TRENDY
ME SITGES TERRAMAR
The ME Sitges breathes glamour into this city beside Barcelona.
Cosmopolitan, avant-garde and pioneering, with a vast cultural tradition, Sitges has always been a point of reference for ar t lovers and beautiful people. With the recent opening of the ME Sitges Terramar, it’s taken one step further towards becoming the most chic and trendy spot on Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
Sitges is often compared to Saint-Tropez. And for good reason: located just half an hour from Barcelona, it’s one of the most expensive cities per square metre in Europe. What makes it so coveted? A pleasant climate all year round; lovely 17th-century architecture in its charming, lively and perfectly preserved historic centre; a long seaside promenade dotted with palm trees that border clean and well-kept beaches; marinas where yachts can be docked; and, of course, a past and present teeming with art in all its forms. Sitges has been home to many artists of every kind. According to them, it provides the inspiration they need to create. But they aren’t the only ones who’ve been attracted to the city. The early 20th-century Catalonian bourgeoisie also discovered it, and that’s how it managed to position itself as the holiday destination of the elite.
In that era, the Terramar Palace hotel was the requisite meeting point for everyone wanting to see and be seen. Its grand social lounge hosted birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and all kinds of high-society gatherings. For a time the Spanish Civil War turned this iconic hotel into a military hospital, but soon after it was once again filled with glamorous guests who had something to celebrate. With the recent opening of the ME Sitges Terramar, located in the same historic building, this legendary space is available to the public again, now under the name of Vintage Studio.
In fact, according to hotel manager René Hoetschl, ‘it’s one of the most special spaces, since it’s been completely reformed while maintaining some of the original elements— like the crystal chandeliers, the valances and the bathroom sinks—in a nod to its most magnificent era, although the rest has been modernised in accordance with the establishment’s aesthetic’. It’s an aesthetic that reinterprets luxury through a Mediterranean lens. The design, an essential attribute of the ME by Meliá hotels, takes a starring role at this one in particular. It seeks balance between minimalism and sophistication, cutting-edge technology and luxury, throughout the vast spaces, terraces and gardens of the hotel.
TOP-NOTCH CUISINE
Just as it was in the past, the hotel’s philosophy is centred on becoming a gathering place for the people of Sitges. For this reason, its five culinary spaces are also open to the public. This aspect of the hotel is managed entirely by Grupo B (of Bilbao Berria and Beso Beach), a group that unites the Basque culinary tradition—and the strong lifestyle component of Beso Beach—with extensive experience in managing highly
successful restaurants in Formentera, Bilbao, Barcelona and Tulum. The ME restaurants aim to establish themselves as one of the most important parts of the destination, like the sophisticated Radio Rooftop Bar ME Sitges, where Asian fusion cuisine and premium drinks take centre stage along with chill-out music. The main restaurant, Terramar, has spectacular views of the beach and a menu full of passion— with an edgy twist. The relaxed, entertaining atmosphere is perfect for sampling a whole range of Mediterranean cuisine, including excellent paella. After Easter, the Beso Beach Club creates a one-of-a-kind ambience along with haute cuisine and the sense of freedom and purity Beso Beach is known for. The Oyster Bar, in the hotel’s inviting foyer, lets you enjoy oysters and other snacks from the sea—plus premium
cheese and charcuterie and a long list of wines, cavas and champagne—as soon as you check in. Finally, Pool Bites is a seductive space open to the sea, with all the comforts of a pool. Its relaxing environment decorated in shades of white, plus healthy and energising fruit juices and smoothies combined with superfoods, help guests get over hectic nights—or just take care of themselves while they enjoy the sun and the sea breeze.
CULTIVATE THE MIND
In addition to cuisine, guests can enjoy activities that indulge the body (like yoga or golf on the nearby greens) and stimulate the mind with cultural tours of Sitges. One interesting example is a tour through the main modernist buildings. You can start at the train station and continue with a visit to the Casa Bacardí, where you’ll find out about the history of the brand and sample their rum, as well as learning how to mix a cocktail.
On both the seaside promenade and in the historic quarter you’ll find a unique style of houses, known as 'americanos' or 'indianos', that were built by Sitges locals who returned with riches from their journeys to the Americas. Top it all off with the iconic Maricel Palace and the Cau Ferrat Museum. The former, which celebrates its centenary this year, houses works by Miquel Utrillo and is one of the most typical examples of Noucentisme among all the city’s architectural and artistic complexes. The latter is the former home and workshop of Santiago Rusiñol. Here you can learn more about the life of one of the best representatives of Modernism in Catalonia, while admiring works by Picasso and El Greco.
It’s also worth visiting the modern art on display at Fundació Stämpfli, the old Mercat del Peix (Fish Market) and the baroque Iglesia de San Bartolomé y Santa Tecla, a church that rises above the sea and is the most photographed local landmark. Events in the city continue nearly nonstop throughout the whole year. Some highlights include Carnival, Sitges Gay Pride, the Sitges Film Festival, the International Tango Festival, the Swing Dancing Festival, the Terramar Garden Festival and Sitgestiu Cultural.
With this social schedule and its incomparable surroundings, ‘the ME Sitges Terramar will be the hotel destination of the Mediterranean coast, a must-visit for a sophisticated clientele looking for a place to rest the body and mind. The ME Sitges fully expresses the attributes of the ME by Meliá brand, which have captivated the most demanding travellers on the beaches of Ibiza, Mallorca and Los Cabos’, says Hoeltschl. The hotel offers 213 guest rooms decorated in soft colours and refined lines, almost all of which have fantastic sea views. There are the signature Chic Suite, Personality Suite and Suite ME, plus energising rooms that connect with the guest: Aura, Vibe, Energy and Mode. Everything is designed to make your stay at ME a special, exclusive and unique experience in an unparalleled setting.