Sheraton Montevideo Hotel

Rooms and decor

Picture a pale tower rising 25 floors above everything around it in Punta Carretas — that is the Sheraton Montevideo Hotel, a Marriott-brand property that has held a spot among the top 5-star hotels in Uruguay's capital for years. Inside are 207 rooms and suites in a contemporary style, warm browns against cream, clean and understated but with everything a grown-up or a business traveler wants — firm beds, a large work desk, a big-screen TV, an in-closet safe, a coffee machine, and a marble bathroom roomier than the Latin American city standard. What wins people over are the high corner rooms facing the Río de la Plata — floor-to-ceiling glass onto a grey-blue expanse of water that meets the horizon, and the Rambla waterfront walk that is the heart of life here. Waking up to light spread across the water, or watching joggers along the seawall at dusk, is hard to find at other hotels in this city. Rooms facing inland look over the Pocitos and Carrasco districts, pretty at night, but if we are recommending, the river-side rooms are the best value.

Food and amenities

The other thing that keeps the Sheraton Montevideo popular with workers and families is how complete it is under one roof. The spa and fitness floor has a year-round indoor pool — and that matters, because Montevideo winters (June to August) are cold with a strong river wind, so an outdoor pool would not really work. The indoor pool is a highlight kids and adults both use all trip. Beside it sit a steam room, spa treatment rooms, and a 24-hour gym for early risers who want a workout before a meeting. For food there is Las Carretas, the main ground-floor restaurant serving breakfast and an evening Uruguayan-international buffet, while the Lobby Bar is a favorite corner for business travelers to close the day over a local Tannat wine. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above get the upper-floor Club Lounge, which serves snacks, drinks, and free breakfast, with a clearly better view than the restaurant below — well worth it for anyone with the status, and many use it in place of breakfast and a light dinner.

Location and getting there

Location is the card that puts the Sheraton Montevideo at the top of the business-and-family list here, no argument. It sits in the heart of Punta Carretas, the neighborhood locals and reviews call the safest in Montevideo. The tower is attached to Punta Carretas Shopping, the largest mall in the city, with a walk-through link so you never step outside — ideal on a rainy day or for a quick supermarket, food, or money-changing run. Another 5-minute walk reaches the Rambla, the promenade along the Río de la Plata that defines this city; skip the Rambla and you have not really been to Montevideo. The area is full of parrilla grill restaurants — the home-grown Uruguayan barbecue — plus cafes and pastry shops to wander all day. For the Ciudad Vieja old town or seafood at the Mercado del Puerto, an Uber or Cabify is about 15 to 20 minutes and very cheap. Carrasco Airport (MVD) is about 25 km, a 25 to 35 minute drive. For business travelers, neighboring Punta Carretas and Pocitos are the city's office and embassy hub, so there is no long commute.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing reviews flag often is the distance from the Ciudad Vieja old town — if you came to Montevideo mainly to photograph colonial architecture and the old port, the Sheraton's spot on the south side of the city may mean frequent Ubers (cheap, but plan the time in). If the old town and port are the heart of your trip, compare a hotel in Ciudad Vieja. Second is breakfast: some reviews say the ground-floor buffet is not as good as Sheratons in other capitals, and some room packages do not include it, so check carefully when booking — though if you have high enough Bonvoy status for the Club Lounge, this all but disappears. Third is the age of the building: it has been open for years and is being renovated in stages, and some reviews note that rooms on floors not yet updated feel older in the bathroom and fittings than you would expect from a 5-star brand — ask for a "renovated room, high floor" when you contact the hotel ahead. Last is the wind — high river-side rooms have a great view, but the winter wind off the Río de la Plata is strong, and you may hear it against the glass; light sleepers can pack earplugs.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, the Sheraton Montevideo Hotel is a hotel that sells a safe location, river-view rooms, and full Marriott standards in a city where 5-star options are few. If your mental picture of the trip is a business traveler flying in for meetings, swimming in the indoor pool before bed, then heading down for a Tannat at the Lobby Bar — or a family that wants to move around a new city with ease, with a big mall attached and a pool for the kids — this is the easy first choice in town. But if soaking up the old town, photographing Ciudad Vieja, and eating seafood at the Mercado del Puerto every day is the heart of your trip, you may want to stay in the old town instead. Overall we give it 8.7/10, best for business travelers, working couples, and families who value safety, an attached mall, and global-brand service in Montevideo.