Faunch Hotel
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | 1817 |
| Founder | James Faunch, Mary Faunch |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
| Products | Accommodation, dining |
The Faunch Hotel stood as a distinguished English establishment, acknowledged as one of Buenos Aires' leading hotels throughout the early 1800s.
Story
Founded by British settlers James and Mary Faunch, the hotel commenced operations in 1817 in Buenos Aires. It was situated at the intersection of La Plata (currently Rivadavia) and Santo Cristo (now 25 de Mayo) streets. The building encompassed two levels and accommodated up to eighty guests.
The Hotel de Faunch gained fame for hosting performances by acclaimed musicians such as the French violinist Amadeo Gras. It also welcomed prominent individuals including Sir Woodbine Parish, the British Consul, and Irish Admiral William Brown, recognized as the founder of the Argentine Navy.
Other significant British-operated venues in Buenos Aires included Hotel de Smith and Hotel de Keen. Additionally, the "Fonda de Doña Clara," a well-frequented tavern run by English proprietor Mary Clark on Calle 25 de Mayo, was popular among locals and visitors alike. The Fonda de los Tres Reyes, although under Italian management, became a favored meeting place for English and American travelers. In 1850, John Geoghegan from Westmeath established the Hibernian Hotel at Calle de la Piedad No. 26.
Following James Faunch's death in 1827, Mary Faunch assumed control of the hotel until 1833, when she sold it to John Quenby Beech, an Irish-born individual who managed the dining room.