Best Urban Hotels in Spain

Like the Forum Boutique Hotel, this is better suited to an older clientele — children aged 12 and over are welcome. Hotel Can Mostatxins is named after a butcher (specifically his notable moustache) who once lived in these sensitively restored 15th and 19th-century buildings. A plunge pool and spa are hidden in an atmospheric courtyard and there are just eight bedrooms, ensuring a boutique experience. It’s independently owned and very homely. There’s no restaurant or cafe, but the hotel is conveniently located close to the town square, with restaurants and bars a stone’s throw away. Its public areas comprise an honest bar, library and small boutique.

Cavalta Boutique Hotel is an intimate 12-room property found in the on-trend, authentic neighbourhood of Triana, on the west bank of Seville’s mighty Guadalquivir River. It is Triana’s first ‘Gran Lujo’ grand luxury property, with GL being the highest rating in Spain for a 5-star hotel, distinguishing it for going that extra mile when it comes to service. In addition to a rooftop plunge pool and cocktail bar, Cavalta Boutique Hotel is home to a signature restaurant, Balbuena y Huertas, taking its name from the celebrated architect Ramón Balbuena y Huertas who designed the original building, with its façade of Triana brickwork and ceramic tiles panels, evocative of the area’s famous potteries and ceramic factories.

Relais and Chateaux handpick the finest international properties, each with its own personality, individuality and renowned gastronomy. The Heritage Madrid is situated in the heart of Madrid, on the leafy Barrio de Salamanca, a pleasant stroll away from the boating lake. Designed by Lorenzo Castillo, the style is somewhere between a stately home and a hip boutique hotel. The 46 rooms each have hardwood or parquet flooring, jacuzzis and many of the suites boast balconies. A meal at chef Mario Sandoval’s Restaurant Haroma is a must, with a choice of executive, tasting and hunting menus, as well as high tea and brunch.

Sitting on the northeastern edge of Barcelona, Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona offers visitors to the Catalonian capital a blend of metropolitan spirit and laid-back beachside energy. With its sleek modern design and strategic position next to the Barcelona International Convention Centre, and just moments from Llevant Beach, the hotel appeals to both business travellers and leisure guests looking to stay connected without sacrificing downtime. Designed by Catalan architect Óscar Tusquets and rising 25 storeys, Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona cuts a distinctive figure on the neighbourhood’s skyline, its twin angular towers evoking the prow of a ship, a subtle reference to the nearby Mediterranean. Dining is a highlight here, with Michelin-starred Aürt providing an intimate, ingredient-led culinary experience, while the Ma’i Lobby Bar delivers relaxed all-day fine dining tapas and cocktails. Those staying in executive rooms and suites gain access to the Executive Lounge, which offers breakfast, complimentary refreshments throughout the day and drinks each evening. But the real standout is Purobeach Barcelona, their rooftop beach club complete with Balinese beds, two pools, DJ sets, and its own globally inspired restaurant, M3 Cuisine.

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.

If you like pools, you’ll love it here. The Zafiro Palace has 10, ensuring both adults and kids can get their own spaces to chill and splash around. Two of these are within the Zen Spa, where you can book a range of treatments. The low-rise resort lies close to the beach and offers soothingly decorated rooms in earthy and coastal shades. All come with Nespresso machines, pillow menus, bathrobes and slippers, while the one-bedroom penthouse suite provides a kitchenette and a huge terrace with a jacuzzi and Bali bed. During the summer there’s a programme of activities and entertainment around the clock. And there are several dining options; The Market Buffet Restaurant, La Veranda Restaurant, El Olivo, El Portico and Tastes and Sushi Bar Restaurant.

The Melia Hotel is located in the heart of Alicante, nestled between the Marina and Postiguet beaches it rises out of the glistening Mediterranean. It is the perfect hotel for those guests seeking a balance between work and pleasure as it is situated right next to the cities bustling financial area. The hotel is also near the Santa Cruz neighbourhood and the Santa Barbara castle making it a great place from which to explore the history of Alicante. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped with many boasting sea views. The hotel has two pools, a gym and a sun terrace. For those wanting to taste local and regional cuisine the hotel’s Trasluz restaurant is the perfect choice. Yet if you desire more international and creative food then look no further than the Hotel’s Bribone restaurant.

Located in a listed 19th-century building in the Catalan modernist style, and in the same block as La Pedrera, the H10 Casa Mimosa is an exclusive superior four-star hotel that opened its doors in 2016. The elegant, timeless interior combines cosmopolitan design with the building’s original modernist structure. There are 48 spacious rooms, the El Til•ler Restaurant, a lobby bar with access to a leafy garden with a swimming pool and sun lounger area, as well as a stunning chill-out terrace on the top floor, El Cel de Gaudí, complete with a plunge pool and stunning views of La Pedrera. The hotel also has a meeting room located in a former coach house, enabling guests to combine business and pleasure.

Part of the Barceló Hotel Gorup, the Palacio Gran Via, a Royal Hideaway Hotel is a lavish boutique hotel in the most desirable area in Granada. Housed in the former Rodríguez-Acosta bank headquarters, the is hotel can be found in one of the most striking buildings of La Alhambra. The original style and architecture have been preserved while a breath of new life has been brought in to transform the building and its two gorgeous facades into an inviting and luxurious hotel. There is a lush collection of guest rooms and suites including the top-floor Royal Suite with its own terrace. There is an on-site restaurant serving an array of gourmet Andalusian delicacies as well as Mediterranean and international cuisine. The hotel’s wellness facilities include a tranquil Hammam, indoor swimming pool and a solarium. There is also a fully equipped gym open to guests. The hotel has a spectacular central rooftop patio offering views over the Alhambra and the Cathedral.

Rooms at Hospes Palacio De San Esteban come with hardwood floors and sleek furnishings accented by mid-century and antique pieces. The five-star amenities include minibars, pillow menus, robes and slippers. Dine on Castillian sharing dishes at El Monje restaurant, which features a roaring fire, an indoor tree and stunning high ceilings with dramatic original stone arches. Or eat alfresco, at the contemporary styled El Patio de Los Olivos. Enjoy a drink beside the vintage fountain, or recline on a poolside lawn lounger. Once the San Esteban Salesian Convent, the hotel’s modern ethos is to ‘find, feel and belong’.

The Hotel Villa Favorita is the height of luxury and style. Located in the iconic La Concha Beach it seamlessly blends the life of San Sebastian with the tranquillity of a 19th-century Villa. The rooms are elegant, spacious and inviting, with many boasting fabulous views of La Concha Bay. Yet the Hotel’s piece de resistance is its two Michelin-starred restaurants Amelia curated by expert chef Paulo Airaudo. The food is exceptionally fresh and locally sourced with Paulo paying homage to his Italian and Argentinean roots in his cooking whilst also emphasising the use of local produce as well as forgotten ingredients in his cooking. The hotel also offers guests personal assistance when arranging excursions around the Basque country, its concierge service is nothing less than exceptional. The hotel is home to a spa and wellness centre which provides world class massages and wellness treatments for guests.

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