Villa Soro - Now Open
The first mainland Spain property from the family behind boutique hotels Sant Francesc & Can Ferrereta. A transformed heritage property offering a stylish base from which to explore the culinary treasures of San Sebastian and the surrounding Basque country.
April 1stSPAIN
Set in San Sebastián, the famed coastal town in the beating heart of the Basque Country, Villa Soro is now open, following a considered redesign by the Soldevila-Ferrer family and the team behind Mallorca icons Sant Francesc Hotel and Can Ferrereta Hotel. The family has transformed this aristocratic villa, built in 1898 and one of a few heritage properties in San Sebastián, into a stunning 25-room year-round boutique hotel.
Located in the fashionable Barrio de Gros, one of San Sebastián’s most vibrant districts, the hotel is a gateway to the city’s famed dining scene, close to world-class Spanish Michelin institutions Arzak, Mugaritz and Elkano which sit shoulder to shoulder with cult pinxtos bars Ganbara, La Viña and Bar Nestor. Also located nearby are local markets and cultural institutions such as Museo San Telmo, botanical gardens and the Basque cider museum.
The meticulous refurbishment of the villa, originally designed by prestigious architect Luis Elizalde in the late 19th century, maintains the spirit of the period by enhancing existing heritage features, which include a grand central staircase, spacious guest rooms, a striking wood panelled bar, open fireplaces and a stained-glass window from the historic chapel. The hotel has been brought to life with chic modern design, sleek furnishings in muted tones, a variety of textured finishes, playful checkerboard bathrooms and restored antique furniture. As with the Mallorcan properties, a defining characteristic of the hotel is its impressive collection of modern Spanish art. At Villa Soro, renowned Basque and Spanish artists are showcased, featuring works from Iñigo Manterola, Jose Cháfer and Eduardo Chillida.
Villa Soro’s south-facing positioning means the hotel is bathed in Spanish sunshine throughout the day. The main house, comprising 15 guest rooms, feels more akin to a beautiful private residence and is home to a large guest salon complete with a roaring log-burning fire, honesty bar and library, curated by the expert team at Maison Assouline. Whilst an adjacent building, the villa’s former stables, houses a further ten rooms, some of which boast their own private garden.
Guests can enjoy Diptyque amenities and have access to the on-site wellbeing space offering a range of treatments and massages as well as the 24/7 fitness room. The Eguzki (‘The sun’ in Basque) Bar and Garden invites guests to enjoy cold glasses of Txakoli and a menu of cocktails alongside a selection of snacks and small plates made with seasonal locally sourced produce. Guests can unwind whilst enjoying the extensive gardens which create the sensation of being in the middle of the countryside, despite its location in the heart of the city.
HOW: Rates from €250 (approx. £210) B&B per night.
www.hotelvillasoro.com / @VillaSoro