Hotel del Casco

Rooms

The house's 12 original rooms are perfectly preserved in all their grand proportions and in their stylish furnishings. There are 10 rooms leading off the central courtyard and a further 2 upstairs. From high ceilings (naturally cool in the hot summer months) hang crystal chandeliers, catching the light which flows in. Walls of exposed brick contrast with great slabs of colour, while old paintings and tapestries speak of the house’s history. Tall windows are dressed with flowing muslin, and impeccable white Egyptian cotton bed linen adorns the very comfortable kingsize or twin beds.

Bathrooms are beautiful: roll-top baths, walk-in showers, and immaculately restored traditional sinks in old washstands, laden with the hotel’s toiletries. The effect is classical and luxurious without being ostentatious.

Across the courtyard at the back are 8 more rooms. These are all suites, hugely spacious, with their own sitting areas and the same elegant 1900s design as the main house. First-floor suites have balconies, and all have garden views.

The design of the house, with its impressive central patio and another stylish terrace at the back, offers plenty of places for you to sit and read, eat breakfast or drink tea. The rear patio has black wrought-iron furniture, creating a classic feel against the cream walls and terracotta tiled floor, with abundant greenery. The sense of space gives privacy, and this is what makes del Casco so relaxing.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

You may be reluctant to leave your comfortable room, but a fine breakfast awaits you. This is usually eaten in a quaint plant-filled conservatory opposite the rear patio to the accompaniment of trickling water from a pretty old fountain, but you can take it where you like - or even order breakfast in bed, if you prefer. Good coffee is made to order, and there’s a fine range of teas (albeit in bags). Fresh juices, a lavish fruit salad and a really impressive array of cakes and pastries may take you some time, so allow yourself an hour to linger. There’s also ham, cheese and eggs cooked to order.

Although there's no in-house restaurant, the hotel has a room service menu, which is available from 7am to midnight. Snacks and drinks are also available in the garden and lobby.

Dinner is easy, since San Isidro has plenty of fine restaurants to cater for its discerning inhabitants, many within 2-5 blocks of the hotel. Del Casco’s owner Betina recommends 2 splendid parrillas (traditional Argentine steakhouses - not to be missed) on the waterfront: Alvear Abajo and El Ombu. Ask staff in reception for directions. Closer to hand, Bar Unico on the corner near the hotel is a popular and civilised haunt and, among a whole slew of restaurants alongside the Hippodrome, Deriva serves excellent caipirinhas.

I would add my recommendation of Kansas, which claims to be an American-style grill but is actually modern Argentine, serving good steaks, excellent pasta and delicious fish in a lively brasserie atmosphere. More Argentine cuisine awaits at O’Farell on Libertador, and for an unusual setting you can’t beat Villa Hípica, which is actually inside San Isidro’s famous Hippodrome. Watching horses being trained as you sip fine wines from an impressive list is great fun.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Buenos Aires’ many attractions lie just 30 minutes away by taxi, so browse the city's museums and art galleries (MALBA is particularly recommended) and the usual sights of the Casa Rosada and the Plaza de Mayo
  
  
• Go shopping in trendy Palermo (you're the right side of town) or explore the antique markets in San Telmo
  
  
• You’ll find plenty of entertainment in San Isidro, too. There’s a lovely long waterfront with sloping lawns going right down to the Río de la Plata and a wonderful marina. Here you can windsurf or sail (the hotel can arrange this for you), and the brave can try kitesurfing on the widest river in the world
  
  
• The river is a lovely place for a stroll or a long bike ride; you can go fishing, too
  
  
• The station in San Isidro (cross the green square at the end of the street, go down the steps in the park and it's in front of you) houses a good selection of fine handicrafts in lots of individual stalls, as well as a small selection of the classier chain shops
  
  
• San Isidro’s famed Hippodrome is a great place for a day at the races. Ask staff for directions, or to help arrange tickets
  
  
• Del Casco can arrange temporary membership at the local athletic club for guests to play tennis and other sports. There’s a fine golf course at the Jockey Club nearby, too
  
  
• Language courses can be arranged at the hotel or off site - enquire in advance

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Nightlife
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Windsurfing

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and the hotel has connecting rooms. Extra beds, baby cots and babysitting can also be arranged for little ones on request. There are no children's activities on site, so this place is perhaps best suited to babies, or older children who will appreciate the history and culture on offer in Buenos Aires.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 45 minutes (Ezeiza); 30 minutes (Jorge Newbery)
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hotel del Casco is in the historic riverside district of San Isidro, 30 minutes by taxi from downtown Buenos Aires.

By Air:
Buenos Aires has 2 airports - Ezeiza International (30km away) and the domestic airport Jorge Newbery (10km away; also known as Aeroparque). For a list of airlines serving them please click on the links below.

From the Airport
A taxi from Ezeiza takes about 45 minutes. The journey time from Jorge Newbery is about 30 minutes. The hotel can arrange a transfer on request, or you can take a radio taxi (go to the desks inside the arrivals halls).

By Bus:
If you're travelling within Argentina, you can book a long-distance bus to Buenos Aires' Retiro bus station (not as uncomfortable as it sounds as long as you book the cama and cama completa services, which recline to 160 and 180 degrees respectively), then take a taxi.

By Car:
Most visitors prefer not to hire a car as the city is congested. However, if you want a vehicle for exploring the wider region, see our car rental recommendations. There is a garage at the hotel with parking for all guests.

Getting Around:
Taxis are the quickest way of reaching central Buenos Aires, but you can also use the Línea Mitre commuter railway, which has services every 10 minutes or so (the journey time is around 35 minutes). Both this line and the more scenic Tren de la Costa also have services to Tigre.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Argentina and getting around.