Azur Real was a great home base for our visit to Cordoba, and quite possibly our favorite hotel…read morefrom our entire trip! For the same price as a basic, no-frills chain motel back home, we got a clean, modern room in a stylish hotel with plenty of amenities and very attentive service. The location is very near the central historic area and the Jesuit block, so you're in walking distance of many attractions.
There are two entrances to this hotel: one with an elevator, and one guests-only entrance via stairs that requires you to be buzzed in. Beyond the front desk, the large lobby area has some nice couches and tables, coffee table books to browse and art to look at, and a small bar (we were told this opens in the evenings for drinks, but never actually saw anyone staffing it). A central courtyard leads off to more rooms and suites, and you go outside and upstairs to access the breakfast room, restaurant, and roof deck with tiny pool.
Our room was #5, which I don't recommend because it was RIGHT off the front desk, as in you open the door and the front desk is right there. We could clearly hear conversations that took place at the front desk, and although it didn't wake us up in the mornings, it was noticeable and also made us wonder how private our own conversations were. So especially if you're looking for a romantic getaway, #5 can be a little awkward.
Otherwise, the room was spacious and stylishly furnished with dark wood fixtures, a vanity area outside the bathroom, and a small fridge and desk. Housekeeping was very enthusiastic about making up our bed and offering pillow menus, but you do have the option to reuse linens to conserve water. The blackout curtains kept out light very well and made it a cozy cave for sleeping. Wi-fi was free but somewhat weak, and we kept having to switch back and forth between hotspots to get the stronger signal.
Breakfast is served upstairs in a dining room separate from the restaurant. There is a selection of bread and pastries, fruit, cold cuts and cheese, yogurt, juices, and coffee and tea. They even have yerba mate in personal mugs if you want to give it a try! I wasn't sure how to do it, so an employee kindly showed me how. The cook will make bacon and eggs to order if you request it, and I recommend trying the bacon at least once, because it's very thick and hammy and not like American-style bacon. While it wasn't the largest spread we've seen, it was generous and filling, and a good value to have one meal of the day taken care of.
Also upstairs is the roof deck, a small workout room, bathrooms, and the pool. We didn't end up using the splash pool, which is about the size of a hot tub, and not big enough to actually swim in. It's probably best for cooling off in the afternoons or for kids to play in. However, the roof deck is spacious and comfortable, with lounges and chairs, and it's a great place to bring up a bottle of wine or some snacks and hang out for a while. The spa is downstairs and you can book massages and facials -- I didn't try it, but the prices looked good, such as a 60-minute hot stone massage for AR$350 (about half what I'd pay back home).
The front desk was always staffed (everyone spoke very good English) and they were all very helpful, with good recommendations for everything from local restaurants to laundry. They recommended the nearby parrilla Solar de Tejeda, which was one of our favorite meals of the whole trip, so we were grateful for that! Overall, an outstanding value and a hotel that I'd definitely recommend for visitors to Cordoba.
