Best Urban Hotels in Spain

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

Located in a quiet neighbourhood beside the Rio Guadiana River, this five-star NH hotel offers 58 soundproofed bedrooms with elegant furnishings, wooden floors and pillow menus as standard. Connecting rooms are available, as are suites with living rooms and jacuzzis. Guests can take breakfast on the terrace and dine in the Mirador del Guadiana River View restaurant, as well as in the onsite casino, home to slot machines and table games. There is also a lobby bar, a gym and a spa, with a sauna and a Turkish bath.

Soho Boutique Palacio de Pombo, Santander comprises 64 luxurious guestrooms and suites. This boutique hotel is ideally located in the heart of the bustling city and is less than two kilometres from the beautiful sands of Playa Peligros and Playa El Sardinero II. A stay here ensures guests have all of the modern comforts they require while offering a contemporary sanctuary away from such a vibrant city. There is a breakfast buffet with gluten-free menus available to ensure all guests are catered for. This hotel truly extends a warm welcome to all, including furry friends – dogs are invited to accompany guests. Soho Boutique Palacio de Pombo offers an activity booking service including visits to Santander Festival Palace, the Casino, or the beautiful shores of Playa El Puntal.

Found right across from the Guggenheim, this hotel occupies a prime position. Opened in 2002, it was considered the first to have been fully ‘made in Spain’. Designed by Javier Mariscal, it’s colourful and ultra-modern, presenting an impressive art collection. In addition to its overnight guests, it welcomes those wishing to frequent The Artist Grand Hotel of Art’s impressive roof terrace. The 145 rooms here are both soundproofed and air-conditioned, spread across its seven floors. Plus there’s a sleek spa and health club, lobby bar, cafe and restaurant – all complimenting the cutting edge contemporary aesthetic that runs throughout the building.

ME Marbella offers 200 rooms, including 24 suites, set between Marbella’s Old Town and Puerto Banús on the Costa del Sol. The property showcases a bold vision of Mediterranean architecture by Adriana and Álvaro Sans, where organic forms, natural textures and a palette drawn from the surrounding mountains and sea create a striking yet serene aesthetic. Rooms capture the light and views of the Mediterranean, Sierra Blanca or lush gardens, with high-end amenities and a tranquil atmosphere.

The hotel’s dining is led by Pont Hospitality, with La Terraza Del Med presenting Mediterranean classics, Solana focusing on flame-grilled dishes in a convivial setting, and Barlume offering cocktails and light bites. The Oasis beach club features an indoor beach concept, blending music, art and laid-back social energy. Wellness programmes, cultural events, curated local experiences and immersive activities add depth to the stay, while nearby boutiques, beach clubs and historic streets place guests in the heart of Marbella’s lifestyle scene.

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.