The Seville Hotels to Book for Short-Haul Winter Sun
- 1/11
The Seville Hotels to Book for Short-Haul Winter Sun
Temperatures are plunging in the UK, and the prospect of winter sun sounds as appealing as... well, a crisp al fresco beer during Dry January. So why not kill two birds with one stone? With highs of 19 degrees in one of the most elegant Spanish cities, there's no better time to check in to the best hotels in Seville.
Ibiza's luxury hotels might be best for summer blowouts and Barcelona is a year-round favourite, but this Andalucian city hits the spot when it comes to authentic Spanish culture.
Sun-baked Seville is affectionately known among Spaniards as ‘the frying pan’, so you can be sure of clear skies and balmy temperatures as you stroll the Barrio de Santa Cruz – the city’s old town (and former Jewish quarter) is where you’ll find the Alcázar Palace and the cathedral, plus its famous La Giralda bell tower.
After oranges (or possibly before), flamenco is Seville’s most famous export and you’ll be able to give it a whirl in a hole-in-the-wall bar. For ceramics, don’t miss the Triana neighbourhood and its many pottery studios.
When it comes to the best hotels in Seville, Hotel Alfonso XIII is fit for royalty and was built to the spec of its namesake king for his esteemed guests.
Or check in to Corral del Rey, a boutique hotel in one of the city’s many palace houses, now with an added rooftop pool.
From old town boltholes to the places to stay with pools, here's Esquire's edit of the best hotels in Seville…
Hotel Colon Gran Melia/Thierry Delsart - 2/11
1) Gravina 51
A little on the traditional side, Gravina 51 is nonetheless one of Seville’s most charming stays – the boutique hotel has 37 rooms and an apartment for anyone hoping to hang around a little longer.
Highlights include the handy historic centre location, a peaceful patio and a restaurant that uses local produce only. It’s set within one of Seville’s palace houses, with all of the 18th-century building’s original character and features intact (and now with wifi).Courtesy of the hotel - 3/11
2) Hotel Alfonso XIII
Made to order for the King of Spain, who in 1929 wanted somewhere showy to host his visiting dignitaries, this royal retreat continued the tradition over the next few decades, welcoming Charles and Diana, Prince Rainier and Grace of Monaco, and Hollywood stars from Sophia Loren to Brad Pitt. We’re sure they enjoyed the opulence, along with the classically Andalucian accents.
The palm-edged Moorish palace – which has an outdoor pool and courtyard to cool off in – is in the historic Santa Cruz quarter and close to the city’s Gothic cathedral.
© Adolfo Rancaño - 4/11
3) Hotel Colón Gran Meliá
For when the city is its sunniest, you’ll be grateful to the Hotel Colón Gran Meliá for adding a pool to its rooftop terrace – and you’ll be able to admire the city sights from afar up here instead of at street level. And when you are in search of extreme temperatures, head to the Clarins spa to use its sauna, hammam and thermal showers.
The hotel opened in 1929 (which was clearly a prolific year for accommodation around here) and is another landmark, popular with bullfighters and celebrities. Its El Burladero restaurant (and its southern Spanish cuisine) is loved by locals and visitors alike.Courtesy of the hotel - 5/11
4) Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza
Another Seville hotel with a convenient Santa Cruz setting, this heritage hotel has repurposed a traditional 18th-century courtyard. From your old-town HQ, you’ll be able to visit the Alcázar and La Giralda, as well as a museum entirely dedicated to flamenco dancing.
The staff will be able to point you precisely in the direction of the best convent-made cakes, Andalucian fashion and the places to stockpile pottery in the Triana neighbourhood. Tapas tastings can take place in the courtyard or up on the rooftop terrace.
Courtesy of the hotel - 6/11
5) Corral del Rey
Also in possession of a temperature-regulating rooftop pool (we’re sensing a trend here), Corral del Rey is another heritage palace house down a narrow labyrinthine street in the old quarter.
The interiors include beamed ceilings, medieval wooden doorways, marble pillars, colourful headboards and original wooden shutters that dawn doesn’t stand a chance against. Light bites (that’s tapas in these parts) are served in the ground-floor café-lounge, or you can stumble out each morning in search of coffee and churros.Courtesy of the hotel - 7/11
6) Palacio Villapanés
The best hotels in Seville are on the aged side, clearly – this one is another palace, built in the 18th century and with the intricately carved wooden doors to prove it. It’s also the proud owner of a rooftop bar and pool. It’s just outside of the Barrio Alfalfa and a 15-minute walk from the cathedral and Alcázar.
The high ceilings, grand staircase, marble columns and shutters all blend seamlessly with newer additions, which include mid-century furniture by the design queen Patricia Urquiola. The staff look suitably dapper, thanks to uniforms created by the Galician designer Roberto Diz.Booking.com - 8/11
7) Casa del Poeta
You’re probably getting the picture by now – Seville isn’t really big on modern hotels. Yet another historic hideaway is Casa del Poeta, set in a 17th-century house that has been eased into the 21st-century, but was allowed to bring its period features and original architecture with it.
There are just 18 rooms and the hotel’s centrepiece is its patio and fountain. The old-town setting means you’ll be a three-minute walk from the cathedral and the neighbourhood’s narrow pedestrianised streets will lead you to more of Seville’s top heritage sites.Booking.com - 9/11
8) Hotel Casa 1800
Another converted mansion-palace now open to guests, Hotel Casa was built in 1864, with studded wooden doors to allow horse-drawn carriages through the gates. A meticulous restoration has ensured its heritage is preserved, but it’s just as homely as ever.
The rooms, which feature brick walls, chandeliers and gilded headboards, are arranged around a central courtyard, with a pool-enhanced terrace at the top for perfect panoramas – you’ll be able to see La Giralda bell tower, the rooftops and spires of Santa Cruz and the greenery of the Alcázar gardens.Courtesy of the hotel - 10/11
9) H10 Casa de la Plata
What this new-build in the pedestrianised shopping precinct lacks in historic character, it makes up for in traditional tiles, made nearby in Triana (Seville’s ceramic-mad centre), latticework and a classically Andalucian courtyard. The decor also includes black and white bathrooms, wooden floors and irreverent oil paintings.
Head downstairs to the Moorish-style pool to cool off from the city’s unforgiving heat beside the shade-giving olive trees and the marble Roman bath, or follow the hotel’s tapas map around the neighbourhood.
Courtesy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Mercer Sevilla
One of the grandest hotels in Seville (and we’re not just talking about the ceiling heights), Mercer Sevilla is in El Arenal, among the city’s oldest and most atmospheric districts. There are just 11 rooms and suites within this late-19th-century mansion near Nueva Square. The neighbourhood was once frequented by Cervantes and, in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was one of the most important ports in the world.
The contemporary design complements its historic backdrop seamlessly – and you’ll be especially pleased that a rooftop bar and pool have been introduced.© Mercer Hoteles
