Best Luxury Hotels in Spain

This sleek venue was born in the 1970s as a restaurant. Enjoying spectacular success, it held two Michelin stars for 25 years, before securing a third in 2007, which it retained. Of course, the food is a massive draw, but in 2017, the arrival of rooms and a spa, made it the complete boutique dine and stay experience. Circular wooden terraces take advantage of the panoramic seaside views, as do private indoor/outdoor heated plunge pools in exclusive suites. Cantabrian multi-sensory cuisine is served in the top-class restaurants, Akelarre and Espazio Oteiza, with chef Pedro Subijana at the helm.

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.

A futuristic masterpiece and a feat of building brilliance, this one-of-a-kind 61-bedroom property was designed by the lauded architect Frank Gehry. In the countryside just outside the beautiful medieval town of Elciego (The City of Wine), it’s a place of contrast, where the old meets the new. The avant-garde style continues inside, where bedrooms have cloud lamps and Porsche-designed electric kettles. Two restaurants – 1860 Tradición and Marqués de Riscal Restaurant – are under the direction of Michelin-starred Chef Francis Paniego. The Vinothérapie® SPA Caudalie Marqués de Riscal offers treatments using wine as a key ingredient, as well as hydrotherapy including a heated pool and barrel bath.

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. 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.

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.

With far-reaching views across Toledo (which are particularly spectacular after dark when the city is lit up), this suburban estate has some of the most beautiful landscaped gardens in the region including a pond with a water feature. Stay in one of 33 bedrooms or four exclusive jacuzzi villas; all of which are soundproofed, with fine linens and private terraces commanding views of the lake, the grounds, or the swimming pool. The architecture is in keeping with a traditional countryside finca, featuring original stone walls, timber beamed ceilings and authentic tiled roofs. Cigarral de las Mercedes is especially popular as a wedding destination.

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.

Only YOU Hotel Málaga is conveniently located in the city centre in the symbolic La Equitativa building and is the perfect base to explore the capital city of the Costa del Sol. The vibe throughout the hotel is relaxed yet sophisticated combining an art deco style with an urban Mediterranean touch. Room options range from classic through to spacious suites – all of which present refined Mediterranean décor with warm tones, natural light, stunning views and soundproofing – for private outdoor space opt for a Terrace suite. Residents and non-residents have the choice of two restaurants within the hotel; Carmen Restaurant is more informal, with gastro-pub style all-day dining through to late drinks. Lola Restaurant serves the finest Mediterranean dishes, with a local and seasonal menu – located on the seventh floor the views are stunning and the atmosphere stylish. The rooftop bar, Lolita with the infinity pool is the crowning glory in this stylish hotel; sweeping views across the city, a chill-out area, extensive bar and light bites make it the perfect place to unwind and admire the beauty of Malaga.

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.

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 Gran Hotel Miramar has brought 5-star glamour back to Malaga capital, the birthplace of Picasso. Opened in 1926 by Alfonso XIII, the hotel has been completely restored and the new interior design is different for each floor being decorated in a different style, these being either Arabic, Mediterranean or Modernist. Book one of the extraordinary signature suites, the Crown Suite (with a circular bed!); or the Royal Suite with its exceptional and expansive private, sea-facing terrace. This hotel is situated in the heart of the city of Malaga, so there are plenty of shops and museums within walking distance.

Experience serene luxury at La Zambra Resort, a 5-star property in Mijas, set in the Andalusian foothills between Málaga and Marbella and close to Fuengirola. Once known as the Byblos Hotel, this iconic resort has welcomed royalty and rock stars since 1986. Indulge in the Costa del Sol’s largest spa and wellness centre, relax by three beautiful pools, and enjoy exceptional Mediterranean cuisine at any of our four restaurants. The resort features carefully restored Andalusian architecture, charming courtyards, and original stone fountains, all framed by scenic mountains and renowned sunsets. Each room offers a private terrace, and a complimentary breakfast is included with every stay. Immerse yourself in authentic local experiences, from Flamenco performances to olive oil tastings.