Spain’s magnifico seven
The sizzlingly stylish hotels that are making the country such a hotspot for hedonists
SPAIN is heating up. New super-stylish hotels across the country are set to welcome their first guests, while more established places have been busy sprinkling stardust over their rooms, restaurants and spas in preparation for the new season. Here are seven red-hot hotels that prove that Spain is ready to sizzle this summer.
Nobu Hotel, Marbella
Sizzle factor: The latest offering from the celebrity-friendly Nobu empire is billed as the sexiest new hotel in Europe – and reflects all the glamour, glitz and grown-up vibe of Marbella. Expect a ‘see and be seen’ atmosphere under the palm trees and ‘beat the line’ access to the adjoining La Suite nightclub. Hot tip: Signature Nobu dishes are served in the La Plaza restaurant, so enjoy rockfish tempura and the iconic black cod miso. Then call the concierge to get the hotel’s ‘roving mixology cart’ brought to your room for cocktails on your terrace. The deal: Fly to Malaga with BA, Iberia or any low-cost airline. Two nights for two in June costs from £717. nobuhotels.com/marbella
Motel One, Barcelona
Sizzle factor: Guests say it’s like stepping into the pages of a design magazine, with Spanish artists, designers and artisans behind everything from the floor tiles to light fittings. It’s a low-cost, high-style option set between the city centre and the beach. Hot tips: Enjoy a siesta on an oversized sofa, hidden by thick ferns, in the lobby. Then head up to the rooftop bar to sip a sunset cocktail. The most popular? A Spanish vermouth. The deal: Fly to Barcelona with BA, easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair or Vueling. A two-night stay for two people in June costs from £313. motel-one.com
PuroHotel, Palma
Sizzle factor: This boutique hotel, carved out of a 17th Century palace in Palma’s Old Quarter, is a destination for foodies, with a new restaurant fusing ‘flavours, spices and passion’ from the Med to Asia. Hot tips: Book the new PuroBeach Pack to get sun-loungers (and trays with fresh fruit, chilled mineral water, sun lotion and a smoothie) at the hotel’s nearby beach club. Or splash out on the VIP ‘private wing’, where local chefs will cook in your personal show kitchen. The deal: Fly to Palma with BA, easyJet, Jet2, Norwegian or Vueling. A three-night minimum stay for two in June costs from £847. purohotel.com
VP Plaza Espana Design, Madrid
Sizzle factor: Brand new and achingly modern, this hotel aims to be a ‘social hub for international hipsters’ – and for any guests drawn to minimalist architecture, bespoke local art and ginormous beds. Pack your dancing shoes – there’s a soundproofed private club on the roof with live music and DJs. Hot tips: Head to the rooftop bar for panoramic views of Madrid before swimming in the glassbottom pool. Alternatively, get a ‘guest-only’ deal from the concierge and rent a Ferrari for the day. The deal: All the main scheduled and low-cost airlines fly to Madrid. A two-night stay for two costs from £364. plazaespana-hotel.com
Las Caldas Villa Termal, Oviedo
Sizzle factor: It opened 250 years ago as one of Europe’s Grand Hotels and the gloriously restored old building is like a Spanish Downton Abbey. But the new bit? Management have spent €40million (about £34million) on an ultra-modern spa that’s built into the hillside and looks like a high-tech lair for a Bond villain. Hot tips: Start your day with breakfast in the stunning ‘fin de siecle’ Hall of Mirrors. End it by floating in the pool, watching the fountains during the nightly light-and-music show. The deal: Fly direct to Asturias in north-west Spain with easyJet. A two-night stay for two people costs from £222. lascaldasvillatermal.com
Finca Cortesin, near Marbella
Sizzle factor: Pack your designer clothes and your golf clubs for a trip to this super-stylish and newly renovated hotel. It’s an all-suite affair which offers a modern twist on country-house chic. Don’t play golf? Wander down to the private beach or float in one of four hotel pools instead. Hot tips: Book a treatment in the VIP cabin of the spa – then brave the ‘snow cave’ to chill out, before dining under the stars. The deal: Fly to Malaga (as before). A two-night stay for two costs from £1,333.
Bless Collection, Ibiza
Sizzle factor: The interiors are inspired by Coco Chanel (think black and white, pale pinks and splashes of gold). The doors open in June to a rolling programme of fashion shows, performance art and photography exhibitions. And the food promises to be spectacular – Basque chef Martin Berasategui has no fewer than ten Michelin stars to his name.
Hot tips: Gaze out across the Mediterranean from a sunbed alongside one of two infinity pools, or from the double bed on your private terrace.
The deal: Fly to Ibiza with BA, easyJet, Jet2 or Ryanair. A two-night stay for two costs from £780. blesscollectionhotels.com