It’s easy to walk past the Corral del Rey, which sits discreetly on a cobbled street of the same name, minutes from the bustle and beauty of the Cathedral district. Set behind heavy studded Moorish doors, it maintains a smart coolness, with the private, intimate air of the best Moroccan riads.
From the small but sleek reception area in the original building, past the bar-breakfast room, you look up a central airwell to 3 arched galleries, off which are six of the rooms. A stone staircase leads up to a roof terrace, ideal for breakfast or cocktails; a tiny plunge pool offers respite from the city heat along with a Balinese bed in the shade. Eleven more rooms sit in two annexes across the street and share a reception room. Sleekly bohemian, all of the bedrooms offer high-end comforts, including surround-sound in the bathrooms. In fact, you could easily spend the day inside and forget about seeing Seville. But try not to. The jaw-droppingly lovely Giralda, Alcazar and Gardens are just around the corner; explore further and you'll find some of the greatest tapas bars on earth. A great little hotel – more of an upmarket B&B really – which is really worth a stay.
Highs
- Restored 17th-century palacio with an atrium patio, original Roman columns and vaulted cellars
- Fabulous art displayed around the hotel, most of which is for sale
- A lovely roof terrace with sunloungers, a plunge pool and views of the cathedral
- Beautifully designed rooms. For the ultimate in luxury, book a Pool Terrace Suite or Penthouse Suite which each have private terrace and plunge pool
- Proximity to the tourist spots of Seville and there are world-class restaurants within walking distance
Lows
- Due to the riad-style design, some bedrooms are quite narrow and others seem dark
- This is a small operation – reception is not always staffed, and breakfast is the only meal on offer
- You can hear street noise in some rooms despite the heavy shutters
- It's not cheap, but nice hotels in the heart of Seville never are, and we didn't feel it to be over-priced
Best time to go
Our top tips
Take a guidebook to hunt out the best tapas bars and give you the lowdown on the city must-sees. Comfy shoes for walking along the cobbled streets are a good idea, as is swimming gear for the plunge pool and Moorish baths. Book the Alcazar Palace online in advance.
- Boutique Hotel
- 17 rooms
- Breakfast only (+walk to restaurants)
- Children of all ages are welcome
- Open all year
- Plunge Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
Rooms and suites are spread across two buildings, the main hotel and a newer wing across the way. Décor is always stylish, joining modern and classic Moorish design. Stone pillars sit comfortably alongside Nicole Fabre fabrics and Lutron lighting systems. Bespoke cabinets house mod cons, oak-limed floors blend harmoniously into the pale umber walls, and there are soft white pillows amid the sumptuous bed linen.
Though some of the Superior and Deluxe Doubles are quite narrow (as so often with riad-style buildings), they retain their charm, with comfy queensize beds and great rain showers. Junior Suites are larger; ours had four Juliet balconies overlooking the street. We loved lying in the huge marble bathtub and lounging on the massive bed.
For something really special opt for a Pool Terrace Suite or Penthouse Suite on the top floor. Their huge bedrooms lead out to private terraces complete with plunge pools and, if you choose the Penthouse, you’ll also get a kitchenette and a stunning freestanding egg-shaped bathtub in the ensuite.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Bluetooth sound system
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- Satellite TV
- Slippers
- WiFi
Eating
A good breakfast is served daily: warm pastries, freshly squeezed orange juice and a pot of coffee. Or opt for a Mediterranean breakfast – fresh fruit, Greek yoghurt with honey, that sort of thing – along with some superb fruit and veg juices (the kiwi, apple and mint is particularly refreshing). Whilst sitting on the roof terrace later on, we were brought lemonade and salted nuts. There's also an all-day snack menu serving various tapas in the stylish bar area.
Guests staying in the Penthouse Suite can make use of their kitchenette for light snacks – ideal if you're having a lazy day beside your private plunge pool.
For other meals, there are fantastic eateries in the vicinity. Seville is tapas Mecca: spot the bars with the locals who like a tapas crawl in the evenings, having a couple of platas in each bar. The cod in tomato and spinach with chickpeas at El Rinconcillo was great, and delicious jamon iberico hangs in most. For something a bit buzzy, Mercado del Barranco near the river is an upscale gourmet food market, sometimes with 20+ food stalls. A sundowner cocktail in neighbouring Faena sets the evening in the right mood.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Wander the quaint cobbled streets, filled with orange trees which add colour and scent in the spring, stopping for a glass of Vino de naranja or bite of tapas
- Head into the Giralda district and see the third largest cathedral in the world. The Gothic architecture is mind-blowing, and inside are works by Murillo, Goya, Pedro de Campaña and Luis de Vargas. Be sure to climb La Giralda, the cathedral’s bell tower with its unusual sloping corridor rather than steps
- Spend a morning at the royal Alcazar Palace and gardens for its opulent 17th-century Mudejar architecture; the carving and tile work beggars belief, as do the gilt domes of the courtyard rooms. There's also a great maze to explore
- Take a boat trip along the Guadalquivir River then wander through the beautiful Plaza de Espana
- Steam and soak at the Moorish baths, 2 streets away from the hotel
- The hotel can arrange various tailor-made tours of Seville and the surrounding towns; please enquire when booking
- Head up to the roof terrace to admire the views and soak in the plunge pool, or arrange an in-room massage
- Visit the family owned bodega (wine cellar) and taste the home-grown sherries
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Spa treatments
- Wine tasting
Kids
Children are welcome but there are no specific facilities for them.
Family friendly accommodation:
Deluxe Doubles and Junior Suites can be connected to host families of 5. All rooms bar the Penthouse Suite can fit a baby cot.
Cots Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots are available on request.Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Corral del Rey is in the old historic quarter of the Barrio Alfalfa of Seville, bordering the Santa Cruz district. It's a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral and a 30-minute drive from the airport.
By Air
Fly into Seville Airport (15km), also known as San Pablo Airport. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport
It's a 30-minute drive from the airport. The hotel can arrange a transfer or you could take a taxi, which is cheaper, although drivers are reluctant to navigate the cobbled streets so you might end up walking the last bit of your journey. (Transfers are also from their sister property Hacienda San Rafael.)
By Train from the UK
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, consider going by Eurostar from London Waterloo to Paris, then changing twice. It's a bit of a journey, but if you're not pushed for time it's a great way to see Spain. See Seat 61 for more details. The hotel offers a transfer from the train station.
By Car
We wouldn't recommend driving - Seville is easily explored on foot or by tram, and driving can be a pain due to numerous one-way systems and little in the way of public parking. Having said that, if you do hire a car the hotel can provide parking in the underground car park nearby - for an additional cost.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Andalucia and getting around.
Airports:
- Seville Airport 15.0 km SVQ
Other:
- Beach 70.0 km
- Shops 0.5 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km
Need flights?
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Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests