Vincci Albayzin

The Vincci Albayzin has its fair share of local color, featuring an entrance hall with a marble floor in a Moorish geometric starburst pattern mirrored by a ceiling of rich dark wood carved into intricate mandalas. Farther inside, a contemporary lobby has seating in shades of blue and gray, plus lovely accents from a brick front desk with hand-painted cutouts, white column partitions, and Moroccan lantern by the marble staircase. A smart tapas bar is done up in cool shades of gray and black, and tall bar chairs sit at muted wood countertops. More impressive is the formal restaurant housed in a cavernous brick courtyard with a checkered marble floor, enclosed by a lofty glass roof with an imposing glass chandelier hanging down from its center. At one end of the restaurant, a staircase leads up to a high mezzanine, with a row of brick arches and a water feature. The hotel attracts mainly tourists looking to explore Granada and its historical sites, as well as a fair share of business travelers working in the city center.

The Vincci Albayzin is well-located at the far end of a bustling shopping street that leads right into the heart of town. The cathedral is a 12-minute walk away, while the Mirador San Nicolas, a popular viewpoint overlooking the Alhambra is a 22-minute walk away. The Alhambra itself, a vast and stunningly beautiful Moorish fortress complex, is a 40-minute walk away up a steep hill, or a half-hour bus ride right up to the fortress’s imposing gates. Granada railway station is a six-minute walk from the hotel, while it’s a 90- to 100-minute transfer to Malaga-Costa del Sol airport.

Air-conditioned rooms are elegant and well-kept, with white marble floors, walls in a shade of taupe, and closets with Moorish-style keyhole arches on the doors. Standard rooms have space for either a double bed or two single beds with white linen and a grayish-purple bedrunner, a desk that also acts as a flat-screen TV stand, and a plum Moorish-style armchair. Marble bathrooms have a rainfall shower and a sink sunken into a black granite countertop, plus a magnifying mirror, toiletries, an hairdryer. Junior suites, meanwhile, have a separate bedroom and tiny sitting room with a plum couch and armchair, as well as a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. Their bathrooms are larger, with a bathtub and separate shower. Suites are a single large room, with an ottoman at the foot of the bed and two armchairs around a little round table. Their bathrooms have a window into the bedroom, dual sinks, a shower cubicle, and a lovely sunken tub with hydromassage jets. All rooms have a minibar, safe, and free Wi-Fi, but no kettle or ironing facilities.

The Vincci Albayzin has three restaurants: A breakfast room where a buffet is served each morning; a smart tapas bar that serves beer and light bites throughout the day; and a formal eatery that serves an a la carte dinner in a striking glass-roofed courtyard. Food across the board receives positive reviews. The hotel has a small gym with just a few machines and free weights, plus there's a sauna. There are five meeting rooms available, and a small business corner with a printer. There is secure underground parking, and the hotel provides free Wi-Fi throughout.