The Hotel Madero by Sofitel is located in the newly reborn docklands of the Puerto Madero. The Hotel is ultra - modern with an excellent Restaurant - Red and a standard of service far better than we were expecting for the price paid. We only had a standard room but it was large with a wet - bar at one end and a small balcony at the other with a nice view of one of the docks looking towards the Madero Tango show theatre. The bathroom was large as well with wonderful toiletries. There is a large wardrobe and storage cabinet near the entrance door with a security safe. The location is in the thick of all the new Puerto Madero Restaurants so the choice of dining is amazing. From some of BsAs top Parillas to the likes of Hooters even!! We dined in the Hotel Restaurant and found it fabulous. We had the Menu Degustation where we were bought 5 courses with refreshers between the courses and a different glass of wine with each course. There was a choice of what to eat in each category and we were well pleased with the food ,wine & the service. The Breakfasts are comprehensive and offer a big selection of well prepared food. The previous reviewer mentioned soggy eggs - certainly we didnt encounter this. On a 3 1/2 week trip around Argentina staying in some upmarket Hotels this was by far the best breakfast we encountered. We found the location very convenient for San Telmo, the Microcentre and Plaza de Mayo and also it was an easy walk ( for us ) to Recoleta.
This is a pleasant new location to stay in and if you are concerned about safety in BsAs then this is the area that you will feel the safest in. We used the business centre to check e-mails and we were served Coffee, fruit juice and biscuits all complementary by the business manager - totally unexpected and very refreshing. A excellent complete hotel that is far better than many much more expensive hotels that we have stayed in.

Hotel Madero is on the other side of the renovated docklands area from the rest of Buenos Aires. If you like to walk, it's a pleasant, 10-minute walk to historic San Telmo, and an easy half-hour walk past the dockside restaurants into the city. It is in a quiet, residential location with almost no traffic, and has easy access to parks and walks along the water. There is plenty of security from naval police, and has a safer feel than the rest of the city. There are dozens of restaurants within walking distance. You're not in the thick of BA shopping or nightlife or historical sites, but taxis are cheap. A bit annoying is that the hotel is trying really hard to be young and hip--they play contemporary tango music in the elevators, and the restaurant plays lounge music at breakfast--Morcheeba, Coldplay, and Dido CDs on rotation--which is annoying; who wants the Buddha Bar at 8 am? I would think the design and everpresent music might make some older travelers feel uncomfortable. The breakfast buffet is extensive, but the same every single day--we stayed 12 nights and i couldn't look at the soggy eggs anymore. Sebastian the concierge is excellent, maybe the most helpful I have met in 100's of hotels around the world. The furniture is two steps up from IKEA, but same style, and the rooms are very white-and-wood and sparsely decorated; think good service apartment, not luxurious (though they have great toiletries). We faced inwards; I suspect a view of the docks would be better. The pool is fine, but much smaller than it looks online. For a basic suite with an eating area and microwave, this was the best price we found in any of the top hotels we contacted.

Dear Travellers,

Please beware of robberies that could occurr during your stay at Sofitel Puerto Madero five star Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina !!!!!

Just one month ago, during a business trip, I was robbed one of my two SUITCASES from my hotel room, located on the 7th floor.

The Duty Manager of the hotel did not support at all, neither took the hotel any responsibility for the robbery (actually they are "probably" still...investigating!!!). The suitcase was locked, so the thief probably thought that something precious was stored inside.

I denounced to the local police the theft, but do not think it will at all help....

In conclusion: beware even if the hotel claims to be safe. This is a five star hotel, part of the international chain Sofitel-Accor. Nevertheless...The hotel policy in case of this kind of theft should be clear. I was unable to get a single word on the hotel's policy, the duty manager was good in "keeping mouth shut"!!! The hotel staff tried to avoid the involvement of the police and reacted badly to me when the police arrived with the denouncement.

I stayed here overnight courtesy of Delta airlines and a voluntary bump.

The hotel is all shiny, new and modern. Sort of minimalist. The lobby and other public areas including piscina and terrazas are very nice.

The room was a corner room and seemed large. Hardwood floors, flat-screen TV, average-sized bathroom, in-room safe, king-size bed (very firm). Every room has a balcony as I understand it; ours looked out away from the dique and onto a park/intersection/street. The room was about the nicest I've ever stayed in... but that may not say much. I tend not to spend much on lodging. It's definitely geared towards business travelers and chic tourists, and there was a lot of English and some Portuguese being spoken by the guests.

The food was pretty disappointing. I may not splurge for hotel rooms, but I know my food. The breakfast buffet was pretty nice, with some decent licuados, fresh-squeezed juices, lots of fruit (fresh and canned), baked goods (medialunas, etc). The buffet lunch at 70 ARD per person was less impressive. We ordered room service and were disappointed - all the food overcooked, with strange flavors and the worst steak we had had in two weeks in-country. In Argentina, that's a sin. It was all edible, but not what we expected given the quality of the environment and the prices.

The location is pretty darn boring. You're too far from anything to walk, with the exception of a weekend stroll, for which the diques are pretty good and there are lots of locals and tourists strolling around. Dinner in the Puerto Madero area will probably require a cab, and will be very expensive (relatively) and very nice. There is no nearby subte.

Overall, I wouldn't stay here again. It was just too far from the excitement of the Retiro/Microcentro areas, from the nightlife and hipness of Palermo, and from the stateliness of Recoleta.