In the city’s oldest district, you won’t have to leave the comfort of your sun lounger or the refreshing waters of the pool to see the sights – with rooftop terraces looking out to Seville’s Cathedral and beyond. Swim a few lengths with views of the splendid Plaza de España or peek through swaying palm trees at your hotel’s own regal exterior.
Browse our top picks of places to stay that include suites with hot tubs, elegant courtyard restaurants and luxurious treatments to be pampered with.
Combining traditional Sevillian design with palatial splendour, Hotel Alfonso XIII was built in the roaring 20s to be the most splendid place to stay in Europe. Wander through elegant marble lobbies decorated in colourful tiles to sun-filled courtyards, or out to the manicured gardens and pool. The open-air azure blue water sits beneath the hotel’s ornate exterior and is sheltered by rustling foliage, while the surrounding terracotta sun terrace is neatly laid with deco-inspired striped loungers: an idyllic spot for a post-dip siesta.
Escape from everyday life in rooms lit by sparkling crystal chandeliers with marble-floor bathrooms featuring local Sevillian ceramics. The décor perfectly balances original Andalusian style with modernity – think antique furniture alongside contemporary-patterned rugs and custom-made leather headboards. Soak yourself under the rainfall shower and lather up with the fragrant Byredo bath products before donning your plush robe and slippers.
Dining here is an experience for all the senses. Sample authentic Andalusian dishes like gazpacho and Atlantic-fresh fish beneath the arches of the colonnaded courtyard. For something more intimate, share tapas dishes in the sapphire blue open-kitchen dining room, decorated with painted murals. Art Deco design envelops the hotel’s suave 10 metre-long bar, where the dress code is smart-casual and the cocktails are curated in house.
Make yourself at home at the quaint Hotel Casa 1800. Rooms have an elegant, vintage charm, with original building features – like bare brick walls and intricate parquet flooring – sitting alongside eye-catching chandeliers and antique mirrors. Comfy beds are fit for royalty with grandiose headboards, while the marble-clad bathrooms feature sumptuous toiletries for foaming baths. From the room’s terrace, take in views of central Seville.
Days begin with bowls of fresh fruit and platters of cold meats under the restaurant’s beamed ceiling or outside on the sun-filled terrace. The hotel’s central location is brimming with restaurants offering a taste of authentic Spanish cuisine. Slip in alongside locals for Andalusian tapas dishes in the historic yellow-fronted Bodega Santa Cruz – the kitchen doesn’t close until midnight.
A world away from the busy streets below, the hotel’s rooftop terrace is a haven of relaxation. Stretch out with a few lengths of the mosaic-tiled pool or lounge on the sundeck’s cushioned beds to take in the Gothic Seville Cathedral – this UNESCO World Heritage site is almost close enough to touch. To escape from the midday sun, float in the cool waters of the indoor pool.
At the Melia Sevilla, breakfast is offered in the bright and airy buffet restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with light and cushioned seats for lazy brunches. Fill plates with pastries, seasonal fruit, smoked fish and cold meats or try something from the warm counter, like Spanish omelettes. Evening meals are served in the contemporary sophisticated restaurant and by the softly lit pool. Order dishes of local produce cooked in a charcoal oven for an aromatic, smoky flavour.
Sun-filled days can be spent sitting in a deck chair on the wooden deck to (finally) finish your book with an ice-cold drink from the pool bar – that’s if you’re not tempted by the sparkling blue pool. From the cool water, you’ll have views of the Renaissance-style façade and towers of the nearby Plaza de España.
Each of the hotel’s rooms looks out over the hotel’s pool or towards the city’s impressive architecture. Gold and bronze tones add a glamorous feel to the modern spaces. For the utmost in luxury, elevate your stay to an Executive Suite. Here you’ll also have a dressing room, lounge, balcony and a bathroom with both a drenching rainfall shower and a lavish hydromassage whirlpool bath.
After exploring the historic El Arenal district that’s on your doorstep, escape to the hidden rooftop terrace of Mercer Sevilla – a privilege reserved just for guests. This exclusive floor features a tranquil pool surrounded by a wooden deck with deep-cushioned chairs. Sink into one of the seats for a relaxing afternoon, with a glossy mag in one hand and a refreshing spritz in the other, brought to you from the rooftop bar.
This luxurious boutique hotel is housed within a converted 19th-century palace – Casa Palacio Castelar – and has restored intricately-decorated ceilings, grand arched halls and an elaborate staircase carved from marble. Stay in an airy room featuring the palace’s characteristic high ceilings and decorated with an understated contemporary flair. Rich materials and amenities – oak flooring, Nespresso machines and designer bathrooms – successfully create a plush yet relaxed ambience.
Dining at the hotel is a journey that begins with delicate appetisers and cocktails, created by the hotel’s mixologist, in the low lit bar before moving on to the shimmering-walled restaurant. The dinner menu experiments with traditional Spanish flavours and modern culinary techniques in dishes such as 40-day aged ribs with a buttery tarragon sauce. For the finale, wander through to the ornate patio for innovative desserts, like nutty soufflés and aromatic rosemary ice cream.
The Halo Boutique Hotel was carefully created by merging three 19th-century townhouses in the old Santa Cruz district. Stay in rooms filled with individuality, featuring exposed brick, restored wood-beamed ceilings and polished marble columns. Antique gold mirrors and velvet-covered chairs add to the rooms’ subtle opulence, along with little touches from fresh flowers to plush robes. Superior rooms also feature a hydromassage bath and soothing showers with rainfall heads and massaging jets of water.
In the famous Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, decades-old restaurants serve regional gastronomic delights. Dine on dishes such as carpaccio of prawns followed by homemade rich chocolate tarts with Sevillian orange cream in a small square surrounded by fragrant citrus trees. Some restaurants may also invite you into their kitchen to learn about traditional Andalusian food.
At the top of the hotel is an open terrace with uninterrupted vistas of the Barrio’s Gothic architecture, including Seville’s cathedral and Giralda. Unwind with a glass of sparkling cava in one of the viewing balcony’s contemporary-cool wire chairs or chill out on loungers by the saltwater pool made of marble. After a day of sight-seeing, relax with a Balinese massage.
High above the bustling streets, Becquer Hotel offers guests an uninterrupted panorama of Seville’s most iconic monuments from its rooftop. Order a refreshing drink from the bar and look out over the tiled buildings to the prominent Giralda and Gothic cathedral. With the sound of trickling water from the pool’s fountains, the white-painted terrace is a tranquil oasis with loungers for sun worshippers and cushioned benches in the cool shade.
Earthy tones, cotton sheets and wooden floors create a calm ambience in the rooms, while large windows fill the rooms with natural light. In the Junior Suite, spread out in your additional living room with a steaming Americano from your coffee machine, or be massaged by water jets in your private hot tub. All the rooms also include a free walking or bike tour to help you get to know the city.
The hotel’s breakfast buffet is laid out in a spacious dining hall with a glass roof and the illusion of birds flying in its lofty heights. Breakfast is a traditional affair with only the finest local ingredients used to make authentic dishes like sourdough bread with homemade cheese and Iberian cold cuts. For something warm, there are free-range eggs and tapas as well as sugary churros on Sundays and special occasions.
Among the gardens of the Heliopolis neighbourhood is the Hotel Silken Al-Andalus Sevilla. This immense complex makes the most of the sun with outdoor terraces for light lunches and coffees. Inside, the restaurant is elegant and welcoming, with daylight spilling in through floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the hotel’s verdant grounds. Spend the rest of the evening in the chic piano bar – live music drifts out onto its patio area where you can spot stars on balmy nights.
Outside, among the hotel’s 15,000 square-metres of gardens, you can while away an afternoon swinging in poolside hammocks before padding over to the poolside restaurant for a lazy lunch. Stretch out after a siesta in the pool’s deep blue water or wander in the shade beneath the garden’s rustling palm trees – where you’ll find activities including sports during the summer months. After sunset, the grounds twinkle with candles while soothing music is played.
Across its many floors, the hotel offers a selection of rooms – from simply-styled comfort rooms looking out onto the gardens and pool to lavish suites. Up on the sixth floor, these feature oriental-inspired interiors designed by Sevillian fashion brand, Victorio & Lucchino. Each is decorated with specially designed furniture and plush textiles. Soak in your freestanding tub or under the rainfall shower after sunbathing on the plush loungers out on your generous private balcony.