Eurostars Palace

Eurostars Palace is situated in the center of Cordoba and housed in a striking "industrial chic" building with a curved facade of forged, perforated iron that gives the exterior a mesh-like appearance. That sleek effect continues inside, and guests enter to a high-ceilinged lobby with stainless-steel hanging light covers and a glassed-in center atrium section. Big windows and perforated facade allow lots of natural light in, complementing the black, silver, gray, and white motif that some may consider stylish but others may find a little cold and severe. The seasonal rooftop pool and poolside bar is a sharp gathering spot in the summer months. The hotel draws style-conscious travelers to its modern rooms, good dining, and excellent location a short walk from historic sights. Business travelers make use of the meeting rooms and city center location a short walk from corporate offices. 

The location here is great for tourists, as the hotel sits at the southern end of a park in the center of the city. The Victoria Market and Victoria Gardens are in the middle of the park, a little under a five-minute walk away. On the border between the new part of the city and the historic district, the hotel is within walking distance of nearly all the city's major attractions. It's across the street from the preserved medieval Almodovar Gate and entrance to the Jewish Quarter. Expect a five-minute walk to the Cordoba Synagogue and ten minutes to La Mezquita, a World Heritage Site and monument of Moorish architecture. The hotel is a little over a 10-minute walk from the Roman Bridge, at the end of which is the 12th-century Calahorra Tower. A bus stop is right outside the hotel, and the Cordoba train station is a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk. The nearest major airport is in Seville, a 90-minute drive away.

The rooms, family rooms, and suites at Eurostars Palace have an upscale, minimalist look, with a white, grey, and black color palette. The aesthetic is cool and sleek, but some may consider it austere and uninviting, and it has the undeniable look of a business hotel. The rooms might benefit from some art and a dash of color or two. With large windows and the perforated hotel facade, rooms get good natural light during the day, but with all that black in the rooms they can get a bit dark at night. 

Rooms are all fairly spacious, ranging from 291 square feet (27 square meters) to 377 square feet (35 square meters) in size. All 162 rooms come with minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with a good range of channels, though they lack kettles or coffeemakers. Some rooms come with a welcome cocktail, pastries, and tropical fruit. However, it is worth noting that noise from traffic can be an issue in lower-floor rooms. 

The bathrooms are a standout. They are designed with toilets, sinks, and bathing areas in three separate sections, and feature curved stainless steel fixtures and square-shaped shallow sinkss. All come with bathrobes, make-up mirrors, premium bath products, and bidets. Showers are separate from bathtubs, and feature rainfall showerheads, while tubs have hydromassage jets. 

Unlike many Cordoba city-center hotels, the Eurostars Palace has a swimming pool, open June through September. It has a poolside, covered open-air bar, also open seasonally. The deck features good views of the city, Guadalquivir River, and Sierra Morena mountains. At about 15 meters long, the pool is fairly big by city hotel standards, but the deck is a bit small and confined, and sometimes runs out of sun loungers for everyone. The on-site fitness center includes a couple of treadmills, two recumbent bikes, and some free weights, so it's really only meant for a basic workout. The restaurant serves a good-quality hot-and-cold breakfast buffet (for a fee), plus traditional Andalusian regional cuisine for lunch and dinner, with ample use of seasonal produce. Room service is available on most nights. The hotel also has a cafe bar and piano bar with a good range of cocktails and light fare from the Cordoba region. The Eurostars Palace also has meeting rooms, concierge service, and indoor parking (for a fee). Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, though there is a fee for on-site parking.