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The Best Hotels in Seville for a Sun-Soaked City Break
Where to stay in the southern Spanish city
Temperatures are plunging in the UK, and the prospect of winter sun sounds as appealing as… well, a crisp alfresco 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…
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 a two-bedroom apartment for anyone hoping to hang around a little longer (or bring the kids).
Highlights include the handy historic centre location, a peaceful patio and breakfasts that serve local produce only. There's no formal restaurant, but the bar serves snacks (including the all-important jamón Ibérico).
It’s set within one of Seville’s palace houses, with all of the 18th-century building’s original character and features intact (only now with WiFi). There's also a rooftop terrace to relax on, or for added privacy, book a room with a balcony.
Hotel Alfonso XIII
If you're in search of Seville's stateliest stay, look no further than 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.
Fans of art deco detailing will enjoy cocktails in Bar Americano, or for brunch with a live-piano soundtrack, turn up at Restaurante San Fernando at 1pm on Sundays. Tapas classics and an extensive wine list are served at Ena Sevilla.
Hotel Colón Gran Meliá
For when the city is at 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 even more extreme temperatures, head to the Clarins spa to use its sauna, hammam and thermal showers.
The hotel opened in 1929 (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, who come for the tapas and ideally a seat out on the terrace. At second restaurant La Abacería del Colón, it's the jamón that takes centre-stage.
Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza
Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza may have a lengthy name, but its location can be summed up succinctly: extremely central. It's in the city's historic heart – the Santa Cruz neighbourhood is home to the cathedral and the Real Alcázar palace, and it also enjoys proximity to the tapas bars of Calle Mateos Gago.
The heritage hotel has repurposed a traditional 18th-century courtyard. From your old-town HQ, you’ll be able to visit the Alcázar and cathedral's La Giralda bell tower, 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.
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 hidden away down a narrow labyrinthine street in the old quarter. And if you love classic boutique hotels, this small-scale stay in the Barrio de Santa Cruz is the dream Seville bolthole for your next city break.
The guestrooms are set across three buildings, and 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 strong coffee and churros.
CoolRooms Palacio Villapanés
The best hotels in Seville err towards the aged side, clearly – this one is another palace, built in the 18th century and with the intricately carved wooden doors to prove it. CoolRooms Palacio Villapanés is also now the proud owner of a rooftop bar and pool. The baroque building – now protected as a key example of the architectural style – was originally designed for an admiral. It is just outside of the Barrio Alfalfa and a 15-minute walk from the cathedral and Alcázar. Also on your doorstep are the narrow lanes of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, which you could easily while a day away exploring.
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.
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, a boutique hotel 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, including the famous Alcázar. The Barrio de Santa Cruz and flamenco hotspots are all within a short stroll away, too.
Hotel Casa 1800
Another converted mansion-palace now open to guests, Hotel Casa 1800 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 exposed-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.
There's no restaurant at the hotel, but guests are invited to join afternoon snacktime on the patio, served daily between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, and the ideal pitstop to come home to.
H10 Casa de la Plata
What this new-build hotel in the pedestrianised shopping precinct lacks in historic character, it makes up for in traditional tiles, crafted nearby in the colourful barrio of Triana (Seville’s ceramic-mad centre), latticework and a classically Andalucian courtyard. The decor at H10 Casa de la Plata 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-supplying olive trees and the marble Roman bath, or follow the hotel’s handy tapas map around the neighbourhood. It's well placed for ticking off most of Seville's city-centre sights.
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 12 rooms and suites, set across two floors within this late-19th-century mansion near Nueva Square. The neighbourhood was once frequented by Miguel de Cervantes and, in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was home to one of the most important ports in the world.
The contemporary design of the hotel complements its historic backdrop seamlessly – and you’ll be especially pleased that a rooftop bar and pool have been introduced. At Mercer Sevilla's María Luisa restaurant, guests can take their pick from the Mediterranean menu, with ingredients such as sobrassada from Mallorca, prawns from Huelva, Cantabrian anchovies and Spanish Retinto beef all featuring.
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