Classic French Architecture on Defensa Street

What do you get when you couple modern luxury with historic ambiance? Our newest vacation rental has balconies overlooking the Sunday street fair on Defensa. Just two blocks away from the local farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. With a marble staircase, birdcage elevator, art nouveau stained glass windows, this gorgeous two-bedroom/two bathroom apartment is perfect for two couples visiting Buenos Aires.

Here, modern luxury is housed in an historic building. Walk in the door, and you know immediately that you are in San Telmo. When I look for apartments to add to our collection, the first criteria is that it feel like San Telmo.  And that’s what makes The Gallery so special. It feels San Telmo, even though it’s not bohemian.

View of San Telmo Street Fair on Sundays from the balcony of The Gallery.

And though, The Gallery is in Monserrat, not San Telmo, that’s a technicality and not only because it’s in Monserrat by just half a block, but because when you think of San Telmo, this place is it, albeit the higher end of it. It’s San Telmo from another era: the Belle Epoque, Argentina’s heyday.

Entering The Gallery we have the foyer and off to the side is the guest bedroom.

Black hardwood floors and crisp white linens. The foyer has double French doors to the guest bedroom. In Buenos Aires, you really don’t want to have bedrooms with windows or doors that face streets because the noise is more than most of us are used to. The bedrooms in The Gallery do not face the street.

The linens of here are top notch. Imported, crisp, clean, white linens and duvet covers over down comforters cover the beds. We look to list historic homes, not antiquated amenities.

High-end stove and a fully equipped kitchen with a breakfast nook. The kitchen itself is larger than most apartments in this area.

The kitchen, the bathrooms, the linens, the building. This apartment is dialed in. Head to the farmer’s market on Balcarce, between Chile and Mexico, to stock up on fresh produce at unbeatable prices. Bring it all back to this fabulous kitchen for an intimate dinner party with friends.

The owner of The Gallery on Defensa, Grisel and returning guests.

Or invite them over for breakfast  or mate and facturas, instead. That’s just what Grisel, the owner, did here with guests Brad and Susan that have stayed with us two years in a row. The breakfast nook is great for a cozy start of the day, or an afternoon tea with that book you promised to finish on vacation.

Comfortable living room with French doors that open to the balcony overlooking Defensa Street.

After a long day of sightseeing, tango dancing, museum visiting, and steak devouring, plop down in the living room and turn on some music or a movie or whatever floats your boat. You’re on vacation. And dinner doesn’t start until 9pm anyway.

In fact, you might want to grab some cheese and wine to tide you over until your reservations or….

Tasteful artwork and elegant furniture throughout The Gallery on Defensa.

…. cook up that amazing produce you found at the Mercado de San Telmo or the farmer’s market and sit down in the dining room for a romantic candlelit dinner.

All the way in the back, next to the kitchen, the master bedroom has a walk-in closet (with a safe) and en-suite bathroom.

Then retire to the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom. You’ll wake up in the morning ready to for another day on the city.

Learn more about The Gallery, inquire about its availability, see our rates and more pictures.