Best Boutique Hotels in Andalucía

In a neo-Mudéjar landmark building on Calle Amor de Dios, a former theatre designed by Aníbal González, Cristine Bedfor Sevilla is a 28-room boutique guest house hotel where the old stage still stands, the central atrium soars to a sparkling glass canopy, and designer Lorenzo Castillo has drawn on 16th-century Seville to create richly layered Andalusian interiors entirely without pastiche. Enjoy a rooftop pool, intimate restaurant, and a patio bar where was once the theatre stalls.

The Seda Club Hotel is situated in the very heart of Granada’s historic centre and is in close proximity to the Cathedral. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and boasts a collection of twenty lavish guestrooms, five suites and the exclusive La Alcoba Real – regal living quarters with plenty of space and every modern comfort with traditional design features. There is the sophisticated The Seda Club Restaurant offering local gastronomy with exciting international influences and a tasting menu. There is also the El Clandestino bar area serving a range of beverages and cocktails while the rooftop terrace has a cocktail bar and stunning views over the Plaza de la Trinidad and its exquisite baroque fountain. Hidden behind a bookshelf is the secret speakeasy-inspired private club where guests can relax in a chic and relaxing setting. The spa and wellness facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool and a selection of treatments.

Perhaps one of Malaga’s most revered boutique hotels; the Palacio Solecio was once the former residence of distinguished public figures. The 18th Century Andalusian Palace has been carefully renovated and is very much in keeping with its original architectural and artistic style. Centrally located in the unique Calle Granada, in the old Jewish quarter, the Palacio Solecio boasts a selection of elegant and inviting rooms ranging from bright and airy doubles through to The Tower – a secluded and intimate room with access to a private rooftop terrace.  Gastronomy at the Palacio Solecio is a sophisticated experience at the Balausta restaurant where Michelin-starred chef José Carlos García’s showcases the finest Andalusian dishes through his passion for local produce, tradition and innovative techniques. Breakfasts, aperitifs, lunches and dinners can all be enjoyed in the restaurant’s exquisite interior arcaded courtyard under the light of the glass-domed roof. Relax with an exceptional cocktail, sip on a glass of champagne in the atmospheric cocktail bar.

Soho is the creative nexus of the Mediterranean city of Malaga, and at the heart of this artsy city-centre neighbourhood is the Icon Malabar, a 4-star boutique hotel with style flair and a playful sense of creativity. Icon Malabar Malaga is a flagship property, 70 stylish rooms in a classic building in the vibrant Soho quarter, just a block away from the new Antonio Banderas Theatre, and minutes to the city’s Contemporary Art Centre.

Casa del Limonero is a remarkable boutique guesthouse hotel, set in a historic Sevillian mansion, meticulously restored to highlight its striking architectural features including Mudéjar arches and central courtyard fountain. Tucked away on one of the Santa Cruz quarter’s quietest streets, near the Royal Academy of Literature and within sight of the Giralda bell tower and Seville Cathedral, it surrounds guests with layers of culture, design, and history.

Sierra Nevada starts the winter season with the much-anticipated arrival of a new destination hotel, Maribel. This reimagined alpine ski chalet opens under the new ownership and management of Puente Romano Beach Resort and Marbella Club, responsible for the renowned El Lodge Ski & Spa. Ideally located at the foot of the slopes, Maribel is the sophisticated ski and après ski chalet with a mix of high-altitude fun both on and off the piste for families, friends, and winter sports enthusiasts. With a season that lasts until the start of spring and coincides with the winter sports period of the Sierra Nevada resort, Maribel will have 29 rooms and suites, including the signature Maribel Penthouse Suite. Situated at 2,250 metres, with direct access to the Maribel and Águila slopes, Maribel offers its guests the perfect plan on and off the pistes. Once at this alpine lifestyle hotel, guests will find a compelling blend of wellness and dining. The hotel’s lounge and bar, with a ski-in/ski-out outdoor terrace, promises a unique après ski atmosphere. Maribel’s restaurant provides a ‘dining club’ experience with an alpine flavour. There’s even a Nordic-inspired spa where guests can rest their weary muscles after a day on the slopes and unwind under the stars.

A boutique ski-season hotel, El Lodge’s architecture is modelled on the traditional chalet, but with a chic personality infused by its owners, Marbella Club. Inside the Finnish wood building, you’ll find 20 bedrooms with Natura Bissé bath products, iPads, iPod docks and Nespresso machines, decorated with cowhide rugs, fur cushions and antler chandeliers, plus a Smeg fridge on every floor with refreshments. Outside is a pool and wooden hot tub (from which steam rises invitingly on a cold day) and a sauna with impressive views. The main restaurant, bar, lounge and terrace all serve dishes crafted with low-mileage ingredients and there’s a games room to keep the kids busy.

Cristine Bedfor Malaga is a creatively restored and decorated 1871 mansion, a new boutique 27-room guest house hotel that resonated with an imaginative world of storytelling and elegant hospitality. Opened this June at the corner of Calle Granada and Calle Méndez Núñez in Malaga’s historic old town, this enchanting property is the latest creation from Cristina Lozano. Each Cristine Bedfor property tells a chapter from the fictional life of Cristine Bedfor, and here in Malaga, we discover her childhood adventures on the floating island of Clementine

In the city where Roman Emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born, the eighteenth-century Casa Romana has been re-designed as a Roman-style dwelling on harmonious lines. Guests can choose from the extensive cocktail menu while enjoying the panorama from the roof terrace, where there is also a swimming pool. The light and airy soundproofed bedrooms offer every amenity, with de luxe options and suites available, and there is even an on-site DJ. Located in the old town, it takes around fifteen minutes to reach the burial place of Christopher Columbus in the cathedral, while the Museum of Fine Arts is a little nearer.

Set in a nineteenth-century palace in the lively El Arenal district, this twelve-room hotel is four minutes along a narrow cobbled street from the Plaza Nueva metro station, and slightly further to the cathedral. Rooms have all amenities, with some boasting balconies, or terraces complete with orange trees. Other facilities include a rooftop bar next to a plunge pool and an on-site restaurant and cocktail bar. A lounge area is overlooked by a traditional courtyard and fountain, featuring the original marble spiral staircase in one corner.

Said to be the birthplace of the poet Ximinez de Enciso, this boutique hotel in the Barrio de Santa Cruz is a short walk from the Gothic cathedral and the Alcázar palace. The seventeenth-century building has been carefully restored and retains the typical architectural style of a central courtyard with a fountain. Guests can look forward to daily live guitar music and can enjoy an art gallery and a roof terrace with views to the cathedral and its baroque bell tower, the Giralda. Rooms vary in size, with suites and duplexes available, and there is also a luxury apartment.

This upmarket apartment hotel sits conveniently on a street of bars, restaurants and shops, not far from the Alcázar, and two kilometres from the buzz of the Plaza de España. Each one-bedroom unit here offers two single beds that can be converted to a double, free WiFi, two smart TVs and a kitchenette, with a pull-out sofa bed in the living area. The child and pet-friendly complex is completed by a roof terrace with a pool and loungers. Limited parking and bike hire are available, and there is a laundry service.