Spain
Jumeirah Mallorca
High above Port de Sóller, Jumeirah Mallorca is a clifftop refuge between the Serra de Tramuntana and the Med. Sunlit rooms and suites gaze over the sea and harbour. Drift between cascading infinity pools, Talise Spa and restaurants; stroll the pine-scented promenade. Tramuntana hikes, coves, and the vintage Sóller tram sit close. 9.6
Four Seasons, Madrid
In the heart of Centro Canalejas, Four Seasons Hotel Madrid fuses seven landmark buildings into a luminous, marble-and-parquet palace. Calm, couture rooms and suites, some with terraces, gaze over the Gran Vía. Linger at the rooftop pool and spa, dine at Dani by Dani García, then wander to Prado, Retiro and boutiques. 9.8
The Madrid EDITION
In a quiet plaza near Puerta del Sol, The Madrid EDITION is a sultry blend of minimalism with marble, oak, and sculptural lighting. Calm rooms and suites, some with terraces. Swim in the rooftop pool, dine at Jerónimo and Oroya, and sip in Punch Room. Steps to Gran Vía, museums, tapas bars and nightlife. 9.2
Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
Besides El Retiro and the Prado, Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid is Belle Époque radiance reborn: gilded salons, a glass-canopied Palm Court, and whisper-sharp service. Sunlit rooms and suites feel silk-lined and serene. Dine at Deessa, sip Champagne, unwind in the spa and pool. Steps to the Thyssen and Gran Vía. 9.8
Rosewood Villa Magna
Madrid.
On the Paseo de la Castellana, Rosewood Villa Magna blends contemporary Madrid polish with residential calm. Sunlit rooms and suites, some with terraces, overlook gardens and skyline. Linger at Amós, patisserie and bar; unwind at Sense spa and gym. Steps to Serrano boutiques; Prado, Retiro and Gran Vía a stroll. 9.6
Grand Hotel Son Net
Mallorca.
In Puigpunyent, in Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana, Grand Hotel Son Net is a restored 17th-century estate turned 31-room hideaway, filled with art and citrus-scented gardens. Swim the long outdoor pool, then retreat to the 1,000-square-metre spa with sea-salt indoor pool and thermal circuit. Vibe: quietly aristocratic, wonderfully relaxed all year round. 9.4
La Residencia Mallorca
A Belmond Hotel. Mallorca.
In the artists’ village of Deià, Belmond La Residencia spreads across two manor houses tucked into the Tramuntana foothills. Olive and citrus gardens frame outdoor pools; inside, the spa offers an indoor pool, sauna, steam and jacuzzi. Dine at Restaurante Miró, then linger over Mediterranean calm. Vibe: soulful, quietly glamorous. 9.6
Gran Marbella
Resort & Beach Club
On Marbella’s Playa del Real de Zaragoza, Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club channels Andalusian elegance with 135 rooms and suites and a breezy, contemporary feel. Spend days between three pools and the Amù Beach Club. The Champneys spa adds an indoor pool, sauna and steam. Vibe: sunlit, sociable, polished. 9.6
Don Carlos Marbella
Don Carlos Marbella is a revived Costa del Sol icon in Elviria, set in tropical gardens steps from the beach. Expect airy rooms and suites, multiple pools, a wellness spa, and beach days at Nikki Beach and Lucia. Evenings bring Mediterranean dining and terrace cocktails. Vibe: polished, sun-soaked, effortlessly sociable. 9.2
Hotel El Palace
Barcelona
In Barcelona’s Eixample, a short stroll from Passeig de Gràcia, Hotel El Palace channels 1919 grandeur with modern ease. Sleep in Art Deco rooms, then escape to the rooftop garden pool for skyline views all day. Downstairs, Mayan Luxury Spa offers a temazcal sauna and rituals. Vibe: theatrical, reassuringly classic. 9.6
Hotel Vestige Son Vell
Menorca.
In Menorca’s western countryside, near Ciutadella, Vestige Son Vell is an 18th-century estate turned 34-room hideaway, wrapped in gardens and quiet lanes. Spend afternoons between two outdoor pools, coastal walks to Cala Son Vell, and thoughtful spa treatments. Two restaurants keep things rooted and relaxed. Vibe: sun-dappled, slow, softly elegant. 9.4
The Standard, Ibiza
In Ibiza Town on Vara de Rey, The Standard, Ibiza is a boutique with 67 rooms and suites that feel crisp, calm, and quietly cheeky. Days belong to UP, a seasonal rooftop pool with Dalt Vila views, while nights drift through Jara’s cocktails and farm-to-table plates. Vibe: social, design-led, unfussy. 9.4
Four Seasons Mallorca
At Cap de Formentor above Playa de Formentor, Four Seasons Mallorca revives the 1929 Hotel Formentor with pine shaded glamour and sea view rooms. Spend mornings on the beach or roaming the pristine landscapes, afternoons by the pool, and evenings with Mediterranean dining. The spa’s thermal circuit, sauna, steam, and cold plunge keep you fresh and reset. 9.8
Cap Rocat Mallorca
On a private peninsula in Cala Blava, Cap Rocat is a restored military fortress turned quiet sanctuary above Palma Bay. Stone corridors lead to sea view suites, an infinity pool, and a Turkish-style spa carved into rock. Dine at La Fortaleza or the open-air Sea Club. Vibe: secluded, cinematic and calm. 9.6
Monument Hotel Barcelona
On Passeig de Gràcia, opposite Gaudí’s La Pedrera, Monument Hotel is a sleek premodernist mansion turned five-star, with 84 rooms, some with balconies. Spend afternoons by the rooftop pool and Verbena terrace, then book Spa by Valmont treatments. Dining is serious: three-Michelin-star Lasarte plus Oria. Vibe: quietly confident, design-led and central. 9.6
La Fonda Heritage Hotel
Relais & Châteaux, Marbella.
In Marbella’s Old Town on Plaza Santo Cristo, La Fonda Heritage Hotel is a Relais & Châteaux hideaway with 19 individually styled rooms. Start on the patio terrace for breakfast, climb to the rooftop Sky Bar for sunset cocktails, then linger over Mediterranean cooking. Vibe: intimate, elegant, quietly local. 9.8
Hacienda Na Xamena
Ibiza.
Perched 180 metres above the Mediterranean near San Miguel, Ibiza, Hacienda Na Xamena is a whitewashed cliffside retreat. Its 77 rooms favour sea views and whirlpool tubs. Book Spa La Posidonia and the eight-pool Cascadas Suspendidas circuit, then drift between terraces, pools, and sunset dining. Vibe: serene, slightly bohemian. 9.0
Villa Le Blanc Menorca
A Gran Meliá Hotel.
On Menorca’s south coast at Playa de Santo Tomás, Villa Le Blanc, a Gran Meliá hotel, is a sleek, sea facing retreat with 159 rooms and suites. Days drift between the main pool, a serene rooftop pool, direct beach access, and spa rituals. Vibe: sun washed, quietly sophisticated, gently restorative. 9.0
Palacio Gran Vía Hotel
Granada.
On Granada’s Gran Vía de Colón, opposite the Cathedral, Palacio Gran Vía, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is a 1905 former bank turned 38-room jewel. Slip into the brick-vaulted hammam and heated indoor pool, then rise to the Miralba rooftop for Alhambra views. Vibe: hushed, design-forward, warmly Andalusian. Stunning hotel in a great location. 9.8
Sant Francesc Hotel Singular
Mallorca.
On Palma’s Plaza de Sant Francesc, this restored 19th-century mansion feels like a private art-filled home in the old town. Expect 42 rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace with a pool and cathedral views, Quadrat restaurant with garden dining, and a small wellness and gym. Vibe: discreet, stylish, sun-soaked. 9.8
Hotel Maria Cristina
San Sebastian.
On the Urumea River opposite the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, Hotel Maria Cristina is San Sebastián’s 1912 Belle Époque grande dame, now refreshed. Expect luxury bathrooms in marble, a fantastic restaurant and cocktail bar, and a well equipped fitness centre. Walk to La Concha beach and the Old Town. Vibe: elegant, celebratory, Basque-smart. 9.8
Finca Cortesin
Hotel Golf & Spa
Casares, Málaga.
Near Casares on Spain’s Costa del Sol, Finca Cortesin feels like an Andalusian manor built around grand courtyards, with 67 airy suites and four-metre ceilings. Days swing from championship golf and a 2,200-square-metre spa to the Bahía de Casares beach club and 35-metre infinity pool. Vibe: serene, sun-burnished, quietly celebratory. 9.8
Hotel Boutique
Casa del Limonero
Seville.
Hidden on Calle Guzmán el Bueno in Seville’s Santa Cruz, Hotel Boutique Casa del Limonero is a restored 15th century palace turned cabinet of curiosities. Fourteen individually styled rooms surround citrusy courtyards, with a tiled pool, hammam, rooftop terrace, and thoughtful breakfasts. Vibe: arty, intimate, quietly escapist for city wanderers. 9.8
Cotton House Hotel
Barcelona
In Barcelona’s Eixample on Gran Via, Cotton House inhabits the former cotton guild headquarters, all neoclassical bones and playful textile touches. There are 83 rooms and five suites, a book-lined library, Batuar dining, a rooftop pool, and a tailoring atelier. Vibe: polished, gently eccentric, wonderfully walkable from Passeig de Gràcia. 9.4
ME Marbella by Meliá
Near Puerto Banús in Marbella, ME Marbella is a sun washed, design forward beach escape with terrace facing rooms and ME+ perks. Days move between two outdoor pools, a chiringuito, and wellness rituals in the spa and gym. Evenings lean into music, cocktails, and modern Mediterranean plates. Vibe: stylish, social, lightly hedonistic. 9.2
7Pines Resort Ibiza
On Ibiza’s west coast in Sant Josep de sa Talaia, 7Pines feels like a whitewashed village above the sea, with Es Vedrà on the horizon. Suites sit in gardens; days orbit the infinity pool, Cone Club sunsets, and Pure Seven Spa’s saunas and steam. Vibe: barefoot-luxe, quietly sociable. 9.4
Lago Resort Menorca
Suites del Lago
On Cala’n Bosch marina, near Ciutadella, Suites del Lago at Lago Resort Menorca is an adults-only retreat of Menorcan-toned rooms and suites with terraces, some with private pools. Float in the heated saltwater thalasso pool with swim-up bar, dine in the Michelin-starred restaurant, then reset with sauna, steam and treatments. Vibe: chic, slow, nautical.9.6
Hotel Alfonso XIII
Seville
Commissioned for Seville’s 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition, Hotel Alfonso XIII is a Moorish-detailed grande dame in the Santa Cruz quarter, beside the Royal Alcázar of Seville and Seville Cathedral. Sip cocktails in Bar Americano, dine in the collonaded Restaurante San Fernando courtyard, then cool off in the outdoor pool. Vibe: regal, sunlit, indulgent. 9.4
Alhambra Palace Hotel
Granada.
Perched within Granada’s Alhambra precinct, Hotel Alhambra Palace, opened in 1910, pairs Moorish-inspired interiors with sweeping city and Sierra Nevada views. Rooms feel classic, sunlit, and quietly romantic. Come to Príncipe’s panoramic restaurant terrace and the snack-bar for late tapas. Vibe: historic, polished, serenely theatrical after dark, near the centre. 9.4
Akelarre San Sebastian
A Relais & Châteaux Hôtel.
On Monte Igueldo, 15 minutes from San Sebastián, Akelarre is a modern, sea-facing hideaway built around Pedro Subijana’s three-Michelin-star restaurant. Just 22 luxury rooms come with terraces and Biscay views. The adults-only spa adds sauna, steam room, and a heated hydrotherapy pool, plus a hot tub, for post-tasting relaxation. 9.6
Es Princep Mallorca
Perched on Palma’s Calatrava ramparts, Es Príncep is a sleek old town sanctuary with sea facing rooms in warm neutrals. The rooftop infinity pool and Almaq bar catch the Bay of Palma sunsets. Below, a cocooning spa offers an indoor pool and Turkish bath. Vibe: calm, grown up, quietly glamorous. 9.8
Brach Madrid
On Madrid’s Gran Via at number 20, Philippe Starck’s Brach inhabits a restored 1922 landmark with 57 rooms and four suites. Dip into the indoor pool, then book La Capsule spa rituals before Mediterranean plates and cocktails downstairs. Vibe is artful, warm, and wonderfully cinematic. 9.8
Kimpton Vividora
Barcelona
On Carrer del Duc in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, Kimpton Vividora is a design-savvy sanctuary with 151 rooms and suites inspired by local apartments. Take sunset cocktails on Terraza de Vivi’s rooftop pool terrace, book a massage, and refuel at Fauna. Vibe is sociable, artsy, and city-smart, steps from Plaça Catalunya. 9.4
Nobu Hotel Marbella
On Marbella’s Golden Mile inside the Puente Romano resort, Nobu Hotel Marbella pairs Japanese minimalism with Andalusian heat. Days move between the adults-only Nobu pool, beach clubs, and Six Senses Spa Marbella treatments, while nights start at Nobu restaurant and slip easily into La Suite nightclub. Vibe: polished, flirtatious, grown-up, and sunlit. 9.2
Montesol Experimental Ibiza
Ibiza Town.
On Ibiza Town’s Paseo de Vara de Rey, Montesol Experimental is a neocolonial landmark reborn with Dorothée Meilichzon’s bohemian-cosmic style across 33 boutique rooms and suites. Café Montesol serves Mediterranean plates on the terrace; upstairs, the rooftop cocktail bar frames Dalt Vila and marina views. Vibe: sociable, design-led, relaxed. 9.0
ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea
High in Altea Hills above the Costa Blanca, ZEM Wellness Clinic pairs a five-star retreat with a longevity clinic. Expect 95 suites, Mediterranean views, and a 4,000-square-metre spa with a hydrotherapy circuit, saunas, hammam, and Himalayan-salt calm. Programmes lean Mediterranean, with diagnostics, nutrition, and movement coaching. Vibe: serene, science-led, quietly luxe. 9.8
Only YOU Hotel Valencia
Steps from Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Only YOU Hotel Valencia is a stylish city bolthole for lingering between galleries and tapas bars. Rooms feel bright and contemporary. Downstairs, expect a great restaurant and cocktail bar, A 24-hour gym and a massage room. A wonderful design minded vibe. 9.8
CoolRooms
Palacio Villapanés
Seville.
In Seville’s historic centre on Calle Santiago, near Santa Cruz, CoolRooms Palacio Villapanés is an 18th-century palace reimagined with crisp, contemporary calm. Fifty rooms circle a courtyard; some have balconies. Rise to the rooftop plunge pool, then retreat to the spa’s sauna and Turkish bath. Vibe: relaxed, luminous, gloriously Andalusian.
Seda Club Hotel
Granada.
In Granada’s Plaza de la Trinidad, Seda Club Hotel is a 21-room private-club hideaway, rich in velvet colour and Andalusian poise. Rise to the rooftop for Cathedral views and cocktails, then retreat to the spa’s heated indoor pool, sauna and steam. Vibe: intimate, artful, wonderfully central for Alhambra-bound days. 9.8
Palacio Can Marqués
Palma, Mallorca.
In Palma’s La Lonja, Palacio Can Marqués is an 18th-century palace turned adults-only suite hotel, with arches, a courtyard garden and cathedral-view rooftop terrace. Expect SeaSkin spa treatments, Technogym workouts with steam room, and The Merchants dining. Vibe is discreet, artful, old-town intimate. 9.8
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