Aurelio Apart

They let me leave my luggage several hours before check-in without charging extra, which I really appreciated. The location is excellent and the apartment is quiet. The studio is spacious, but dark, with decor straight out of the 90s. At least the temperature was comfortable, with the heating coming on at 11 PM. The kitchen had plenty of equipment, though not even a welcome teabag, nothing at all 😂 The complimentary shampoo and soap are tiny, and there’s no toothpaste. The bed was okay but a bit saggy. Water pressure was poor, so showers were lukewarm.

We used to come often, mainly for the menu and the chef, but the management has been completely unprofessional. They don’t seem to know how to handle discounts, and the reservation rules change: one weekend they say you need a reservation, the next it’s first come, first served. Plenty of people end up in the same bind. At 1:52 PM there were several tables empty since 1 PM, while people without reservations waited at the entrance and were turned away. When we left at 2:05 PM, there were 21 empty chairs on the terrace and many more inside.

The breakfast was generous, and there’s a café and restaurant downstairs. Reception staff were very friendly. The studio was spacious, with a living area and kitchenette, and the hotel is well located close to the center.

The staff serving meals were the brightest part of my stays, especially Zenaida López, who was attentive and eager to help. The building looks cared for, the location is convenient, parking indoors is very spacious, and the rooms are roomy, warm, and have comfortable beds with free-to-air TV. The lounge was fine in general, though a motor in the next room made a constant, irritating noise that kept students from concentrating. I wouldn't ask for the Raulí lounge. Food was the weakest part for me. The breakfast buffet had little variety and not much of anything, and the scrambled eggs came in tiny bowls. At lunch, my hamburger and plain fries were mostly well prepared, but the burger had bits of fat and gristle. For nearly $14,000, I expect better meat, ideally tartare. The lighting in the room was so poor I couldn't work on my computer. When I asked the receptionist for a lamp, they just said that was the hotel's lighting and there were no lamps, without trying to help. I ended up tying the curtain back to get more daylight and turning the TV toward my computer, which was a pain. The sink was clogged too, and the water kept swinging between very hot and very cold, so I couldn't get a steady temperature. On my second and third visits I was given the same room. After I complained, they moved me, and the difference was astonishing. It was frustrating to see that the first room was dark, badly located, and had a completely blocked sink, as the video shows. That's a disgrace for a hotel like this. I'd recommend the place if these problems were fixed, but not if they stay as they are. There are better options nearby. The waiters were friendly and helpful, though.