An Unforgettable Sunset from Recoleta’s Pioneering Rooftop: The Alvear Hotel
While Buenos Aires boasts a growing number of rooftop bars offering views of La plata and the luminous haze of colonia, or the city’s impressive architectural landscape, one rooftop stands apart: that of the Alvear Hotel, the absolute pioneer of this trend in the region, even before it was a trend.
[Image of The rooftop of the Alvear Hotel – Kindness]
Two Different Sunsets, the Same Glamour
The story began in the first decades of the 20th century. Businessman Rafael de Miero and his wife, Enriqueta Monsegur, seized a unique opportunity to build a hotel when an economic crisis forced the Dose family to sell land near their mansion, now located on Avenida Alvear. The area quickly became populated with splendid residences, providing the perfect setting for the hotel de Miero envisioned – a ship built in the academic style, decorated with furniture from the luises period and all the trappings of the French Belle Epoque, catering to a European clientele.
The terrace was integral to this vision from the start. Inaugurated in 1932 as the Roof Garden of the Alvear Hotel, it quickly became the scene of social gatherings, dances, and aristocratic events, embodying the golden age of Argentina’s “fat cow” era.
[image of The different sunsets seen from the terrace – Kindness]
[Image of The bar is open from wednesday to Sunday on the eleventh floor.- Kindness]
Enhanced and rebranded as the Alvear Roof Bar, the space reopened in 2015, meticulously preserving its original spirit. Featuring splendid pergolas and steps reminiscent of a mansard roof, the bar is divided into two distinct areas connected by an elegant corridor. One side, overlooking Alvear and Ayacucho, offers close-up views of neighboring architecture, including the façade of the only building designed by Francisco Salamone in the city, built on the site of the former Dose Palace. The other side, facing Posadas and ayacucho, provides a vista of planes taking off, Figueroa Alcorta Avenue and its jacaranda trees, the Faculty of Law, and beyond, the ships anchored in the port, awaiting departure. The truly epiphanic moment arrives at sunset,a unique postcard view made possible by the relative lack of tall buildings obstructing the horizon.
The Alvear Roof Bar is open from Wednesday to Sunday on the eleventh floor. The menu is concise yet effective for contemplation: classic cocktails, contemporary creations, a selection of fine wines and sparkling wines, small plates, tapas, and sushi, all accompanied by soft music and hushed conversation. As the bar suggests, what more could one need?
