Design Suites Salta

Industrial chic might sound jarring for colonial Salta, but somehow it works. The entrance makes a statement with its concrete pillars and modern art gallery vibe, softened by warm wood floors that flow into a bright, airy restaurant serving up regional specialities that have earned proper accolades. The breakfast spread gets consistent praise for going beyond the Argentine standard. There's a well-equipped gym for the disciplined, while the spa offers everything from massages to Turkish baths when you need to decompress. The wine bar knows its way around local vintages, and that rooftop pool area – complete with loungers and bar service – becomes the social hub come evening.

These aren't your typical South American hotel boxes. The 51 rooms surprise with their generous proportions, floor-to-ceiling windows, and floods of natural light that show off the modern furnishings to good effect. Wooden floors add warmth to the contemporary aesthetic, while the corner suites steal the show with their dual-aspect city views. Bathrooms come properly equipped with jetted tubs positioned to make the most of those views (yes, really), rainfall showers, and enough space to actually move around. Free WiFi that actually works, minibars, and individual climate control tick the practical boxes, though the modern design means sound insulation between rooms could be better.

Location is everything here – you're a five-minute stroll from Plaza 9 de Julio and all of Salta's colonial showpieces. The Museum of High Altitude Archaeology (those Inca mummies are extraordinary) sits practically on your doorstep, while the cable car up Cerro San Bernardo starts about ten minutes away on foot. Calle Balcarce's restaurant and bar scene provides evening entertainment without needing transport. The hotel arranges day trips to the dramatic Calchaquí Valleys, the wine region of Cafayate, or the cloud-piercing Train to the Clouds. They'll sort airport transfers and car rentals, though honestly, most of central Salta's highlights are walkable from here. That said, don't expect an activities desk – this is very much a city hotel where you make your own adventures.