Best Luxury Hotels in Spain

In a dreamy location in the Galatzo nature reserve, with the Tramuntana Mountains as a backdrop and just a short walk from Puigpunyent village is Gran Hotel Son Net. This beautifully Spanish country house is resplendent with marble floors, tall vaulted ceilings, and sumptuous textiles, walls are adorned with quirky artworks by the likes of David Hockney interspersed with antiques and historic bits and pieces. The main lobby is a cavernous space with lofty ceilings, tiled floors and comfy sofas. The 31 rooms are uniquely styled and super spacious. They each have a lovely romantic rustic charm about them, many with beamed ceilings, patios all with stunning marble bathrooms. The hotel boasts an intimate cocktail bar, a 30-metre pool set amongst lush manicured gardens, wellness centre for treatments and massages which can also be carried out alfresco, plus an incredible treehouse that can accommodate up to 8 guests for special occasions! For gourmet dining, Oleum is the hotel’s offering, a restaurant with exposed stone walls and old wooden beams. Gran Hotel Son Net is the ideal Spanish countryside retreat.

Deià maybe just a small mountain town on the island, but it is home to one of the most luxurious hotels in the entire region the Belmond Le Residencia. Surrounded by lush greenery and uninterrupted views, La Residencia has a relaxed and artistic feel that is worlds away from the more generic international hotel chains we have grown used to. Every single one of the hotel’s rooms, suites and villas is decorated in a specific style, and no two parts are the same. Guests will love the facilities on the property, which include a full spa, several restaurants and bars, two outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a full fitness facility, an art gallery and even a shuttle that goes directly into the heart of Deià.

Built upon a high rock escarpment overlooking the fishing port village of Port Soller, with exceptional views out across the Mediterranean, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa brings world-class levels of hospitality to Mallorca’s rural west coast. This is a captivating resort, with upscale dining; elegant and contemporary accommodations; as well as luxury wellness facilities including the Talise Spa – a destination for Balearic rejuvenation. This part of Mallorca is particularly picturesque, with a beautiful coastline; and the charming inland villages of Soller and Fornalutx close by. The Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa is made up of almost a dozen structures that climb the rock escarpment, and continue for about a kilometre. Each is linked by a scented garden walkway that leads guests up through the terraced hillside setting. There is a magnificent infinity pool with Mediterranean views, served by Infinite Pool Bar. On the upper level is Es Fanals by Javier Soriano, for signature Spanish cuisine. For relaxed terrace dining, Cap Roig Brasserie offers a locally-inspired menu. To end the day on a perfect note, The Sunset Lounge is where guests enjoy Asian specialties and superb cocktails, accompanied by live music and views of the Tramuntana Mountains and of course, the best sunsets on the island.

Kimpton has landed in the Balearics, bringing its unique lifestyle brand to Mallorca. Kimpton Aysla Mallorca is where wellness, gastronomy, and inspiring art combine, creating a unique destination that promises to be a sanctuary of calm close to the city of Palma and the iconic beaches of Mallorca. Kimpton Aysla Mallorca is a stylish 79-room hotel with three restaurants including Saba that promises an innovative adventure full of Balearic heart, with Mediterranean dishes and Asian techniques. There are conference rooms, a spa (with indoor pool, beauty centre, and gym), and beautiful Mediterranean gardens with 2 outdoor pools and a first-class tennis & sports complex too. Just 14km (about 20 minutes drive) from Palma, the hotel feels world’s away. Surrounded by leisure facilities, gardens and pine trees, one feels ensconced in a privileged enclave. Guests have access to the magnificent spa, and the gym and can also consider the facilities of the Country Club, a regular practice ground for some of the world’s top tennis players, and Golf Santa Ponsa, a large golf complex with two 18-hole PGA European tour courses, a 9-hole course and a driving range.

A sleek resort for the modern age, this NH property is set within peaceful gardens, surrounded by parkland and close to a lake. It’s a striking feature on the landscape, designed by Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos. The grounds include a swimming pool and a terrace. Inside, there’s another pool (with floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the outdoor pool), a gym, sauna, Turkish bath, the Abeiro Restaurant with charming garden views and a lobby bar. Bedrooms are decorated in hues of white, chocolate and apple-green, with amenities including a pillow menu, high-quality mattresses, soundproofing and Nespresso machines.

Converted from a hospital first built in the year 1499 and commissioned by King Ferdinand, this used to serve walkers who came here on pilgrimage. Hospital Real De Santiago De Compostela still caters to visitors but in the form of a luxe hotel – one of the oldest in the world. Ideally located in the Plaza do Obradoiro beside the cathedral, it immerses visitors into a bygone era. Cloisters, thick stone walls, an outdoor terrace overlooking the square and a manicured courtyard garden help evoke the ancient atmosphere. Rooms come with wifi, satellite TV, air-con and mini-bars, and there are two restaurants.

With a former life as a paper mill, this 18th-century traditional Galician building has plenty of character. Rooms here face onto the pretty garden, with its water fountain, colourful window boxes, lawns and terrace. Guests can book a treatment at the spa from a menu of oriental and occidental rituals which make use of high-quality natural products, enjoy a drink in the bistro-style bar and dine at the excellent Filigrana restaurant. Family-run, the romantic hotel has 51 bedrooms and three suites, the latter incorporating living spaces, a study and a jacuzzi, as well as a reading room and a social room.

100 years as a tannery, then another 100 as a convent, this building close to the historic centre has had an illustrious past. This is seen in some of the features, such as a chapel turned meeting space with a religious mural, arched windows and thick stone walls. Now, it’s a five-star retreat, where guests can book alfresco massage therapies, read or sunbathe in the gardens and book a suite with views of the cathedral (which is 15 minutes on foot from the front door). A contemporary restaurant, bar, saltwater swimming pool and fitness centre are among the Hotel Palacio Del Carmen’s amenities.

A little outside of Vigo, 30 minutes south on the coast road in Pontevedra, lies the walled enclosure of Monte Real. Here, between the sea and a pine wood, lies the regal Parador de Baiona. A deeply distinguished property recalling a bygone era, this Galician mansion offers fantastic sea views, a large outdoor pool surrounded by manicured gardens and a fine seafood restaurant. On arriving in the entrance hall, guests are greeted by a majestic stone staircase, candelabra lighting and suits of armour. Bedrooms have features such as timber beamed ceilings, four poster beds, grid windows, polished stone walls and antique dark wood furniture.

Found on the city’s main boulevard surrounded by shops, the NH Collection Vigo is housed in a 20th-century building with a Neoclassical façade, designed by the French architect, Michel Pacewicz. Accommodating 108 bedrooms including jacuzzi loft suites, the four-star property is pet, family and business traveller friendly. Guests have access to their own Nespresso machine, NH branded toiletries, babysitting services, a pillow menu, fluffy duvets and super comfy mattresses. Valet parking, a small gym and an onsite restaurant — the elegant Irati — are all available. Plus there’s a bar with a charming alfresco terrace overlooking the church.

Built using ornate stone with pretty wrought iron balconies, this building dates back to the 19th century. Overlooking the marina on the Ría de Vigo estuary, the four-star hotel is within walking distance of the city’s attractions and under a quarter of an hour’s stroll from the railway station. 69 sleek monochrome rooms come with minibars, satellite TV, designer toiletries, climate control, free daily newspapers, laptop-friendly workspaces and soundproofing. Amenities include a library, a rooftop terrace, fitness facilities, a lounge bar, a business centre and La Cuaderna Restaurant serving buffet breakfast and a la carte Mediterranean cuisine.

Founded in the 1950s by Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe, this was once the hotspot of various figures of European royalty during the summer but has since had a bit of a revival. Now renowned as an amazing health and well-being retreat as well as retaining some of the old-school glamour which had attracted the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly to return again and again. The 35 guestrooms and 80 suites are set amongst lush subtropical gardens and many include private outdoor terraces. With white timbered roofs and a coastal-inspired pastel palette, Deluxe Beachfront rooms compliment their views of the Strait of Gibraltar; whilst private villas ooze contemporary Andalusian chic dressed nearly all in white and boasting private pools. When you aren’t lazing around in verdant walled courtyards or around one of the three pools, you can learn meditation from a master, work with a naturopath, nutritionist or fitness expert to improve your lifestyle, or enjoy a Thalassotherapy treatment or ritual at the award-winning spa – holistic wellbeing is at the core of the Marbella Club’s ethos. When you get hungry The Grill is an old-school restaurant with knowledgeable sommeliers and French fare presented under silver cloches, whilst The Beach Club has a renowned buffet of vibrant seafood, paella, pasta salads and cold meat for more casual dining. Alternatively, the Chiringuito MC Beach serves up barbequed sacks and smaller bites, perfect for poolside dining.