This was the home of Nino Ricardo, one of Spain’s great flamenco guitar players. He lived here for nearly 60 years and pictures of him still adorn the walls. Ricardo’s family still own the hotel and keep it alive partly in his memory - look out for the commemorative plaque outside.
The house itself is also a real find, with great prices for the centre of town. The feel is warm, authentic and welcoming, with more than a little style. Step in off the pedestrian street and you enter a small courtyard with a fountain; several floors above you sun pours in through a glass dome. You'll find whitewashed walls, traditional tiled floors, a cast-iron door and elegant cane armchairs. The 11 rooms vary in size but not in style; with comfortable beds, smart furniture and gleaming bathrooms. Climb to the top of the house to find the roof terrace, where you can breakfast with views over Seville’s rooftops to the Giralda and the Cathedral.
Highs
- History, simplicity, tradition and style all come together here with an easy grace
- The stylish, uncluttered bedrooms offer good value for money
- The friendly, helpful staff offer a personal service
- There's a lovely roof terrace for breakfasts overlooking the city
- It's in a quiet location on the edge of the historic Barrio de Santa Cruz
Lows
- There's no lift, but ground-floor rooms are available and staff can help with luggage
- Some rooms are now in need of a new lick of paint, and some Standard Rooms are very small
- Don't expect fancy service; this is a B&B and you'll have to go out to eat
- It can be hard to find in Seville's maze of narrow streets - best to take a taxi
Best time to go
April until October brings warm, sunny days, though we'd avoid July and August when Seville bakes in the heat and most hotels close. A flamenco festival takes place in the city in September and October, or you can come in April for Semana Santa or the week-long Feria, when women parade around in colourful dresses, men ride immaculately groomed horses and everyone parties 'til dawn. Just book we ahead and expect inflated prices.
Our top tips
Visit Seville during Easter's Holy Week (Semana Santa) and you'll be treated to processions of hooded penitents, religious floats and lingering incense. It's a solemn, atmospheric and fascinating spectacle, but make sure you book a room well in advance.
- Boutique Hotel
- 11 rooms
- Breakfast only (+ walk to restaurants)
- Over 8s welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
The rooms have a distinctly Spanish feel. Each is named after a Nino Ricardo song and daubed in a different bright colour: cornflower blue in La Gitana Arabesca, dusky pink in Recuerdo a Sevilla, lavender in Almoradi. They’re a little scuffed around the edges, but comfortable, with warm rugs, cast-iron beds, smart linen and good lighting.
If you’re going to be out most of the time a Standard Room will suffice; Superior Rooms are larger and have a sofa. Spread over 4 floors, ground-floor rooms don’t get as much natural light as those above, but compensation comes in the form of small terraces. A couple of the first-floor rooms have pretty French windows opening onto the street. There’s no lift, so a fitness centre was deemed unnecessary.
Spotless bathrooms come in blue and white, with big white towels and Escada toiletries; most have a shower only. Superior Room La Gitana Arabesca is unique in offering a tub and shower.
Features include:
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is a moveable feast to be taken just about anywhere you want: in your room, down in the breakfast room or up on the roof terrace - a must in summer. The delightful views over Seville’s rooftops end up at the cathedral and the Giralda, while taking in several thousand TV aerials. Expect a classic buffet including freshly-squeezed orange juice, croissants, cakes, cold hams, cheeses and eggs cooked to order.
You’ll have to head out for lunch and dinner, but Seville is a big city and you won’t find it hard to get a good meal - ask the team for advice if you’re unsure. Don’t miss El Rinconcillo: it’s just around the corner and is the oldest tapas bar in town. Venture over the river to Plaza Cuba and drop into José Luís for more great tapas, or follow the river west up past Iglesia Santa Ana to Kiosko de Las Flores, one of the tascas bars, where you get drink, tapas and live flamenco all rolled into one.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
Seville's key sights are all within a pleasant 20-minute walk of the hotel.
- The gothic Cathedral is Seville's most important building, climb up to the top of its ancient tower, La Giralda, for fine views across the city
- Close by is the Alcazar palace, a sublime example of Moorish architecture and not to be missed. You can also visit the beautiful old La Casa de Pilatos palace, just around the corner from the hotel. Quite spectacular
- Walk through the maze of narrow streets in the historic Santa Cruz district. You'll find scores of white and yellow mansions with elaborate wooden doors and you can stop for a glass of fresh orange juice or tapas at one of the pavement cafés
- Cross over to the south bank and follow the river up to the museum of contemporary art
- Real Betis and Sevilla both play top-flight football in town
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Traditional cultures
- Wine tasting
Kids
Well-behaved children over 8 years old are welcome.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Superior Rooms can accommodate one extra person on a sofabed (for a supplement).
Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available by arrangement.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
La Casa del Maestro is located in central Seville, in the northern limits of the Barrio de Santa Cruz (near the Santa Catalina Church).
By Air
Seville San Pablo (25km) is the closest airport, or you could fly into Jerez (98km) or Malaga (217km). A regular bus service runs into town from Seville Airport, but taxis aren't expensive.
By Car
Driving can be tricky in Seville, but if you want to hire a car there is public parking less than 100 metres from the hotel (hourly/daily charge) and there is also usually safe on-street parking.
By Train
The Spanish high speed trains are excellent: the AVE trains operate on the Madrid-Córdoba-Seville route (it takes only 2.5 hours from Madrid). Many other (slower) routes are available, including trains from Malaga and Granada.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Andalucia and getting around
Airports:
- Seville San Pablo 25.0 km SVQ
Other:
- Beach 70.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 9 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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