Two buildings, two centuries, one address
Hospes Palacio de los Patos is two buildings in one hotel. The original structure is a 19th-century palace with a grand marble staircase, trompe l'oeil painted ceilings, mosaic floors and the proportions that do not exist in new construction. Attached to it is the Alabastro Building: a contemporary structure in white alabaster marble and glass, avant-garde by deliberate contrast with its neighbour. The pairing is an architectural position, not a compromise. You choose which version you want to sleep in.
The trompe l'oeil ceilings are worth pausing on. These illusionistic paintings, covering entire ceiling surfaces in sky-like depth and ornamental architecture, were a favourite technique of 19th-century Andalusian palace design. At the Hospes, they survive intact across the main staircase hall and several of the palace rooms. Many hotels describe their historic interiors; few actually have this.
The 42 rooms in the historic palace have warm colour palettes, designer furniture chosen to work with the original proportions, and the ceiling art intact above you. Rooms in the Alabastro Building are pared-back and contemporary, parquet and plaster in pale tones. Both categories share the spa, restaurant and gardens.
The Bodyna Spa
The Bodyna Spa is the practical differentiator for guests who want more than a bed. It has a thermal pool, sauna, Turkish bath and whirlpool, plus a professional treatment menu. In a city where most hotels offer no spa at all, this is a real facility rather than a marketing claim.
The outdoor garden, designed around Arabian-style fountains, connects the spa terrace to the restaurant terrace. The fountain design references the Generalife gardens near the Alhambra: a deliberate visual echo in the centre of a city built partly on Moorish foundations. On a warm evening, the transition from spa to dinner without leaving the property works smoothly.
The thermal circuit (pool, sauna, Turkish bath) is accessible to hotel guests without a treatment booking. Treatments are booked in advance through the hotel or on arrival.
Los Patos Restaurant
The hotel's restaurant has a Michelin Guide recommendation. The menu focuses on innovative Andalusian cuisine: local ingredients and techniques reinterpreted rather than replicated. The kitchen takes seasonal produce seriously — the dishes change through the year rather than running the same menu indefinitely.
Breakfast in the palace dining room, under the original painted ceilings, sets a specific tone for the day. Reserve dinner ahead; the restaurant also accepts non-resident bookings and can fill on weekend evenings independently of hotel occupancy.
City centre location, not Alhambra proximity
The Hospes is on Cuesta de los Mártires in the Centro, close to the Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel, and within walking distance of the Albaicín and Realejo neighbourhoods. The Alhambra is a 15-minute drive or taxi ride, meaning this hotel trades Alhambra proximity for the cultural density of the lower city.
For guests whose itinerary covers the Cathedral, the Alcaicería covered market, the Realejo neighbourhood, and the botanical gardens at the Carmen de los Mártires, the city-centre position is an advantage over the hilltop hotels. For guests who want to minimise travel time to the Alhambra, the Parador de Granada or Hotel Alhambra Palace are more practical.
Credentials and practical details
The hotel is a member of Design Hotels™ (the curated collection listing fewer than 350 properties globally) and Mr & Mrs Smith. Pet-friendly rooms are available. Private parking includes electric car charging points. Butler service runs across all room categories.
Pricing runs from around 224€ in seasonal promotions to 327€ at standard rates. For a five-star Design Hotels member with a functioning spa and Michelin-recommended restaurant in a restored 19th-century palace, that is competitive against comparable properties in Madrid or Seville. The hotel also partners with Aldeas Infantiles SOS: a fixed contribution from each booking goes to the charity.
