Cool combo of luxury and art
Daniel Hall chills out at the five-star Dolce Sitges hotel and finds an oasis of calm near the vibrant Catalan town
Vibe
Dolce Sitges is the closest resort-style hotel to Barcelona and the only fivestar in the coastal town of Sitges.
Once checked in, walk along the wide corridor towards the rooms through Bar Malvasia, with its easybreezy atmosphere. That feeling permeates throughout, with all of the seating areas purposely mismatched yet all fitting together nicely.
Contemporary art, coffee table books and a TV constantly showing football are on one wall, while enormous windows look out on to the garden and the Med on the other. It’s like a (very) high-class living room.
Style
There are three room options – standard, deluxe and suite, and all have either a sea or pool view and balcony. A trial has seen some of the oldest and former “worst” rooms fitted with hot tubs.
My room had a sea view, looking out over the twinkling lights of Sitges and Terramar golf course.
The peace is occasionallly broken by the smooth whirr of a train passing on its way to or from Barcelona Sants station.
Food and drink
Its three restaurants and three bars serve up dishes with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients wherever possible under the eye of head chef Jaume Balada, who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens across the region.
The Restaurant Terrassa La Punta is for fine dining. It looks out on to hills and some of the most exclusive homes in Barcelona, and the food is exquisite. My main of scallop, textured artichokes and truffle caviar (made from tapioca pearls like those in bubble tea), is one of the finest courses I’ve sampled anywhere.
Verema is a more family-style restaurant where an extensive buffet breakfast is served. Bar Malvasia has superb cocktails (try the Chocolate Factory, a cross between a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and Old Fashioned), while there’s also a
deli-bar for sandwiches.
Spa and pools
There are four outdoor pools and one indoor. A visit to the spa is a must. A shoulder-andneck massage from Jorge put me in a state of relaxation.
Activities
Sitges is a town of artists with some likening its relationship with Barcelona to that of Brighton to London. The stunning Palau de Maricel is a wonderful visit if there’s not a wedding on.
Part of the same complex is the Cau Ferrat Museum, packed with the art of Santiago Rusinol.
Stroll the pretty streets of the old town, look in boutique shops, or wander along the seafront.
The hotel can also arrange games of golf, visits to vineyards, sailing and horse riding. And Barcelona is just half an hour away.
The Dolce Sitges is not in the centre of Sitges, but it’s not hard to get there. Taxis cost only a few euros, you can rent bikes from the hotel or it’s a 40-minute walk.