My favourite hotels in Europe
There’s nothing quite as good as a European summer, is there? When the hotter months roll around every year, I often find myself dreaming of escaping to the continent. Nothing beats the thrill of wandering the cobbled streets of a sleepy town, sipping aperitivi in an Italian piazza, or enjoying ice cream on a scorching hot coastline. One of the questions I get asked most frequently is: what are my favourite hotels in Italy/Spain/Portugal etc? While I’ve stayed in many different places across the continent, I’ve compiled my very favourites in the blog post below - these are the special properties that I would choose to return to time and time again.
Hotel Can Ferrereta, Mallorca
This luxurious hideaway nestled in Santanyi on the quieter, eastern side of the island is truly an escape from reality and arguably the chicest hotel in Mallorca. Expect slick, and softly luxe furnishings throughout the hotel, where each bedroom is individually designed in neutral tones (freestanding bathtubs, contemporary iron wrought bed frames, and interiors that honour the original building’s formations are a common thread). An atmosphere of calm pervades throughout the entire property, allowing you to properly kick back and relax, whether you choose to lounge by the stunning outdoor pool or while away the day in the tranquil spa. Friendly staff will indulge every whim of yours while you’re here, and the hotel’s two on-site restaurants mean that there’s absolutely no reason to leave the property at all.
Read my full review here.
Il Palazzo Experimental, Italy
My favourite hotel in Venice, Il Palazzo Experimental injects a laidback French flair to the city. Where most other Venetian hotels are lavish and old-school, you’ll find chic, contemporary interiors here, while still including nods to the city’s history (expect high arched windows and nautical striped armchairs, alongside chic bedsteads and the Experimental Group’s signature pastels throughout). The in-house restaurant is a great spot for afternoon cichetti, and the hotel’s location in the quieter neighbourhood of Dorsoduro means that you’ll be separated from the more touristy sites in the city (while still within easy walking distance to all of the hotspots).
Palazzo Margherita, Italy
Tucked away in the sleepy hilltop town of Bernalda (near the historic city of Matera), this luxurious palazzo owned by Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most romantic hideaways that you might stumble across in Italy. With only nine bedrooms across the main house and gardens, there’s little chance of being disturbed by other guests: lazy days are spent lounging by the pool, learning how to make handmade pasta from scratch with the hotel’s head chef, and grazing at the endlessly bountiful breakfast buffet. Spacious suites here are extravagant yet tasteful, featuring pastel frescoes, deep bathtubs, and views onto the wisteria-lined pathways below.
Adare Manor, Ireland
Probably one of Ireland’s most luxurious retreats, Adare Manor is a historic manor house nestled on an 800-acre estate, boasting one of the country’s most impressive golf courses. Home to a state-of-the-art fitness centre, 111 Skin spa, cinema, and two swimming pools, guests will be spoiled with the number of things to do on site here - along with being very well fed at Michelin-starred restaurant The Oak Room (there are four other restaurants and bars to nibble at too). Bedrooms are elegant and stately, offering views onto the perfectly manicured rose gardens; add incredibly attentive service into the mix, and you’ll find yourself enjoying one of the most luxurious hotel experiences you could ever dream of.
Read my full review here.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Italy
The grand dame of Lake Como, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of the most renowned properties on the lake for a reason. Visible from a distance thanks to its signature orange canopies and ‘floating’ pool, the iconic property attracts visitors from around the globe (including many a celebrity or two). Expect lavish gold bed frames, plush sofas in every colour of the rainbow, and elegantly old-school glamour throughout: as someone who usually prefers to stay at more contemporary hotels, I was surprised at how much I loved my stay here, with it truly surpassing my expectations. Guests will eat very well across the hotel’s many restaurants, each offering stellar service and views onto the lake: highlights include the hotel’s breakfast buffet (which quite literally fills an entire ballroom) and famous gold-leaf saffron risotto. You won’t easily forget a stay here.
Read my full review here.
Sao Lourenco do Barrocal, Portugal
This 780 hectare estate in Portugal’s quiet Alentejo region encompasses a working farm, vineyard, and 200 year-old family-run farmhouse. Expect pared back, rustic-chic interiors in the airy bedrooms with views onto the meadows and olive groves; days here are spent lounging by the 20 metre outdoor pool or being pampered at the Susanne Kaufmann spa - or take part in foraging workshops and wine tastings in the vineyards before enjoying delicious Portugese fare at the hotel’s restaurant, where dishes are informed by the seasons and what’s growing on the farm.
Read my full review here.
Little Beach House Barcelona, Spain
One of my favourite Soho House properties, Little Beach House is set apart from the city on a stretch of beach by the seaside town of Garraf, about a 30 minute drive from central Barcelona. With only 17 bedrooms here, you’ll find a laidback atmosphere and bright, airy interiors: rooms are awash in pale blues and greens, and decorated with handmade tapestries, and eclectic artwork. The hotel’s all-day restaurant serves up Cali-style breakfasts, followed by tapas well into the evening. There isn’t much to do here other than sit on the beach and sunbathe each day, followed by a splash in the water and an afternoon spent eating and drinking - but honestly what else could you want out of a beach holiday?
The Hoxton Barcelona, Spain
The latest opening by The Hoxton group is their brand new property in Barcelona’s Poblenou neighbourhood, which is quite possibly the chicest Hoxton hotel yet. Expect soaring ceilings in the lobby, where each corner is a visual delight, combining colour, pattern, and print through plush furnishings and bright artworks. Rooms are spacious and ooze the same contemporary cool while still being cosy and welcoming. Expect a rooftop pool and bar (the perfect spot for tacos and sundowners with views of the Sagrada Familia), plus another restaurant on the ground floor serving tasty breakfasts and deep dish pizzas in the evening.
The Newt in Somerset, England
Okay, so I know this round up is all about European hotels, and you were probably all expecting recommendations located in sunnier climes. But given that the UK is part of Europe, I thought I had to include at least one British hotel in this blog post, and my favourite hotel in the entirety of the UK is undoubtedly The Newt. This luxurious eco-retreat nestled in the Somerset countryside is a bucolic haven: expect verdant gardens to explore, a stunning spa (my favourite in the country) and delicious, seasonally-inspired food across all of the hotel’s restaurants, honouring the produce grown on site. Stay in the main house, where slick interiors complement the original building’s Georgian features, or the newer Farmyard where rooms have a more rustic, Scandi influence; bedrooms comes with all of the mod-cons you’d expect, including homemade treats waiting for you upon arrival - there’s a reason why I make a pilgrimage here at least once every year.
Read my full review here.
