one of the two restaurants. It has a totally different style than the corridor, rustic with rough wooden floors and brick walls. There are cabinets with antiques from the city area San Telmo and old photographs. There is an open kitchen where lovely croissants, pizzas and empanadas are being made over open fire and with an exit to the outdoor serving.

Red

The first door on the right leads to the swimming pool area. The pool is built in light sand stone and with an overflow. Around the pool, on a combination of teak platting and old bricks there are 36 sun beds with parasols. Along the walls are seating groups and tables for serving.

The next door on the left leads to the reception with four small desks where the staff greats you by name and keeps you informed about everything.
On the other side of the reception are two glass doors that leads to the Library Lounge, or the living room.
The whole hotel is designed with Argentina’s Belle Epoque as a theme, with a mixture of antiques and modern design products. The bar in the Library Lounge are made of tall tables put together in a line with chandeliers and candle lights.

Heaven

Everyone probably loves the restaurant in the room next to the bar as well. To enter El Bistro is like entering heaven. The whole restaurant is white, gold and a hint of red. White floors and ceilings, white leather couches, white and golden chairs and white silk wall. Red crystal is making an impression. A beautiful room and with the clever chef Mariano Cid de la Paz in the kitchen, El Bistro is worth an evening.

Sensual tango

Around ten o’clock you should swing by El Cabaret in the room next door. Also red of course. People are cheering and applauding when Rojo Tango does his great tango show.