La Laguna Gran Hotel Tenerife – Review

Tucked away in the old town of La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Laguna Gran Hotel is housed in a beautifully restored 18th-century tobacco warehouse, and perfectly embodies the city’s notorious blend of the historic and the new. A rooftop pool with panoramic views, a wine bar, and classical colonial architecture give the hotel its wow-factor, and with 123 rooms ranging from sleek renovated doubles to 17th-century suites, this 4-star retreat is the perfect base for travellers who value both comfort and culture.

Background & Concept

La Laguna Gran Hotel is as much a part of the city’s history as the medieval streets that surround it; formerly a manor house, then a tobacco drying warehouse, the old building dates back to the 16th century, with the high ceilings, stone walls, and balcones de cajón typical of old Spain.

From the street, the outside of the hotel blends into the rest of the old town, with wooden Juliet balconies and muted red walls. After walking through embossed sliding glass doors into the volcanic stone foyer, however, it’s immediately clear what makes the La Laguna Gran so special the effortless balance of colonial Spain and modern luxury.

Split into two buildings the original 18th-century warehouse, and a new, modern extension behind this contrast between the old world and the new is what gives the hotel its grandeur; the wooden casement windows and thick stone walls feel earthy, the glass and copper hanging lights feel fresh.

This blend of past and present is continued throughout the hotel furniture is either teak wood or plush velvet; rooms are lit with both spotlights and brass lanterns. It gives the hotel a rustic, peaceful atmosphere without losing the luxury feel.

Location

Right in the heart of La Laguna’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (famed for its colonial architecture and influential 15th-century grid layout), the hotel is a short walk from the city’s best restaurants, cafés, and plazas, as well as the main shopping street, lined with international brands and urban comforts.

Walking for less than 10 minutes will bring you to any of the city’s key landmarks: the Cathedral de la Laguna, another World Heritage Site famed for its neo-Gothic and Baroque-style architecture, and the Iglesia de la Concepción, a church which houses the largest bell in the Canaries, with incredible views of the island from its tower.

Getting to the hotel is easy; from Tenerife’s north airport La Laguna is less than a 10-minute drive, or by tram, a half-hour ride from the capital, Santa Cruz. (Underground parking is available for guests, making it easy to explore the island and avoid navigating the narrow streets.)

Rooms and Suites – Overview

La Laguna Gran Hotel offers 123 rooms, from chic, executive doubles overlooking the courtyard, to full luxury suites with living rooms and private terraces.

Guests can choose between staying in the newly renovated suites and rooms in the new extension, closer to the pool and gym, or in one of the refurbished colonial suites in the old building, complete with the original high ceilings, wooden accents, and balcones de cajón of the old manor house.

My Room

I stayed in one of the Noble rooms suites in the old building that date back to 1776, each one different, but all featuring elements of the original colonial decor.

The room was spacious and tastefully decorated, with a suede-adorned king-sized bed, club chair, wooden floors and walk-through wardrobe, as well as a huge marble bathroom and French windows opening onto the old town. My favorite part of the room, though, was the high artesano ceiling a beautiful feature of the old 16th-century building, its beams made from old Canarian pine.

Food and Drink Proposition

The hotel offers several onsite dining options: the hotel’s restaurant, Verodes, overlooking a patio and with à la carte dining, as well as a café lounge in the lobby serving coffee, homemade pastries and cocktails. There’s also the Vinoteca, a wine bar located in the front of the old building, where guests can either enjoy a glass of local vino or book a full tasting session with the hotel’s sommelier.

The breakfast buffet (served at Verodes) was impressive a perfect spread of both local and continental options; I could choose between fresh pastries, juices and fruits, or sample the local food with typical Canarian hams and cheeses.

And, of course, guests can order room service or have drinks delivered to the pool or rooftop anytime they please with a quick phone call.

Other Facilities

La Laguna Gran offers plenty of options for guests who want to relax both of the open-air courtyards, decorated with lounge chairs, parasols and traditional Canarian fauna, are ideal for lazy mornings or pre-dinner cocktails.

On the rooftop, you can relax at a stylish solarium, a pool, a hot tub and a gym all with panoramic views of La Laguna’s historic skyline and the Aguere Valley.

The foyer, located in the entrance hall, dotted with Chesterfield couches and rattan chairs, is adjacent to the café and wine bar, and during my stay, was clearly a popular place for both guests and locals to drink an aperitivo and laze away an afternoon.

Other Points of Interest

• Don’t miss the original tobacco plants hanging from the wall at the front of the lobby a tribute to the hotel’s past as a tobacco drying warehouse.
  
• Take the staircase to the right of the foyer for access to one of the best features of the old building a colonial balcony made of Canarian pine and stone, and a wooden walkway encircling the lobby below.

• A 2-minute walk to the right of the hotel, you can find the Plaza del Adelantado once the main square of the city, now an idyllic spot for a quiet coffee away from crowds.
• To the left of the hotel, just a 10-minute walk down the street, you can find the Mercado Municipal an indoor food market open daily in the morning.
• A volcanic island, Tenerife soil is rich and many of the fruits and vegetables are grown locally in fincas don’t miss the small black potatoes or mojo spices, two staples of the islands.

TLE Top Tip

Book a wine and cheese tasting in the Vinoteca with the hotel’s sommelier, Jorge Aguiar, to try some of the island’s famed volcanic wine so influential in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries that it was even referenced by Shakespeare in his works.

Final Thoughts

La Laguna Gran Hotel strikes the right blend of luxury and comfort: the decor is understated and tasteful, the building beautiful and cozy, and the amenities modern and relaxing.

For travellers who care about culture and history, there’s no better place to stay in La Laguna. The old colonial-style decor envelops you completely in Old World Spain and perfectly complements the charm of the city.