1555 MALABIA HOUSE

Stayed here for one night with a friend and wished we could have stayed longer. Perfect location in the heart of Palermo. The staff were lovely and very helpful. Courtyard and rooms are beautifully decorated, the hotel has real character. The rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. Breakfast was the highlight- fresh fruit, yoghurts, pastries and freshly made crêpes with dulce de leche. There's freshly made tea and coffee available all day and a good mini bar with wine in the room. We thought it was great value for money, I would recommend to anyone wishing to stay in Palermo.

This is not an easy review for me, let me tell you my experience. I've came from 3 weeks travelling all around Argentina staying in many many different kind of hotels and hostels, from budget to more expensive and so on, all booked on booking.com Our last stop before going back to Europe was Buenos Aires where we've stayed already a few days when arriving in the beginning but in another hotel. I've booked Malabia House because I like the location Palermo Soho and because the reviews, awards, description and photos seemed very charming and nice. We've booked the "Modern Double Room" type which you can check on the different photos of the property look beautiful and bright, big beds, fairly new and well maintained. Well, upon our arrival we were brought into a room on ground floor with no windows, just big old doors with glass windows which of course need to be covered as it's facing the corridor where people are passing by, so a very dark and oppressing feel and a tiny (tiny, tiny) bathroom which needs a lot of renovation. (see my picture) It had nothing, absolutely nothing compared to what you see on the property images online, actually that room wasn't even listed on all the 14 images on their page. (I know you can't always count on pictures online, but I haven't had such a disappointment on booking before to be honest). We were both shocked and frustrated although we usually are not pretentious and can easily adapt to situations. But honestly, with the prices of Malabia this was just NOT ok. So we explained to the receptionist that we would like to cancel the booking because there was only another room available but with a bathroom on the corridor (!), but she told us to wait until 3 in the afternoon because only then there would be someone being able to make decisions. So basically we lost the half day of our 3 days sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires, as we tried to find another hotel in the area. But not knowing if we would have been able to cancel without paying the whole amount, we couldn't do nothing than accepting the situation for the moment and wait. In the afternoon a very friendly staff told us we would be able to cancel the booking but we would need to stay one night.. That of course was a nice way to meet half way, but not a cool and comfy solution. In the end we stayed one night and changed the next day into a room which apparently was brighter on the first floor. When we changed the next morning we saw that it was basically identically to the room downstairs... just a tiny bit more light coming from the interior ceiling window in the stairway hall outside. Ha. Also this room the bathroom was super tiny, and the sink actually was in the room. Both rooms we've stayed in were very noisy, you can hear everything and neighbours even snoring, and specially the cleaning lady being quite noisy or on the phone early morning. Overall the staff though was very very friendly and courteous, the breakfast was nice (although we really missed some eggs) and until 12 which was great! One of the staff members told us the story of the house which basically was a women convent many many years ago until the actual owner bought it and made renovations and turned it into a Hotel. The interior of the Hotel is charming indeed, a mix of antique and design styles, but again, it's all inside, you cannot see outside. But inside the hotel facilities it really doesn't bother, ceilings are very high, the common living rooms (2) are very nice, and there is a tiny little garden in a tiny little courtyard where you can have your breakfast.

We felt so welcome and comfortable in Malabia House: super nice staff, well appointed rooms in fantastic historical old house in Palermo, and wonderful breakfast in the lovely garden (great crepes with dulce de leche, Maria!). What else we can say, we'll be back for sure when in Buenos Aires, thanks!!!

The location of this hotel is perfect. The room left something to be desired. The double bed was just 2 twins pushed together. Not really comfortable, but not terrible. Because this is a unique botique hotel, the room we were in was most likely not the best of the bunch. The bathroom was the size of a closed and the shower was almost too small to get into. Also, there was no window in the room which was unsettling. I would suggest asking which room you are in.

Perfect spot to explore Palermo, especially with our front room with the balcony! Breakfast included in the morning with a very kind staff, including delicious homemade crepes with dulce de leche! As a note, bathrooms are separate from the rooms but easy and clean. Made our trip to Buenos Aires feel very special and authentic, as if we were apart of the neighborhood!