Best Luxury Hotels in Spain

Just off Passeig de Gràcia, a stone’s throw from Gaudí’s Casa Milà and close to Avinguda Diagonal, home to most of Barcelona’s designer boutiques, sits Barcelona’s the Sir Victor Hotel. Its ever-evolving design has kept its cutting edge since it opened in 2003 and the hotel’s restaurant Moo is one of Barcelona’s best. The communal areas are a work of art, with the 91 rooms taking a crisp and fresh design and featuring original artworks, Bose sound systems, Nespresso machines and rainfall showers The hotel’s rooftop terrace and plunge swimming pool are the pinnacles of urban living.

Part of the collection of Curio by Hilton Hotels, the designer boutique Hotel Alexandra is located in a renovated 19th-century building near Passeig de Gracia, the fashion and cultural heart of the city. The 116 rooms feature traditional features such as original mosaic flooring mixed with contemporary fixtures and furnishings in a warm but neutral palette of greys and browns. The hotel is minimal but still warm and comfortable and full of the added extras expected of a luxury residence. Suites here are extra special, many with terraces and outdoor bathtubs, and for the budding foodies, the hotel is home to a two-floor brasserie and an amazing charcuterie bar – the best place for some wine and nibbles after a hard day sight-seeing!

Part of the Ritz Carlton group, the Hotel Arts Barcelona is one of the city’s original luxury hotels, mixing tradition luxury service with minimalist aesthetics. The iconic building was designed by architects Bruce Graham and Miguel Ruano, originally for the Olympic Games. Providing outstanding views out to sea and across the city, its location on the seafront is ideal for those seeking to fuse a city and beach break (you will need to take a taxi into the city centre). A great swimming pool, 483 rooms spread over 44 impressive stories, 5 restaurants (from bistro to two Michelin-starred Enoteca) and impeccable service place this hotel at the premium end of the contemporary luxury scale.

This Avant Garde hotel is in the heart of Barcelona, close to the celebrated Passeig de Gràcia next to Casa Rocamora and just a step away from Plaça Catalunya on the city’s golden mile. The contemporary hotel design brings together innovation, art, music and technology along with exclusive experiences to enjoy the local scene. Rooms and suites present a neutral and stylish design with a range of sizes, views and upgrades such as a private terrace or Jacuzzi to suit every occasion. Guests can make use of the gym fitted with the latest fitness technology and equipment or pamper themselves with sophisticated beauty and well-being treatments. The hotel also has two restaurants in which Mediterranean cuisine with an innovative flair provides healthy, unique, surprising and sustainable dining experiences using fresh and organic ingredients harvested from our own urban garden. The Rooftop Bar is the perfect place to unwind with a drink and take in the views of Plaça Catalunya and the Sagrada Familia.

The Cotton House Hotel, part of the Autograph Collection, is housed in the former headquarters of the city’s cotton guild – a stunning 19th-century neo-classical property. We fell in love with this hotel from the second we walked through the door. Perfect for a romantic break, it offers easy access to the city’s major attractions, 83 refined rooms including some four-poster beds, divine Mediterranean cuisine, and even its own library. The communal areas are rich in history with original features and antique furniture. The rooftop pool with a view looking out to the Sagrada Familia is stunning as is the elegant terrace dining area and cocktail bar.

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.

Another of Melia’s seafront properties, ME Sitges is found on Paseo Marítimo, beside a quiet stretch of beach, close to the town’s attractions. A kidney-shaped pool is surrounded by loungers and four-poster daybeds, swathed in muslin drapes. The decor is minimalist, with an emphasis on light, bright and flowing spaces, complemented by state of the art technology and funky black and white photographic art. Its main restaurant, Beso (meaning ‘kiss’), explores creative Spanish cooking, while three bars serve drinks and lighter meals — its Radio Rooftop Bar is on the eighth floor and specialises in multicultural street food with regular live music.

For some of the best views around, book a room at Melia Sitges with a terrace overlooking the Garraf Nature Park or Mediterranean sea. The four-star hotel has 307 types of accommodation, including suites and family rooms. Indeed it’s an excellent choice for those travelling with children; The Kids&Co programme provides special toiletries for younger travellers, chocolate milkshakes and cookies at bedtime on your arrival day. Breakfast is served buffet-style at Noray restaurant and caters to international tastes with over 100 different products, while Saffron Mediterranean Bistro has menus containing everything from light bites and cocktails, to main meals.

New to Sitges is the Sabàtic Sitges, Autograph Collection hotel. This chic hotel features 90 stylish and comfortable suites, each with a balcony or sea view terrace and interiors of neutral interiors designed by Barcelona-based interior designer, Sandra Tarruella. The hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Pasatempo, led by renowned Catalonian chef Rafa Peña and features an idyllic outdoor terrace. Guests can also enjoy an adults-only outdoor pool, daily wellness activities like yoga and Pilates, and stunning views of the Balearic Sea.

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.

Proving Alcudia isn’t all about young families, this is a hotel catering exclusively to adults. Exposed natural stone walls, pine beams, clean lines, Scandi furnishings, contemporary watercolour artworks, oversized freestanding tubs and industrial-chic lighting all contribute to a peaceful sophistication at Forum Boutique, which first opened in 2018. Guests can swim in an outdoor saltwater pool, relax in the interior garden and stargaze from the terrace hot tub. Forum Boutique has 16 bedrooms in total, a shared lounge and a bar and is located along a pretty cobbled street, a few minutes walk from the town marketplace.

Those seeking an all-inclusive holiday with five-star service and amenities need look no further than the expansive Zafiro Palace. Its facilities and 369 bedrooms are spread across multiple single-storey buildings, creating a low rise village-like feel. Stay here and you can swim in no less than 12 different pools (one catering for adults only), play on the golf course, visit the Zen Spa and dine in four themed restaurants (again, one is for adults only), as well as an international buffet. The Zafiro Palace is a family paradise too, with a kids’ club, organised sports and a food offering designed to appeal to younger – in addition to more mature – palates.