The building itself is a 1930’s mansion in Palmero Soho (Buenos Aires’ garden district), but the interior has been lovingly restored, updated, and modernized. There are only six rooms, so — while the place has many of the comforts of a larger hotel, including free WiFi and fierce air conditioning — the atmosphere of the hotel is congenial and intimate.
Clyde and I stayed in two different rooms: 3 and 6. Both bedrooms featured small balconies and were spacious, but Room 6 incorporated an unusually luxurious bath, complete with a skylight. (Showering under sunlight, with the steam rising around you, is a great way to start the day.)
Another big plus for these rooms: they’re at the back of the hotel. While there is very little street noise — the Mira Vida is fronted by a tiny wedge of park space — these rooms look out over the hotel’s courtyard and are especially quiet.
If you’re the sort of person who needs lots of space, there’s always Room 3, where we parked the nephews for the week. In addition to the bedroom and bath, Room 3 incorporates a sitting area with a sleeper sofa and great views of the street.
The hotel itself is exquisitely appointed, with polished wood accents, etched glass panels, fresh flowers in the lobby, and an excellent restaurant and wine bar on the property. The real appeal of the Mira Vida, though, is the staff. Jim, the creator and owner — for now, anyway — is obsessively dedicated to delighting his guests. In the basement of the Mira Vida, he’s sequestered away a huge wine collection; during the afternoons, he’s eager to share samples with guests (and, if you’re big into wine, he can arrange a tasting party).
Jim really cares — about you, about the Mira Vida, about Buenos Aires — so he goes out of his way to provide all the little things you need to feel at home, from cookies and cold drinks when you arrive to hair dryers, fans, and voltage converters in the rooms.
Nigel and Nadia, the front desk staff you’re most likely to see (due to their schedules) are enormously helpful. These two know the neighborhood inside and out, and, again and again, they scored us last-minute reservations for a party of eight at all of the best local restaurants. If Nigel and Nadia send you somewhere … go!
One personal note: our stay included New Year’s Eve, when most non-locals are forced to pay big bucks to file into crowded, over-priced venues for mediocre, mass-produced dinners. Instead, we stuck around at the Mira Vida, where Jim cracked open several bottles of wine and champagne, Nigel cooked a delicious lamb, and Nadia helped create a sweet, intimate dinner experience that no restaurant in town could have surpassed.
If I had to pick one aspect of the Mira Vida that could bear some improvement, it would be the breakfasts (which are, nicely, included with the room). Don’t get me wrong — the French toast, the eggs and Canadian bacon with potatoes, and the yogurt parfait are all delicious! But by our fourth or fifth morning of the same menu choices, I was craving a little more variety. (If your stay is short, this won’t be an issue, of course.)
We loved the Mira Vida — and you will, too. But if you’re going, you should hurry, because with Trip Advisor and every other website in the universe ranking the Mira Vida higher and higher … and with Jim considering selling the joint … this little oasis of perfection in the heart of BA may not be accessible for long.
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