STAY > Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián Spain (18/20)

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The Maria Cristina is a grande dame whose very walls seem to hum with the glamour and history of San Sebastián’s Belle Époque. Built in 1912 and named for the Spanish queen who summered here, the Maria Cristina is more than a place to sleep: it’s a living stage for the city’s most elegant moments.

AMBIENCE >

Step through the revolving doors and you’re greeted by a lobby that feels both cinematic and intimate: marble columns, sweeping staircases, and chandeliers that cast a golden light over velvet armchairs. The hotel’s Belle Époque bones have been lovingly preserved, but there’s nothing stuffy about the atmosphere-this is old-world luxury with a distinctly Basque warmth. Staff greet you by name, and the air is scented with fresh flowers and a hint of sea breeze drifting in from the Urumea River, which the hotel overlooks.

ROOMS >

The rooms are a masterclass in understated luxury: high ceilings, enormous beds with crisp linens, and windows that frame the city, the river, or the distant Cantabrian Sea. Some have balconies or terraces-perfect for watching the city wake up with a coffee or wind down with a glass of txakoli. Bathrooms are spacious, with rain showers, heated towel rails, and those rare, perfectly sized towels that actually wrap around you. Minibars are well-stocked, Wi-Fi is fast, and the soundproofing ensures a rare, cocoon-like quiet in the heart of the city.

Staying here is different to many of the other equally lovely accomodations in San Sebastian, what makes it so special is the deep sense of lavish plush that is found everywhere in the hotel from the front desk to the rooms and hallways, it is all class.

SERVICE >

Service at the Maria Cristina is everything you hope for in a five-star hotel, but rarely find: attentive without being intrusive, genuinely warm, and delivered with a sense of pride. The concierge can unlock the city for you-securing tables at impossible-to-book pintxos bars, arranging private tours, or simply recommending the best spot for sunset. Housekeeping leaves slippers and chocolates by your bed at night.

EAT >

Breakfast is a highlight: a lavish buffet of local produce, with à la carte specials included (don’t miss the tortilla or the passionfruit-laced fruit salad).

The breakfast service is in a ballroom that feels straight out of a Wes Anderson film, with the option to dine al fresco in the gardens.

For those who don’t want to wander far there is an Asian restaurant in the hotel, (Saigon), for those craving a change from Basque classics, but with so many incredible options only a few streets away this would not be my first choice.

During festivals, the hotel often hosts Michelin-starred guest chefs, adding to its reputation as a culinary address in its own right.

DRINK >

The hotel’s bar is a destination in itself-order a Serena’s Cat cocktail and watch the world go by, its a great place to sample local wines with a little pintxos, before heading down into the old quarter for a serious pintxos session and quite a few more drinks before dinner.

LOCATION >

If location is everything, Maria Cristina has it all. The old town, with its labyrinth of pintxos bars, is a five-minute stroll away. Zurriola Beach (for surfers) and La Concha (for swimmers and promenaders) are both within easy reach. The Victoria Eugenia Theatre is next door, and the city’s best restaurants and boutiques cluster around the hotel’s leafy gardens.

THE CROWD & VIBE >

This is where film stars stay during the San Sebastián International Film Festival, but you’re just as likely to find families on a grand European tour, honeymooners, or solo travelers treating themselves to a slice of history. There’s a sense of occasion to every stay, but never any pretension.

CONCLUSION >

Staying at the Maria Cristina makes you feel special, you become one with Cannes set, the glitterati and at the same time it remains warm and friendly not fake and frosty.

Maria Cristina is not just the best hotel in San Sebastián-it’s one of the great hotels of Europe. Yes, it’s expensive, but the experience justifies the price: a perfect blend of heritage, comfort, and service, with the city’s delights at your doorstep. It’s the kind of place you’ll remember long after you’ve left, and one that makes you want to return to San Sebastián, if only to check in again.

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