Chef Jordi Cruz was the youngest Spanish chef ever to win a Michelin star, at the restaurant Estany Clar. In this sleek, stylish space, Cruz, a culinary celebrity in Catalonia, showcases local produce in dishes such as scallops on potato blinis, lobster Bolognese, roasted octopus with a shrimp emulsion, and roasted baby lamb with vanilla.
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Traveling the World in Search
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Spain
Overview
From Andrew Harper
Never the most federally minded of countries, Spain could easily be described as a loose confederation of Iberian regions that share a love of the good life and soccer. The third-largest country in Europe is still slightly smaller than Texas, and Madrid is located squarely in the middle of the peninsula, meaning that flights to Galicia, Andalusia and Catalonia rarely last over an hour. While luxury development on the coasts continues unabated, the government has not forgotten its preservation efforts: A major renovation program to restore the paradors, or medieval convents, has resulted in several “new” luxury accommodations that date to the 15th century!
An awareness of history is balanced by a forward-thinking infrastructure: Spain continues to change at an astonishing pace, and by 2020, the country plans to have the largest network of high-speed trains in Europe. Since 2008, a line has linked Madrid and Barcelona in less than three hours, while historic cities such as Toledo and Salamanca are newly accessible. Andalusia is one of our favorite regions of Europe, and it is always with a sense of high expectation that we board the 190-mph AVE express at Madrid’s Atocha station, knowing that two-and-a-half hours later we will be drawing smoothly into the wonderful city of Seville.
Lodging options are as disparate as the country itself, ranging from the Alpine inns of the Catalan Pyrenees to the Moorish-themed beach resorts of Costa del Sol. The chic Gran Hotel Domine in Bilbao mirrors the adventurous architectural spirit of its neighbor, the Guggenheim Museum, while the 16th-Century monastery-hotel Parador Hostal San Marcos in León is appropriately attired in rare tapestries and period antiques. But for most, Spain means healthy amounts of Mediterranean sunshine -- La Residencia, on the Balearic island of Mallorca, makes a perfect base for exploring the Deià coastline.
CLIMATE: Spain has three main climatic zones: north, central and Mediterranean. Madrid typifies that of the high central plateau; Seville is 10 to 15 degrees warmer than Madrid, with August being unpleasantly hot. The southern Mediterranean region of the Costa del Sol is exemplified by Almeria.
TIME: Six hours ahead of New York (EST).
CURRENCY: Euro (€). Fluctuating rate valued at €1.00 = US$1.30 as of October 2012.
U.S. EMBASSY: Madrid, Tel. (91) 587-2240.
DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels and restaurants in Spain, dial 011 (international access) + 34 (Spain code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport. Visit www.travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, www.cdc.gov
GENERAL INFORMATION: Visit www.spain.info before your trip.
Hotels
All recommended hotels in Spain
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Hacienda de San RafaelFamily-owned country inn amid a 350- acre working farm on the fertile Andalusian plains, 35 minutes south of Seville. |
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Hospes Las Casas Del Rey De BaezaStylish hotel a 10-minute walk from Seville’s cathedral. Comprised of two 18th-century residences, the enclave features 41 accommodations grouped around inner courtyards. |
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Hospes Palacio de los PatosStriking 42-room hotel in a stately Belle Epoque villa and modern annex, 10 minutes by taxi from the Alhambra. Light, airy rooms retain chestnut floors and decorative paintings, but come with modern furnishings. |
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Hospes Palacio del BailíoAtmospheric 53-room hotel in 16th- and 18th-century mansions surrounding courtyards planted with orange trees. Rooms have a minimalist décor. |
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Hotel Alfonso XIIIGrand and newly renovated 151-room property near the city’s cathedral and Alcazar palace. Guest rooms are spacious and decorated in three styles: Isabelline baroque, Castilian and Moorish. |
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Parador De GranadaRomantic 40-room mission-style inn within the walls of the Alhambra. Rooms have contemporary furniture, décor with Moorish touches and black marble baths. |
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Villa SoroStately brick mansion dating from 1898, set amid gardens a 10-minute walk from the old town. The 25 accommodations create a refined but lively mood. |
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Hotel RectorPerched on a hillside overlooking Toledo, this 74-room recently renovated parador occupies a handsome brick building in the traditional idiom of La Mancha architecture. |
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ABaC Restaurant & HotelFifteen stylish rooms (five suites) and a two-star restaurant are tucked behind the striking exterior of an old mansion wrapped in a walled garden in a quiet residential neighborhood. |
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El Palace Hotel BarcelonaAristocratic and impressively remodeled 1919 neoclassical-style hotel with 125 rooms and suites in the heart of the city, near Las Ramblas and the Plaça d’Espanya. |
Dining
All recommended restaurants in Spain
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ABAC
Avenida Tibidabo 1
Barcelona
08022
Spain
US$125
AKELARE
Chef Pedro Subijana Reza was one of the founders of the New Basque cooking movement. Look for dishes such as the oysters in an edible “shell,” a fricassee of wild mushrooms with powdered nuts and a soy mayonnaise, turbot with mussels and lentils, succulent Iberian pork, rhubarb sorbet with candied herbs, and a rolled cake with a mulberry sauce and milk meringue. The contemporary dining room offers
memorable views of the Bay of Biscay.
Paseodel Padre Orcolaga 56, Igueldo
San Sebastián
20008
Spain
US$145
ALTA TABERNA PACO MERALGO
Conveniently located in the central Eixample neighborhood, this attractive modern tapas bar takes reservations, and most of its staff speak English. Try the pan con tomate, the delicious Catalan specialty of toasted bread dressed with olive oil, crushed fresh tomato and a little garlic; sautéed baby clams; tortilla Espanola (a potato-filled omelet); and tuna belly dressed with sesame oil and soy sauce.
Muntaner 171
Barcelona
08036
Spain
US$50
ARZAK
Arzak is arguably the finest restaurant in Spain. One meal began with superb hors d’oeuvres, the best of which was a pâté of mushrooms in a sandwich of puffed and curried rice wafers. Tiny langoustines were exquisite with a purée and kernel of corn, as were oysters mounted on rounds of potato under a veil of “cellophane” made from evaporated seawater. Sole came with broiled lemon, and a tasting portion of tender Galician beef was garnished with a chorizo- glazed potato.
Avenida Alcalde José Elósegui 273
San Sebastián
20015
Spain
US$150
ASADOR ETXEBARRI
To discover the ultimate barbecue cookery, stop for lunch at chef Victor Arguinzoniz’s cheerful country inn located between Bilbao and San Sebastián. Everything is cooked on a grill, and the results are spectacular. Typical dishes include cod grilled over green oak coals presented with a pepper condiment, squid grilled with onions and served with a sauce of its own ink, and grilled porcini mushrooms in a mushroom cappuccino.
Plaza San Juan 1
Axpe-Marzana
48291
Spain
US$100
CA L’ISIDRE
This grand restaurant has a décor of beige walls, dark wood paneling and wall sconces. Waiters in starched white jackets provide excellent service as they deliver superb dishes such as cigales (large shrimp), bull’s meat stew, baby octopus in onion sauce, and other impeccably cooked Catalan classics. There are also French dishes on the menu, but the Spanish ones are the stars.
Carrer de Les Flors 12
Barcelona
08001
Spain
US$110
CASA LUCIO
A favorite of the country’s royal family, this elegant restaurant is also a popular choice with visiting celebrities, who come for its gracious service and delicious traditional Spanish cooking. Try dishes such as huevos estrellados (broken eggs) served over fried potatoes, and the excellent steak, baby lamb chops, and baked merluza (hake).
Cava Baja 35
Madrid
28005
Spain
US$70
CINC SENTITS
Chef Jordi Artal grew up in Canada before returning to his parents’ native Catalonia and opening this excellent restaurant with low-lit contemporary décor. Artal uses only the finest local produce to create dishes such as pork belly with sweet potato purée and grilled spice bread, grilled mackerel with roasted garlic and eggplant, and sea bream with green bean broth and roasted tomatoes.
Aribau 58
Barcelona
08011
Spain
US$60
COMERC24
Chef Carles Abellán trained alongside Ferran Adrià before opening this restaurant with its steel beams and dark wood tables. Experience his clever cooking as part of a 10-course tasting menu inspired by the cuisine of Catalonia, Andalusia, Asia, Italy and America. Expect dishes such as marinated sardines with balsamic vinegar, blood sausage layered with mashed potatoes, black rice with aioli, and curry-scented banana soup.
Carrer de Comerç 24
Barcelona
08003
Spain
US$60
DROLMA
Chef Fermí Puig’s celebrated and stylish restaurant serves outstanding New Catalan cuisine, with signature dishes such as pheasant cannelloni in a foie gras sauce with black truffles, and glazed baked baby goat with potatoes and mushrooms. Closed Sundays and all of August.
Passeig de Gràcia 68
Barcelona
08007
Spain
US$100
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Special Offers
Special Offers
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Barcelo La Bobadilla - Affordable Three-Day GetawayConfirm a minimum of three nights and receive daily breakfast and dinner for two in La Finca Restaurant (excludes drinks), daily entrance to Spa Water Circuit, and a citrus body wrap for one person. Daily rates are from 265 EUR . |
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Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa - Championship Golf ExperienceChampionship Golf Experience |
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We are spending 4 days in Barcelona in Sept. Has anyone been to the new W hotel? What is it like? Any other hotels to recommend?
We also just stayed at the Hotel Neri. Loved this intimate hotel in a terrific location. Breakfast was amazing and staff could not be more helpful. Would stay there again in a minute.
Echoing DDPerryWA, we also stayed at the Hotel Neri for a few nights while staying in Barcelona in July 2009. We thought it was a fabulous hotel with intimate charm. The rooms were very modern and it was situated right in the heart of the Gothic area. I think we upgraded to a junior suit, which was a great room. We highly recommend this hotel.
We have just returned from a stay at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona. The hotel was lovely and the service was spectacular. Still, in hindsight, we felt it was a mistake to stay by the beach. We did not get a "feel" for the city staying there and next time we are in Barcelona we would opt to stay in a property in the heart of the city rather than at the beach.Full report on our trip will be posted shortly.Lew
Just returned from Barcelona (May 2010) - we stayed at the Hotel Neri right in the heart of the Barri Gottic. It was a lovely hotel in a great location - but no water view.
Hello,
Though I would not recommend the new W hotel for your stay in Barcelona, it has a very good sky-high bar with sweeping views of the Mediterranean that's a great spot for drinks before dinner if you're dining on the waterfront.
Regards,
Andrew Harper
Hello,
In the center of the city, Mr. Harper recommends the new Mandarin Oriental and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts. If you are looking for a retreat just on the outskits of the center, consider also ABaC and the Gran Hotel La Florida. Please note that ABaC is also member of the Harper Alliance, which means it offers special rates and amenities to Harper members.
For more specific information about these properties and assistance with making reservations, feel free to contact the Andrew Harper Travel Office at (800) 375-4685, (630) 734-4610 or reservations@andrewharper.com.
Best Regards,
The Travel Office