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One of the more modern and luxurious areas in Buenos Aires is Puerto Madero, previously the old city port. It has since been decommissioned and is surrounded by restaurants, open-air bars, and lively nightlife. ere is also a restored nature reserve and park area nearby which is a great place to bring a book and take in the fresh air. Puerto Madero is also the location of the SLS Puerto Madero, a five-star hotel that features stunning views of the waterway, preserved industrial architecture, and red brick warehouse buildings. e SLS Puerto Madero serves as an oasis in this oen bustling city. Designed by renowned architect Piero Lissoni, the hotel opened last May and is the eighth property under the SLS brand. All 58 suites and 134 rooms are designed in a modern contemporary style. Warm wooden floors, sunlight, and contrasting shades of gray in the bathroom add depth and comfort to the sleek and spacious rooms. e hotel offers a number of convenient features like kitchenettes equipped with a dishwasher and stocked with wine, glasses, and snacks. e king-sized bed sits on a platform frame, and the bathroom has a roomy vanity and a walk-in shower room with a tub. To start your day, the hotel offers a wide array of breakfast options, including a large charcuterie spread, decadent pastries, fruit, yogurt, fresh coffee, freshly squeezed juice, and other options including an egg, spinach, and cheese omelet. Breakfast is held on the second-floor dining area which also serves dinner in the evening, and has an open outdoor space with views for guests to enjoy the sun, a breeze, and surrounding greenery. e chic lobby is covered in marbled black stone and features stunning artwork and sculptures. e hotel also features a gym, an indoor pool, and a spa. e SLS Puerto Madero is the best place to kick up your feet aer a long day spent exploring the city. ere are plenty of activities to enjoy near Puerto Madero; it is only about a ten-minute drive to one of Buenos Aires' active ports. ere, visitors can take a gorgeous sunset boat ride along the Rio de la Plata with an open bar and quick bites, offered by a boating company called Rumbertom. ere is also the company Sturla Viajes that offers round-trip boat rides to Tigre, a town that lies an hour north of the city and is an escape for city dwellers looking to enjoy water activities and a respite from Buenos Aires proper. Tigre is also the entry point to the rivers and wetlands of the vast Paraná Delta. Here, visitors can walk along the riverside esplanade, which is lined with restaurants and stunning views, and eventually leads to the Museo de Arte Tigre (Tigre Art Museum). e museum was originally built in 1912 as a club to accompany the neighboring Tigre Hotel, which was torn down in 1940. Due to the Great Depression and strict gambling laws, the club closed and was abandoned until 1979 when it was declared a national monument. In 2006, aer extensive renovation and restoration, the former club reopened as an art museum and now displays stunning features like elaborate light fixtures, grand crown molding, ornate cast iron doors, ceiling artwork, and large, detailed stained glass windows and winding staircases. It also features a sprawling second- story outdoor deck with views of the river. Right behind the museum is an open-air flea market that has become a popular attraction for locals and international visitors alike. is quiet, peaceful town is very well worth a day trip. Visitors to Buenos Aires should also make sure to allocate time for a tour of Teatro Colón. Inaugurated in 1908, it is widely considered one of the top five opera houses in the world due to its spectacular acoustics; the theater's shows are oen sold out months in advance. If getting tickets to a show becomes too big of a challenge, the theater also offers one-hour daily tours where a guide walks groups through the grand entrance, to the private boxes and mezzanine seating, and allows group members to test out the acoustics with claps or shouts. Even the slightest sound travels throughout the entire theater clearly. Performers do not use microphones or audio because the acoustic sound reverberates to every corner of the theater. Teatro Colón is also near many more sights so from there, it's pretty easy to find a big yellow hop-on, hop-off bus kiosk and grab tickets for a ride. Tickets last twenty-four hours and are a great way to see every major spot in the city in three hours or less. As evening approaches, Rooop Cielo, a rooop bar in the Hotel Gran Brizo, is a great place to grab pre-dinner drinks with spectacular sunset views. On weekends, the bar hosts live music nights and is a hot spot to mingle and make new friends. VUE ON | TRAVEL VUENJ.COM 59

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