Best Boutique Hotels in Granada

A beautifully restored 19th-century mansion meets bold 21st-century design at the 40-room Hospes Palacio de los Patos, a Cultural Heritage Site. Once the home of the Dutch consul, the main building has been immaculately restored to reflect the elegant grandeur of the original, while the New Wing -- created by Catalan design guru Xavier Claramunt -- has relentlessly 21st-century chic interiors. Many of the superbly finished rooms include blend 19th-century elements and contemporary decor. Beds are topped with Egyptian cotton and in-room tech includes iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with DVD players and satellite channels. Bathrooms are uber-modern and clad in marble. The hotel's subterranean Bodyna Spa has a sauna, steam baths, and a small thermal pool, and Los Patos Restaurant provides indoor and alfresco fine dining in the lush terraced gardens. 

First built in the 15th century as a grand Nasrid palace for a Moorish prince, and later transformed into a Franciscan convent by the Catholic Monarchs, this property has been witness to centuries of Spanish history. Now, the upscale boutique hotel offers the unique experience of staying inside La Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 40 rooms are contemporary, with understated Spanish decor and up-to-date amenities, such as flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Guests interested in learning more about the building’s grand history may want to visit the hotel’s gorgeous 15th-century chapel, with coffered ceilings and traditional wall moldings. Few of the original Nasrid architectural details remain, but guests can still visit the hammam, one of the grand halls, and the serene gardens, designed to recreate the image of Paradise as described in the Qur’an. Additionally, the hotel also features a solid restaurant serving a traditional regional menu, a quiet central cloister with a fountain, and a solarium with panoramic views. 

The luxurious AC Palacio de Santa Paula, Autograph Collection sits on elegant Gran Via, one of the city's main avenues, with plenty of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops lining the surrounding streets. The hotel's stunning grounds include a 16th-century convent and 12th-century Moorish building, and the hotel runs a well-regarded restaurant serving modern Andalusian cuisine, a chic bar with seating around a stone courtyard, and a small gym with a Turkish bath and sauna. The 75 romantic rooms feature flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, minibars, and bathrooms with shower/tub combos and bidets. The rooms' wood-shuttered windows are soundproofed and can be opened. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

The family-owned and -operated Santa Isabel la Real occupies a renovated 16th-century Andalusian home with a pretty interior courtyard with a water fountain, hand-painted floral tiles, and wooden staircases. There is also a cozy living room with a working fireplace and a small terrace with views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The hotel is located about a 15-minute, hilly walk from the center of town, but there is a minibus stop right outside hotel door (connection to city center in five minutes). The 10 guest rooms are clean and well-maintained and retaining much of their original charm. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are included with the price of a room, though Wi-Fi can be spotty.

This upper-middle-range boutique hotel in Granada's historic center combines the historic elements of its 17th-century building -- wood balconies surrounding a columned interior courtyard, carved wooden doors -- with chic, modern furnishings and whimsical touches. Rooms are super-clean, individually decorated, and inspired by poets, novelists, and composers from Spain and beyond. All have exposed, dark-wood ceiling beams and carved, wooden doors and window shutters, along with wood floors, crisp white bedding, and stylish, modern furniture. Each room has a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and glazed windows for soundproofing; however, some street-facing rooms can get a bit of traffic noise. Free tea and coffee are offered in a chic library with terracotta floors, and breakfast is available for a fee in the building's 16th-century vaulted cellar. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, which forms part of the Square of the Pilgrims, and is a 20-minute walk from the famed Alhambra. 

The tranquil, 14-room Casa Morisca is named for the "Moriscos" -- Muslims who remained in Granada after the city came under Catholic rule in the 1400s and were forced to convert to Christianity. Architect Carlos Sanchez and his wife Maria Jesus restored this personality-filled 15th-century home and turned it into a lovely hotel, which opened in 2012. It's not surprising that the property received Spain's National Restoration Award: architectural details including rough barrel-vaulted bricks, Arab tiles, original wooden ceilings, and even the original pool were gorgeously restored and refurbished. Columns topped with Nasrid capitals, an original central patio, and a Moorish fountain give the hotel tons of charm. Two floors of bedrooms wrap around a sunny, columned courtyard.

The 15-room El Ladron de Agua occupies a former home of 16th-century Christian nobility, tucked away on a quiet, cobblestone street along the River Darro. The property is designed in Moorish style, centering around a beautiful interior courtyard with white marble floors and colonnades, and a marble fountain that emits the soothing sound of flowing water. The Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez inspired a large mural depicting the four seasons of Granada, found on the hotel's facade. Inside, rooms are named after poems and plays, and the cozy library holds an original edition of a book of Jimenez's poetry (guests gather here in the late afternoon for free sherry, olives, and potato chips). Each room is individually decorated, but all have a Moorish style, with oriental rugs, terracotta floors, and exposed, dark-wood ceiling beams, as well as LED bedside lamps, flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, lighted makeup mirrors, free bottled water, and Molton Brown bath products.

The sister property of a hotel by the same name in Seville, this boutique hotel is housed in a 16th-century structure that once served as the headquarters of the local militia. The renovated building is at the end of a narrow, cobblestone street and centers around a small but beautiful courtyard where breakfast and afternoon tea are served. The 25 rooms are snug, but pretty. All are decorated in a color palette of beige, gold, and white, which complements the building’s elegant classical architecture. Most rooms overlook the building’s inner courtyard, although some rooms have views of the stunning Alhambra. Mineral water and Wi-Fi are free, and each room has a flat-screen TV, a minibar, and slippers. 

The Suites Gran Via 44 is a charming boutique and vacation apartment complex in Granada, located a short walk from the city's top attractions. The 21 rooms are mini-apartments or suites, with modern kitchens and spacious living/dining areas. The staff provides a warm welcome and there is a pretty, common "chill out" lounge with TV and coffee, but guests should be aware that arriving by car can be a hassle due to traffic restrictions in the area (it is convenient to arrive by public transportation instead).

When the Palacio de Santa Ines opened its doors in 1995, it was at the forefront of what would become a popular move: renovating the neighborhood’s historic Mudejar homes into boutique hotels. The hotel consists of two beautiful, charm-filled, and exquisitely renovated 16th-century private homes, connected by a gorgeous patio filled with potted fruit trees and fountains. The courtyard also showcases Renaissance frescos painted by Alexander Mayner and Giulio Romano, two disciples of Rafael who came to Granada in 1520 to paint the Peinador Queen of the Alhambra and stayed to adorn the Palacio de Santa Ines. The panoramic views of the Alhambra from the hotel's terrace are stunning. The location in the Albayzin district, a few minutes from the Granada Cathedral, makes it convenient for exploring the city on foot (expect a 20-minute walk to Alhambra Fortress). Individually decorated rooms are comfortable and full of personality, though the historic buildings do show some age. 

The three-story, seven-room boutique Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol feels like a B&B (although breakfast is not included). Originally a family home, the rooms, which all have names, are charming and individually decorated, and the lobby feels like a comfortable living room. The owners have furnished the hotel with family antiques, and they lavish personal attention on guests. The Carmen de la Alcubilla is a peaceful oasis, with spectacular views of Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

A beautifully restored 19th-century mansion on a cobbled street, the 31-room Villa Oniria offers a stylish, upscale experience in the city center. This lovely property has rooftop and fireplace lounges, along with lush gardens, a full-service spa, and a chic restaurant serving gourmet Spanish cuisine. Rooms are modern and spacious with cozy couches, while suites have big terraces with Albaycin views. Some rooms are showing signs of wear and tear, and there's a fee to use the cramped gym, but Wi-Fi throughout is free. For travelers seeking an Andalusian villa experience with outdoor space and proximity to the sights, this is a solid pick.

Room Mate Leo is a three-pearl hotel in central Granada, a short walk from shopping and dining, and under a five-minute stroll from the Granada Cathedral. Apart from a rooftop terrace, the hotel has no major features, but it serves a good hot-and-cold breakfast buffet for a fee. The 32 rooms feature stylish black-and-gold decor, and all come with minibars, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. Some of the rooms are a bit small. Wi-Fi is free throughout the building, and the hotel also provides free 3G mobile hotspots so international guests can stay connected throughout the city. 

Granada Five Senses Rooms & Suites is a three-pearl boutique hotel that's a short walk from the Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel. The hotel features colorful, modern interiors and each of its floors are named for the five human senses. There are some nice perks here, too, and the spa, fitness room, and rooftop splash pool are unexpected in this category in central Granada. The 75 rooms have dashes of style, but are a bit spartan. All come with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs, though they can be small, and many don't have coffeemakers or mini-fridges. 

The 185-room Hotel Macia Real de la Alhambra combines aspects of modern and ancient Andalusia, with chic, contemporary decor in public spaces, and a traditional hammam at the luxe on-site spa. The location is significantly removed from the city center, but public transportation stops right by the hotel, and the hotel's restaurant and facilities -- including a rooftop pool -- are nice enough that most find a stay at this hotel worth the trade-off.