Calle Leon Y Castillo 227, Parque Doramas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain | (618) 248-8274
Housed in a gorgeous building steeped in history
A 15-minute walk from a beach and the marina
Classic rooms come with flat-screen TVs and minibars
Acclaimed restaurant features elegant decor and attracts guests and locals
Pleasant, relaxing pool comes with loungers and a casual snack bar
Great breakfast buffet is served on a charming patio
Spa features hydrotherapy areas and treatment rooms with services like facials
Spacious fitness center has an array of machines
Lobby bar includes outdoor seating areas and a piano
Three elegant ballrooms and four fully equipped boardrooms available for meetings and events
Free Wi-Fi
Single Rooms don’t have views
Not all rooms have balconies
Fee for use of the fitness center
Housed in one of Las Palmas’ most iconic buildings, the 202-room Santa Catalina is an upscale property full of classic charm. It may not be as luxurious as it used to be and rooms feel a tad spartan to some, but few hotels in Gran Canaria are as stately as this. There is a relaxing pool, a spa, and a gym, but the standouts here are the restaurants, including acclaimed La Terraza and Los Patios, which serves a wonderful free breakfast in a cute courtyard. It is a quiet hotel a 15-minute walk from the beach and the marina, so those traveling with kids may want to look elsewhere.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A charming hotel oozing classic elegance
First opened in 1890, the historic Santa Catalina is housed in one of Las Palmas’ most recognizable landmarks, a gorgeous building with traditional Canarian carved-wood balconies, cute arched windows with stone frames, and two turrets topped with ornate domes. A red carpet placed under a long red awning leads guests to the stately lobby, decorated with marble floors, bronze statues, wood accents, crystal chandeliers, tapestries, and rugs.
Off the lobby is Bar Carabela, the hotel’s elegant piano bar, which is a popular spot among guests for a quiet nightcap. Dark wooden floors, ornate wooden window and door frames, a long wooden bar, and plush velvet armchairs make this space cozy and inviting. Outside, a porched area overlooking the street offers additional seating during warmer nights.
A long list of celebrity guests have briefly called the Santa Catalina home, including Winston Churchill, several generations of the Spanish Royals, Gregory Peck, and Maria Callas, among many others.
Location
Within walking distance of the beach and a short drive from the historic center
The hotel is located inside Doramas Park, a lovely garden with fountains, tranquil paths, a large swimming center, sports facilities, and playgrounds. This part of town is a little away from the historic city center, but a quick cab ride gets guests to the heart of the action. Attraction such as the beautiful Gabinete Literario and Santa Ana Cathedral are a 12-minute drive away. The nearest beach is located a 15-minute walk away, and the marina, which is home to several restaurants, can be reached on foot in about five minutes.
Rooms
Classic and overall elegant, but a little plain
The hotel has 202 rooms in categories ranging from Standard units to Senior Suites. Many have charming balconies furnished with wooden chairs and tables, but Single Rooms have views of walls and lack outdoor space. Decor is classic with sturdy traditional wooden furniture and elegant rugs, but rooms are a little spartan for a luxury hotel, with small generic paintings on the walls and few other ornaments. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and stocked minibars. Superior Rooms have park views, while Junior Suites and Suites have the perk of living rooms.
Features
A pool, gym, spa and meeting rooms -- but the restaurant is the highlight
The hotel is known among tourists and locals alike for its gourmet restaurant. Helmed by Austrian Chef Thomas Leeb, La Terraza serves regional cuisine with an Austrian twist in an elegant space with outdoor seating. A wonderful free breakfast buffet is served every morning in Patio Las Tortugas, and live piano shows are offered several evenings a week at Bar Carabela. The pool is a quiet spot for a relaxing day in the sun, complete with loungers and a snack bar serving light bites and drinks. The hotel also offers a spa with treatments and a hydrotherapy area, and a gym with group classes, but there is a fee for use of either of them. There are three grand ballrooms and four smaller boardrooms for events and meetings. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.
