The Best Hotels to Book in Roses, Catalonia

‘Beautiful view’ is the translation of Vistabella – hard to disagree when this hotel is perched on a rocky headland overlooking a gorgeous bay along the Costa Brava coastline – yes, the setting is very photogenic. Enjoy the view from your modern guestroom’s furnished terrace – or from Els Brancs Restaurant, where the bounty of the sea is harnessed to create beautiful dishes like the signature ceviche.

Cresting a rugged headland in the Gulf of Roses, Almadraba Park Hotel boasts a spectacular location – with the oceanfront swimming pool a lovely place to relax and take in the coastal view. Many rooms overlook the sea from their own balconies, while the Almadraba Restaurant specialises in seafood dishes: in particular, the famous tuna. Daily sailings from the hotel on a catamaran are a great way to explore the ocean.

One of the finest beaches on the Costa Brava is the setting for this lovely four-star resort, which features sleek contemporary guestrooms – many boasting a sea view and all with gorgeous marble and granite bathrooms – and the stylish cliffside Draulic Restaurant, where clams and caviar are among the top-end menu offerings. Bikes are available to rent from the on-site cycle centre and are a fantastic way to explore the surrounding coastline.

Every one of the sleek, monochrome guest rooms and suites at this comfortable resort hotel features its own terrace, overlooking either the hotel’s pool and grounds or the Mediterranean Sea. Mini golf, table tennis, giant chess and petanque are among the activities on offer in the garden – while there are no fewer than three swimming pools to choose from, that, of course, is on top of the beach – along with the gorgeous Platja del Rastell just a five minutes’ walk away.

‘Paradise on Earth’ reads Palau Macelli’s strapline and you’d be hard-pressed to disagree once you stroll into the grounds of this 17th-century palace. Rooms retain some period features, like polished stone walls and ceiling beams, but update them in beautifully modern, minimalist style – with bare-bones metal four-poster beds and jacuzzi bathtubs. In the old stables is the spa, where a wide massage menu awaits.

Homely, comfortable guestrooms welcome you into this popular hotel, with particularly stylish Scandi-esque suites also available with sweeping views over the Mediterranean Sea. The acclaimed Restaurant Noray serves an international menu including – courtesy of the British head chef – a classic roast dinner where you can dine on the terrace to enjoy sweeping sea views as you eat. Live music commonly accompanies mealtimes.

This cheerful aparthotel offers a range of accommodation options right on the seafront of El Port de la Selva. Most rooms feature a kitchen and an office area, so you can live here as you would at home – some also boast panoramic sea views from a terrace, complete with a jacuzzi. Attractions within walking distance include the marina and the golden sand of the Platja de la Ribera.

This charming property – all rough stone walls and racing green wooden shutters – is replete with historic appeal and has a cosy farmhouse atmosphere. Rooms have lovely wooden furniture and bathrooms tiled in a deep blue – with views over either the ocean or the hotel’s pleasant garden – while extra privacy is available in a separate area, where suites share a swimming pool lined with hammocks.

The whitewashed walls and red roof tiles of this villa are classically Mediterranean, as is the location in the impossibly picturesque Port Doguer in Cadaqués. The beach is just a few hundred metres away – as are several superb seafood cafes – while the hotel’s own restaurant serves superb dishes including shrimp carpaccio with truffles. Rooms have a feel of laid-back luxury, with a blue and white marine colour scheme – all have balconies and some come with large terraces, too.