Can Mascort Eco Hotel Review

The Can Mascort Eco Hotel is sustainably-driven boutique B&B created within a 300-year-old noble house by owners and hosts Lourdes and Alfred. This thoughtfully restored 15-room hotel, close to Costa Brava beaches, in Palafrugell’s historic centre, combines traditional Catalan charm with contemporary minimalist style, featuring a private caldarium, a ground-floor café with local artisan products, and rooftop terrace.

Step through the entrance of this 300-year-old noble house in Palafrugell’s heart and discover contemporary minimalist style breathing new life into ancient stone walls. Here, hosts Lourdes and Alfred offer heartfelt hospitality with professional expertise, and personal touches that transform a boutique B&B into something memorable.

Road Trip Essential

From Barcelona airport, the Costa Brava reveals its treasures gradually. Rolling countryside gives way to the picturesque coastline, where Calella de Palafrugell preserves all the charm of a former fishing village with narrow streets and traditional white houses with blue and green shutters. Just four kilometres from Can Mascort, this delightful seaside community offers seafood restaurants like La Blava, housed in an old fisherman’s house under the traditional arches overlooking Port Bo beach. Here, wooden tables and chairs fill the terrace where diners watch fishing boats rest on the sand while savouring fresh Mediterranean cuisine.

After the pandemic shifted perspectives worldwide, Lourdes Gaude and her husband Alfred decided to pursue their dream. Together they brought complementary expertise from hotel marketing and business, purchasing this noble house in the heart of Palafrugell. The building needed complete renovation, which they approached with sustainable principles and a vision of offering heartfelt hospitality backed by professional expertise.

The pre-arrival experience sets the tone. Lourdes and Alfred communicate with natural warmth, offering practical advice and arranging restaurant reservations when needed. They suggest local gems like Llevantaps, a gastro bar and colmado on the square beside the Sant Martí church. Here, owner Marc creates cheese boards featuring local varieties made by a British expat cheesemaker, alongside butifarra and regional cured meats, Empordà wines and artisan beers in a space that doubles as a gourmet convenience store.

Welcoming Design

The historic building of Can Mascort Hotel tells its story through carefully preserved elements. Part of the ground floor once housed a pharmacy with its own street entrance, now transformed into a café selling refreshments, coffee, snacks and local artisan food and gifts. The main house maintains its own entrance, evocative of the noble residence it once was, where the renovation respects original features while introducing contemporary minimalist style using traditional materials.

The central staircase spirals through an atrium flooded with light from skylights above, its organic plaster form creating a dramatic focal point. Rooms embrace neutral palettes with cotton and linen textures, punctuated by details like bright red mid-century adjustable bedside lights. Thick walls provide exceptional sound insulation, creating cocoons of tranquillity where guests sleep deeply despite the central location.

Rooms and Suites

Each of the 15 rooms possesses distinct character across three categories, many named after local Costa Brava areas. Standard rooms like Empordanet, Garoines, Calella, Llafranc and Sant Sebastià offer exterior windows overlooking the historic centre. Superior rooms, including Garbí, Havaneres, Tamariu, Ermedàs and Llofri,u feature special details from the original construction, carefully restored to transmit the authentic essence of this place.

The Junior Suites provide the most spacious accommodation. On the first floor, Mercè showcases restored hydraulic tile floors, while Arc overlooks the bridge on Carrer de l’Arc. Botines boasts high-beamed ceilings and two exterior balconies. Upstairs, Cap Roig features recovered antique floors, and Santa Margarida occupies the large loft space with sloping beamed ceilings perfect for families.

Four Junior Suite rooms can accommodate families with extra beds, while connecting rooms Havaneres and Garoines open via an exterior door, ideal for larger groups. The contemporary minimalist approach lets original features sing, particularly the beautiful Spanish tiled floors and authentic architectural details that speak to centuries of family life.

Dining 

The former pharmacy space preserves its original wood-panelled interior as a testament to the building’s pharmaceutical history. Lourdes and Alfred have restored everything while showing a small area where you can see the layers and colours of paint accumulated over the centuries, displayed as living archaeology. This historic space now houses a charming coffee shop and gift shop, plus serves the breakfast dining area.

Thoughtful details appear throughout, from do not disturb cards featuring simple “ZZZ” typography on bone-coloured paper to key card wallets decorated with silhouettes of Costa Brava grasses and blooms, carrying the message “Can Mascort en el corazón de la Costa Brava.” These touches reflect the owners’ commitment to creating personal connections rather than generic hospitality.

Breakfast becomes a personalised experience through Lourdes’ seasonal menu. Daily fresh juice uses organic market fruit, while yogurt from the local Mas Casas farm accompanies homemade granola or apple compote made with Montgrí apples. Signature items include esclop (artisan bread with happy hen eggs, caramelised onion and shiitake), esperdenyas filled with tuna and tomato or melted cheese variations, and crunchy polenta hearts with caramelised onions and sprouts.

The speciality mascortaps deserve particular mention. These small cakes resemble corks, paying homage to the region’s cork production heritage while satisfying morning sweet cravings. Petites gresoletes (mini pancakes) come with jam or chocolate, while drinks include cow’s milk or oat and cacao alternatives.

Caldarium Wellness

The caldarium provides a distinctive private relaxation feature that can be pre-booked. This intimate space beneath stone vaulting houses a small heated pool with chlorine-free water maintained at 36 degrees Celsius. Guests reserve private sessions, receiving bathrobes, slippers and towels. The concept respects the house’s traditions while reimagining the space as a contemporary retreat for ultimate relaxation. Settle into warm waters at body temperature while classical music drifts through the stone vaulted ceiling above. This is the caldarium at Can Mascort, where hosts Lourdes and Alfred have prepared your private wellness session with Catalan cava and the kind of attention to detail that transforms a simple soak into something memorable.

The rooftop solarium terrace offers panoramic views over Palafrugell’s historic centre, with the bell tower just metres away. The small herb garden grows aromatic plants used in breakfast preparation, connecting guests directly to their meal ingredients while providing fragrant evening retreat space.

Guests browse books on bio-construction, sustainability, healthy eating and personal development in the library, borrowing volumes for their stay. Board games encourage social interaction, while a piano invites musical moments for quiet evenings.

Mix yourself a drink at the 24-hour honesty bar stocked with tea, infusions, coffee, water, fresh juices and nuts, noting consumption and room number on the provided notepad.

Lourdes and Alfred encourage exploration of Palafrugell’s authentic daily life, starting with the morning farmers’ market just minutes away. Here, local producers display seasonal bounty including sun-ripened tomatoes, vibrant vegetables, traditional cooked snails, and regional specialities that connect visitors directly to Empordà agricultural traditions. Adjacent Peixos Marc fish market showcases the Costa Brava’s maritime heritage with beautifully arranged displays of fresh catch, from glistening sea bass to local prawns, creating a sensory celebration of Mediterranean fishing culture. These living markets demonstrate how staying at Can Mascort immerses guests in the genuine rhythm of Catalan community life rather than tourist-focused experiences.

The hotel provides secure parking in a nearby car park, ideal for guests touring the Costa Brava by car.

Sustainable Hospitality

Can Mascort represents a sustainable hospitality philosophy that respects resources, celebrates local culture and traditions, and enriches visitors’ lives through authentic experiences. Lourdes and Alfred achieve professional personalisation within a boutique bed and breakfast approach..

Can Mascort, in Palafrugell’s old town, offers a connection with traditional Catalan lifestyle, sustainable living principles, and the timeless rhythm of Mediterranean coastal communities. Whether seeking a relaxing retreat, cultural immersion, or simply a characterful base for Costa Brava exploration, Can Mascort provides personalised hospitality.