Luxury Hotels in Sevilla (120€ and up)

Hotel Alfonso XIII
San Fernando, 2
* * * * *

The grande dame of luxury hotels in Seville, and a real landmark near the Puerta Jerez, the Alfonso has a slightly old-fashioned magnificence that doesn’t detract from its comfort and high standards of service, and it’s still the preferred place to stay for the rich and famous The glassed-in central courtyard and its associated bars and restaurants is unique in Seville, and if you can afford it, it’s the place to go for evening cocktails. Unfortunately, there is a 30€ daily charge for WiFi, which is frankly unbelievable at this level of hotel.

Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza
Plaza Jesús De La Redencion, 2
* * * *

Of the new breed of chic 4-star hotels in renovated historical buildings, Las Casa del Rey de Baeza is my favourite. Pass through the modern reception area, and you will find yourself in the traditional interior courtyards. There are a couple of lounges with terracotta floors and leather sofas around the garden patios. The rooftop pool is a bit small, but there’s a nice sundeck where you can relax with a drink or a book, and a well eqipped spa. The bedrooms are furnished in a mix of the traditional and modern, and fresh flowers are a nice touch. The hotel has its own restaurant for lunch and dinner, doubling as a breakfast room in the morning. It’s in a quiet little square away from the main streets, but still within easy walking distance of the sights and the shops.

Hotel Casa 1800
Rodrigo Caro, 6
* * * *

This little gem of a hotel, perfectly located just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral, is acquiring a good reputation as the place to stay for a romantic getaway. It’s in a renovated townhouse, and I love the way many of the original exposed brick walls and beamed ceilings have been preserved or restored. The best rooms have their own private patio and jacuzzi, but they’re all beautifully, and individually decorated. A nice touch is the complimentary afternoon tea, which can be a welcome escape from the summer afternoon sun. There’s no restaurant, but there’s no shortage of good places to eat nearby.

Gran Melia Colon
Canalejas, 1
* * * * *

As soon as you go into the grand circular lobby (the Albero, after the yellow sand used in the bullring), you can see that this 5-star hotel really looks the part. It’s quite large, with 189 rooms on six floors, each of which is designed around the work of a particular Spanish artistic period or painter, with reproductions of famous paintings on all the doors. I love the combination of high style, with furnishings by Edra, Starck and Wanders, art, and humour. There’s a spa and wellness centre to pamper the outer man, and a top notch restaurant and designer tapas bar to satisfy the inner man. Watch out for visiting celebrities, particularly bullfighters and footballers. The location is just outside the tourist areas, but within a short walk of almost everywhere you might want to go.

Corral del Rey
Corral de Rey, 12
* *

This is a very small, but shamelessly luxurious, hotel, and an excellent place to disconnect from the rest of the world and concentrate on your holiday. There are iPod decks and free WiFi in the rooms, and a cosy courtyard downstairs, but no intrusive TV. In fact, the whole atmosphere is very personal, from the superb service to the artwork, decor, and fresh flowers.

AlmaSevilla Palacio Villapanes
Santiago 31
* * * * *

By discreetly declining to mention the word hotel on its august portals, the 5-star AlmaSevilla adds a dash of exclusivity to its undoubted quality. The main lobby is a classic colonnaded patio with a central fountain, and as well as a second large courtyard at the back with a bar and lots of greenery, there are a plush lounge and a library to relax in. The bedrooms are spacious and luxurious and have modern bathrooms and all the complimentary bits and bobs that you’d expect. The retaurant downstairs serves typical Andalusian cuisine. It’s located in a quiet side street near the centre, so it’s handy for pretty much everywhere you need to go.

Casa nº7
Virgenes 7
* *

Seville’s very first boutique hotel, Casa nº7 actually feels more like a private guesthouse offering great personal service. Small, tasteful and discreet, it boasts a level of luxury that belies its official 2-star status. No TV or radio here, although there is free WiFi, so its quiet and relaxed, right down to the antique filled sitting room. The location in a quiet street on the edge of the Santa Cruz is perfect, too, if a little difficult to find. A home from home for the seasoned traveller with a bit of cash.

EME Fusion Hotel
Alemanes, 27
* * * * *

This is definitely the trendiest hotel in town, with “gangsta” doormen and day-glo lighting in the lobby, and the rooftop terrace and bar is one of the top “must-be-seen-at” places in Seville. It also has a wide choice of places to eat, including an Italian restaurant, tapas bar and fusion gastrobar. The location is perfectly central – literally just across the street from the Cathedral.

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