Best Urban Hotels in Spain

Elke Spa Hotel is found in Sant Feliu de Guixols, just over 10 minutes walk from the Cala del Vigatà Beach. It has 66 forms of accommodation each with minibars and huge flat-screen TVs. The rooftop wellness area offers a hammam, a sauna and a hot tub, as well as a large range of treatments. Guests can swim and sun themselves outside on the sleek terrace and dine in one of the two sophisticated restaurants. An indoor soft play area, mini club, games and babysitting services makes it ideal for those travelling with very young children.

Embodying the elegance of Seville past and present, the impeccable, Casa Palacio Don Ramón 5* GL, Seville takes a city hotel stay in Southern Spain to new heights of ultra-luxury. A hotel has emerged that celebrates Seville’s refined approach to life, the Hotel Casa Palacio Don Ramón 5* GL, a property that should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a sophisticated experience. Casa Palacio Don Ramón focuses on the finer things in life, the comforts of a noble house, where you can indulge with a cocktail or two, dine well, relax in elegant surroundings, and retire to a fabulous room. There’s also a delightful roof terrace with bar and pool for those sultry Seville days when really you just want to sip a chilled manzanilla and snooze in the sun. Here the accommodation is truly luxurious. Attention to detail is everywhere. Bespoke wallcoverings, handmade carpets, custom furniture, and lighting as well as curated art and book collections make for a sophisticated experience. Then wake up to one of the most elegant breakfasts in the city, with table service. Each item is brought to the table, so you don’t have to lift a finger, just relish a leisurely start your day in the capital.

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.

The grand five star establishment sits across from Playa de los Peligros beach, looking out imperiously over the Bay of Biscay from its hilltop location. Stay here for classic grandeur – majestic French-style hallways, marble bathrooms, wrought-iron balconies, floor to ceiling windows, heavy drapes, Queen Anne furnishings and parquet floors are all found within. The hotel has 123 bedrooms, gardens featuring no less than 80 varieties of rose, a large terrace and the 12 table El Puntal Restaurant, dressed in white linen and silver. Eurostars Hotel Real is also home to one of Europe’s most advanced thalassotherapy centres, the Talasoterapia wellbeing centre, with sauna, Turkish bath and jacuzzi.

Child and pet-friendly, this cosmopolitan AC Hotel provides the option of family rooms among its selection of 106 accommodations. There’s an onsite restaurant, the AC Lounge, where you can enjoy a meal with your travel companions, and refuel each day with a hearty breakfast. On the terrace, you’ll be surrounded by the aroma of close-by olive and lemon trees, as you sip on a cocktail and unwind from the day’s sightseeing. The hotel also has a fitness centre, parking and event space, for guests travelling on business.

Located in the very heart of Barcelona on Passeig de Gràcia, the Mandarin Oriental is just seconds away from the city’s luxury boutiques and only a 2-minute walk from the Gaudi-designed Casa Batlló. Fusing modern interiors and timeless style from Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, the 120 rooms are bright and airy. Book a suite for a freestanding whirlpool tub, terrace and even kitchen. Gourmet Michelin-star dining is available in three restaurants – one of which is al fresco. The addition of a  relaxing spa, first-floor terrace, indoor pool for year-round dips and a rooftop pool with views out over the city makes the hotel one not to be missed.

Situated right beside San Lorenzo beach and close to the old town, Hotel NH offers the opportunity for sun, sea, sand and sightseeing. It has 64 bedrooms, of which many enjoy sea views (some also have a hot tub and balcony). Summer days are best spent at the rooftop terrace and pool, plus there’s a wellness area with a spa, Turkish bath, fish spa, treatment rooms and a gym on hand for the less clement weather. A daily morning buffet is presented in the breakfast room, with lunch and dinner served Cantabrian style in Amares. The hotel is pet-friendly and accessible.

The former residence of the Empress Eugenia de Montijo, this five-star hotel has echoed its regal Renaissance past through a contemporary take on palatial decor, retaining original features such as stained glass domes and marble mosaic floors. Just 200 meters from the city’s stunning cathedral, it’s well-placed for sightseeing on foot. Local dishes can be sampled at Eugenia de Montijo’s restaurant Library Ferderico (named after the Empress’ designer) and there’s Mazapán Corner for Spanish pastries. SPA Club Eugenie’s Bath is a nod to the building’s previous owner and incorporates the old Roman hydraulic system and Mozarabic walls.

Dating back to the 1930s, this neo-baroque building used to be Logroño’s Post Office. It lives up to its name and history, with walls decorated by stamp collages, mail art, original post boxes flanking the entrance, the Matasellos “Postmark” restaurant, and a collection of vintage postcards, including some antiques from the eighteenth century. In 2021 the hotel received a full makeover, upgrading rooms, the spa and the indoor pool area. Aurea Palacio de Correos also has a terrace for drinks with a view and a delicious choice of meals made using Riojan produce.

Standing proudly on a hilltop overlooking the city (just a ten-minute stroll to the centre), this grande dame with a terracotta facade is both aristocratic and elegant. Conceived in 1910, the building was inspired by the Nasrid Palace, paying detailed homage to local architecture and culture in its design. It received a full refurbishment in 2017 for maximum modern comfort that retains the traditional elements and regal Moorish features. The hotel’s à la carte restaurant, Principe, serves a range of Mediterranean and international food inside and on the terrace, with far-reaching views. Single rooms through to two-bedroom suites are offered at the Hotel Alhambra Palace.

People who want the chance to feel like royalty should not miss the chance to stay at this grand former palace of the Marqués de Caro. This unique building can be found in the Old Town and the city walls have been incorporated into the design. Each of the guestrooms is as unique as the building itself and it is worth taking the time to check out all of the available options. Each of the rooms also has a story behind it and The Cat’s Room was once the main domain of the former owner’s precious cat. Unwinding on one of the large sunbeds that are set around the outdoor swimming pool while sipping a cocktail or two is the perfect way to spend an hour or two, while the Caro Hotel Valencia is famous for its excellent dining opportunities. Food is presented at art at the Michelin-starred restaurant Sucede and food lovers can be sure that they will be in for a real treat here.

Villa Magna, a historic treasure located on Madrid’s most coveted boulevard is reborn as the capital’s leading luxury hotel. Located between the distinguished Salamanca neighbourhood and Paseo de la Castellana number 22, Rosewood Villa Magna is writing a new chapter in its story with the international hotel group Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. The Rosewood Villa Magna is located in an unbeatable setting, an enclave for shopping, business, gastronomy, and art. With easy access to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the so-called ”Landscape of Light” (of El Prado and El Retiro), declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rosewood Villa Magna has four distinct concepts offering guests and locals alike a variety of gastronomic offerings at any time of the day. The property has 101 rooms and 53 suites that embody the hotel’s refined, residential style.