Alminar Hotel

Once home to one of Spain's lace mantilla companies, this historic property was fully renovated in 2014. The Alminar Hotel manages to feel both modern and well-suited to its Old Town neighborhood. The design is a mix of Renaissance, Mudejar, and contemporary styles. Touches like brilliant blue wall mosaics paired with clean lined sofas and chairs in the lobby come together beautifully. A book exchange is tucked into one tiny corner of the lobby. Because the hotel is so small and has so little in the way of common spaces, the vibe is relaxed and quiet, and draws mostly couples and solo tourists. As many guests have noted, the staff provides excellent service and insider knowledge of Seville.

This hotel is located on a narrow pedestrian street, so it's not possible for cabs to stop directly at the front door and there isn't any on-site parking. This makes for a quiet stay, even though the property is near the main tourist attractions and shopping streets. It's just a four-minute walk to La Giralda and the Alcázar Palace. The Jewish Quarter begins just three minutes away on foot. Guests in search of nightlife have even less distance to traverse -- one of Seville's top nightlife spots, The Second Room, is just two minutes away. The Aire de Sevilla Arab baths are a five-minute walk away. For travelers in search of a beach, Matalascañas is an hour and 12 minutes away by car. The Seville airport is just an 18-minute drive from the hotel.

Rooms at the Alminar Hotel are decorated with wood floors and carved, Moroccan-style wood panels. A combination of bright bed linens against a neutral color palette and floor-to-ceiling windows that lead out to either balconies or a terrace keeps the rooms light. There's loads of space to stash things -- in addition to armoires and small closets, the rooms have desks with chairs and ottomans with storage. All the pieces are done in a simple, minimalist style. Two of the Double Rooms lead directly to the furnished rooftop terrace and have more floor space, but otherwise, room amenities are similar: 42-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, mini-fridges, safes, desks, stereos, glass-counter bathroom sinks, hairdryers, and showers (the terrace rooms have small soaking tubs). One nice touch is that the hotel stocks the mini-fridge with a few free soft drinks and water. Though the street is quiet, some guests have complained of thin walls and noise from within the hotel.

The Alminar Hotel is geared toward tourists who are more interested in exploring the city than hanging out at the hotel. For a small fee, the breakfast buffet serves freshly-baked breads, fruits, yogurts, and juices. There's a free, plentiful supply of excellent coffee in the lobby available all day. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.