Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Buenos Aires! This sunny, seaside city in eastern Argentina is known worldwide for its amazing international culture, party havens, and laidback atmosphere, and you can bet your bottom dollar that that reputation carries over to its notoriety with queer travelers as well.
The Paris of South America is seductive, intriguing, beautiful, and almost impossible to leave once you’ve arrived. Even searching for gay hotels in Buenos Aires is an enjoyable adventure, thanks to the wide, greatly varied accommodation options that the colorful and welcoming attitude of the city has given birth to!
One of the first things that one notices about the accommodation scene in Buenos Aires is that the ratings of local hotels are high and consistent, which is even more true when it comes to locations catering to queer people.
The truth is that Buenos Aires is one of the biggest gay hubs in Latin America, and no matter how long you spend here, you will always find something new about its gay side to surprise and delight you!
After all, the city was the first in the entire country of Argentina to host rallies supporting LGBTQ+ rights and continues to host the annual March of Pride in honor of its local and surrounding queer population. Buenos Aires’ dedication to gay matters of importance and even good old enjoyment and freedom is clear, queer, and open for all to enjoy!
Despite what it’s most famous for, Buenos Aires isn’t limited to being just a beach and resort paradise. The city’s nightlife is nothing short of electric, and queer bars, clubs, and hangout spots can be found in just about every corner of its 48 officially designated neighborhoods.
Regions such as the Palermo Soho district are densely packed with queer locations of interest, including some of the world’s largest and most active queer bars!
Even given that there are quite a few specifically gay-orientated locations in Buenos Aires, a good disclaimer never hurt anybody, and as such, it’s still time for our usual two cents of advice. Although there are some truly wonderful places in the world for queer people to explore, with Buenos Aires being one of them, things that appeal to gay travelers aren’t always necessarily marketed toward them.
We know that, and therefore we’d like to note that the hotels on this list follow the same logic. Most of them have been listed as accommodating, friendly, and unjudgmental to, for, and by queer people in general, as well as being highly rated in general.
So, if you’re ready to make your first steps into the southern, richly cultured beach metropolis that is Buenos Aires, it’s time to dust off your luggage bags, pack for sun and sand, and find yourself a flight to the queer paradise of your dreams with the top eight gay hotels in Buenos Aires!
In this article we will cover...
Faena Hotel Buenos Aires
First gay hotel, first steps into the wonderful city of Buenos Aires, and our first location on this list with five stars! What a location it is, too. The appearance of the Faena is a large contributing factor towards why the hotel stands apart from its competition strongly, and also a massive plus for the accommodation experience of guests staying there.
The building that this hotel is built within used to be an industrial warehouse, but today the space has been converted into a place that blends rustic, industrial fashion tastes with an undeniable layer of flawless luxury.
Not only is the Faena itself worthy of notice, but it also includes quite a wide array of other amazing locations to check out, including its very own restaurant in the El Mercado, a cabaret club known as the Rojo Tango Show, and the Library Lounge Faena bar.
There’s also a poolside bar at the hotel known rather fittingly as the PoolBar, and this serves as but another opportunity for you to quite literally get your feet wet in wonderful Buenos Aires.
Although the Faena Hotel is located in the posh and more highbrow Puerto Madero district, which is a few minutes walk away from the central Palermo Soho district that we spoke about earlier, there are more than enough local attractions to keep you occupied during your holiday, and more than enough sources of public transportation nearby to get you where you need to be without a second of worry.
On top of that, the wide range of attached locations and nightlife hotspots makes the Faena’s energy no joke whatsoever, and as such, you hardly even have to leave the hotel to mingle with like-minded people and to enjoy your hotel to the absolute fullest at a bouncing, colorful location.
Lugar Gay de Buenos Aires
It isn’t often that we get to review a specifically queer location in such a wonderful city, but one should never look a gift horse in the mouth, and as such, it brings us great pleasure to be able to present the homely, much-loved Lugar Gay de Buenos Aires.
Marketing itself as a gay-specific bed and breakfast with ‘because gay friendly is just not enough’ as its motto, this homely, all-boxes-ticked bed and breakfast is the perfect first landing spot for a queer person in Buenos Aires and is sure to be the site of a new set of amazing memories.
The Lugar Gay de Buenos Aires’ service reputation is nothing short of spotless, and the extensive amount of positive reviews that the hotel has acquired on all major platforms is an easy testament to this fact. There’s even a free breakfast on offer for the inn’s guests, and it’s only a few minutes walk to the nearest transport hub if you’re looking to widen your scope.
The only potentially negative aspect about this hotel is that it is specifically men-only, which could be a bit of a point of restriction of tension depending upon which kind of travel unit you’re moving with, be it as a couple or even alone.
Despite this fact, if that isn’t a problem for you, then there’s nothing quite like knowing that you are fully accepted and will be given all the space and privacy that you need while staying somewhere, and it is with this factor that the Lugar Gay de Buenos Aires truly excels.
Gay-catering accommodation is rare to see around the world, and although it’s a little more common in Buenos Aires than in some other cities, it is still a gift that should not be discarded lightly.
Le Petit Palais
Built within the renovated and expanded hull of a 20th-century townhouse that has seen many generations of wealthy families use it as their private residence, the Le Petit Palais continues this tradition by giving a sense of exquisite welcome to its modern guests.
It may seem strange to have a location with such a French-seeming name in Buenos Aires, but this more international taste is anything but lost on the affordable yet expansively luxurious form of the Le Petit Palais. This cozy, casual hotel holds its three stars with pride and has long been dedicated to exhibiting a spotless service reputation and attention to detail that is missed sorely by other locations of its size and budget.
Although it may not be as close to the seafront as some other options here, it makes up for that by having a more central position in the bayside district and, therefore, a stronger connection to the best eateries, touristic locations and popular hangouts.
The Le Petit Palais is located just a minute’s walk away from the Palermo Soho that we spoke about at the beginning of this list, and as such, guests to this hotel are granted almost unparalleled access to Buenos Aires’ gay heart.
The rooms of the Le Petit Palais are benefited strongly from their separate en suite bathrooms, balconies, separate seating areas, and the fact that the hotel is located within perfect distance of the sea, which affords many windows with direct ocean views.
Although this hotel is certainly a base for the unfussy who would like to explore Buenos Aires and get fully immersed in the city’s nightlife, it has to be said that for a practical location, this hotel is truly something better than you would expect.
Four Seasons Buenos Aires
This list has quite a few middling budgets and more practical options on it, and therefore it’s about time for a real home run of a location – one that truly screams top-shelf gay hotel and delivers on accommodation specialties that you didn’t even need you needed or would enjoy until you checked in. At this moment, in this wonderful city, that hotel is the Four Seasons Buenos Aires.
Although having a Four Seasons location on this list may seem a little odd after we’ve been through such a healthy contrast of queer-specific and luxury hotels already, it must be said that this is no normal Four Seasons location by any means.
It boasts a full five stars for starters, which is something that just about no other member of the franchise in Buenos Aires’ corner of the world can claim on, and if you don’t believe that, perhaps its staggering ratio of positive reviews will persuade you of the Four Seasons Buenos Aires’ merit.
The hotel is home to the authentic Argentinian restaurant Nuestro Secreto, its very own separate lounge, and a spa facility that is so large and well-outfitted that it takes up different building space and amenities from the Hotel altogether.
The plaza that stands out in front of the hotel’s main entrance and welcomes you into its arms is truly beautiful, as is the surrounding neighborhood.
The surrounding blocks and streets are well-known members of the Retiro district, so if you’re looking for the art and general international cultural center of the city, then you’ve found the perfect place to spend your days immersing yourself in the highbrow edge of what makes Buenos Aires special and different from the other cities that you’ve traveled to in the past.
LGY Bed & Breakfast
If the name doesn’t give it away immediately, we’re more than happy to fill in the blanks and introduce the second gay-specific hotel on this list in the LGY Bed and Breakfast!
Although this location – much like the other inns and bed and breakfast establishments on this list – may not have the same strong online presence as the chain hotels we’ve presented so far, and though that may seem a little unappealing in this intensely digital age, these hotels have existed for many years, and are worth leaping for.
If in doubt, check out any of their official listings on booking and bed and breakfast sides, and check out the swarms of positive reviews!
If you’re looking for an accommodation experience that highlights the queer energy of the city and allows you to feel truly at home with yourself and your significant other (if you’re traveling as a pair, of course!), then this is without a doubt the place for you, tied closely with the Lugar Gay de Buenos Aires earlier on this list.
The San Telmo neighborhood that the LGY Bed and Breakfast find itself in is known best for its Bohemian vibes and its attachment to the Río Darsena Sur that runs through the very center of the semi-detached island-like part of the city that borders up against the ocean.
Tourist locations come by the dozen in the nearby streets, including – closest of all – the Palacio Barolo landmark and its surrounding artistic region. The clubs and bars of the Palermo Soho district also aren’t far away, and movement shouldn’t be a problem for those looking to reach out into the city’s heart and experience the very best of what Buenos Aires has to offer.
Luco Recoleta
Simple, lovable, and affordable – all of those things describe the Luco Recoleta right down to its very essence. Although it’s one of the more ‘budget’ offerings on this list, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Luco Recoleta is equally as useful as every other location we’ve been through so far.
It may not be fancy or particularly luxurious, but the location retails a modest three stars and manages to put every one of them to work. What is there works very well, and if you’re looking for a safe, friendly gay hotel to base your travels through the city, this is the place for you.
The true high point of the Luco Recoleta is that it is located on one of the busiest streets in its half of the city, and this puts it right in the center of just about anything that you could want to eat, buy, or visit, and a wide selection of excellent hangout spots where you can meet other queer people and travelers in general.
The Luco Recoleta calls the Palermo Soho district home, and as such, every compliment and piece of advice we gave at the beginning of this article applies to this hotel as well, including the major plusses of the nearby queer bars and clubs.
If you’re not looking to go adventuring at night or even during the day, however, you’ll be glad to learn that the Luco Recoleta has its dining services and a cozy place to dig down, thanks to its private dining room. There’s also a breakfast served for all guests every morning, so you can feel certain that you won’t have to search far for the perfect boost to get your day going.
SuMa Recoleta Hotel
How do sea views, lovely balconies, chic rooms, and daily breakfasts sound? If that catches your interest, you’ll love the SuMa Recoleta! It may be a little bit tiring to realize that we’ve gone through quite a few Bed and Breakfast listings already, and thus we feel that it’s about time for us to get to another proper hotel.
With that said, what better location to do so with than the wonderful four-star SuMa Recoleta – a luxury establishment directly between the city’s waterfront and the artistically-inclined Retiro neighborhood?
The SuMa is part of the Unique collection, which means that it has the backup of an international chain while still having a long enough leash to remain truly individual and to focus on the needs of local trends, guests, and communities such as nearby LGBTQ+ hotspots.
The SuMa Recoleta hotel is also the only location on this entire list to explicitly offer an airport shuttle service, so if you’re worried about how you’re going to be getting to and fro from the city’s international travel hubs and you don’t want to hire a car to make the one journey, then the SuMa is there to have your back when you most need it.
This is especially helpful thanks to the fact that this particular hotel is further from the main public transport systems than most of the other hotels on this list, although that isn’t a problem once you’re already there thanks to an overwhelmingly present number of busses and relatively cheap taxis.
There’s nothing like not having to worry about getting yourself from point A to point B during a holiday, especially when you’re in a fun-filled city of amazing sights that you’ve never had the pleasure of getting to know yet!
Mio Buenos Aires
Just as we started this list with a truly wonderful five-star gay hotel – the Faena – we will finish it off with the equally exquisite Mio Buenos Aires.
This location is the perfect cap to the exquisite collection of establishments that we’ve already had the pleasure of including in this list and is sure to be a massive hit with just about any gay tourist or holidayer, thanks to the truly exceptional level of its service quality, appearance, and amenities.
Some points of specific interest and benefit that the Mio holds close to its chest are the hotel’s inclusion of a large, comfortable, and well-outfitted pool, a fully-equipped spa space for that extra edge of relaxation, and – perhaps most impressive and impactful of all – direct sea views on most of the upper suites. There’s also a fitness center for those looking to maintain their workout schedule!
The individual rooms and the public spaces of the Mio Buenos Aires are some of the best-designed in the entire city by far, both when it comes to hotels and other types of locations altogether, and some suites even come with separate living rooms and hot tubs in their bathrooms to make your accommodation experience that bit more luxurious than it already was.
Suppose you’re looking to tuck into some authentic Argentinian cuisine while you’re staying in Buenos Aires while staying at the Mio. In that case, you don’t have to look further than the hotel’s very own in-house restaurant, the RUFINO Argentino, which is just as highly rated as the place of the accommodation itself.
All of these factors and much more work together in perfect harmony to propel the Mio to the level of fame and reliability that it enjoys today and also to give it a position of pride on this list.
Gay Hotel Map Of Buenos Aires
Feeling a bit lost while planning your journey to Buenos Aires? No worries, darling! Our detailed LGBTQ+ tailored map is here to guide you. We’ve pinpointed all the vibrant gay-friendly bars, exhilarating clubs, extravagant parties, cozy hotels, relaxing saunas, and soothing massage parlors to ensure you find the perfect spot.
And these aren’t just any spots; we’re talking about the creme de la creme of locations in the heart of the city’s vibrant gay scene. Think panoramic views, easy access to nightlife, and all the amenities to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
But hold on to your feather boas! These hot spots are fabulous; they vanish quicker than a drag queen’s five o’clock shadow. Don’t delay; book now to secure the best deals and locations. Remember, the early bird catches the best deals in Buenos Aires! So, pack your rainbow flag, and get ready to experience the ultimate gay-friendly holiday in Buenos Aires.
