Sabi Phagura heads to the five-star luxury Hotel Colón Gran Meliá in the centre of the Spanish city for some much-needed rest and relaxation.
Seville is a charming city with its buzzing tapas scene, a plethora of fine arts (Belle Artes) museums to meander around, a mecca for shoppers, and attracting flamenco fans in hoards.
With so much to do and fit in, it’s only right to get plenty of rest in between. The Hotel Colón Gran Meliá offers just that in its full-on glam way to help you recharge your batteries.
‘Sexy’ is the first thing that springs to mind when waltzing into this five-star luxury hotel.
The Art Nouveau stained-glass dome above the plush red velvet chairs and white chaise lounges, shiny gold lamps, glittering chandeliers and the grand entrance of the lobby area is something. And like its ‘blingy’ character and smooth lines, well-heeled staff are on hand to make sure your check-in is as equally smooth.
Style and character
Other than the glass dome in the lobby, this historic hotel built for the 1929 Expo, has a very much contemporary feel to it. It’s a place where bullfighters stay before a ‘corrido’, and I can imagine they feel very much at home with replica bulls’ heads on the wall.
In fact, the bullfighting theme continued in the tapas bar El Burladero, and in 1960, a tapestry of the legendary bullfighter Paquito was stolen from the hotel lobby. It was then recovered and returned to the hotel, and today sits in a glass case within this restaurant.
The Hotel Colón Gran Meliá’s design pays tribute to Seville’s cultural heritage with reproductions of portraits by Spanish artists from the seventeenth century: Zurbarán, Murillo, Velázquez and Juan de Valdés, to name just a few.
To emphasise the importance of art in Seville, each floor of the hotel pays homage to a different artist, with each guestroom dedicated to one of their works. Architect Álvaro Sans has re-created the atmosphere of an art museum throughout the hotel lobby.
With the theme continuing along the corridor floors, the normally dull walk to your room or suite was a very pleasant one; I have to say.
Rooms and suites
The décor in the 189 bedrooms of the Hotel Colón Gran Meliá is uber-glam. While they are all lovely and would provide a good night’s sleep, it’s the Red Level rooms across the sixth (my floor) and seventh floor which enjoy a touch of extra luxury.
They all have super king-sized beds with gold headboards and ample storage space, with some benefitting from a separate bathtub and a shower, complete with Clarins toiletries.
The tech-savvy can enjoy the Philips iPhone dock-clock in one, USB and audiovisual sockets, and a mood lighting system.
Personally, it was a little too fiddly for me, not least because I was a tad too tired having explored the sights.
For a breath of fresh air, some rooms, including mine, have small terraces. This makes it a perfect spot to scan the city skyline with a coffee in hand from the room’s Nespresso machine.
Wellness
The city and its landmarks, including the Cathedral, the Triana Bridge and the Jewish Quarter, can be further admired from the triangular-shaped rooftop pool on the seventh floor.
It’s heated in the winter months, and to get my blood circulating, I also made use of the 24/7 gym before indulging in the wellness area. The Spa by Clarins has a sauna and Turkish spa, as well as massage rooms for that added element of pampering.
Red Level luxury
As a Red Level guest, I was able to enjoy a few more extra privileges. The concept behind this is essentially a ’boutique hotel experience’ within the luxury hotel. There was no shortage of food or drink throughout the day in the private lounge area, from breakfast starting at 8 am until drinks and snacks late into the evening.
It not only provided a good base to relax in but also gave me that extra level of privacy when I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main areas. It’s quite easy to stay cooped up here all day.
Food and bars
But when you want it, there are plenty of places to enjoy a bit of company. The Majestic restaurant is buzzing come breakfast. There’s a spectacular display of cold meats, cheeses, pastries and cakes to die for and hot food to order from the à la carte menu.
Located opposite the lobby, it becomes quite the hangout throughout the day and is often hired out for cocktail parties. Further drinks can be sipped in the all-white décor El Tendido lobby bar.
Want entertainment? Then perch yourself here on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and tap to the beat of live music and watch good old-fashioned flamenco.
And you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy the El Burladero tapas bar.
With al-fresco pavement tables, it attracts guests and passers-by looking for a bite to eat while taking the weight off their feet.
Diners can enjoy traditional Andalusian tapas with a modern twist.
Chef Javier Rico Martín, known for his ability to combine traditional recipes with the latest techniques, reinterprets the culinary tradition of Southern Spain, satisfying the most discerning of tastes.
Are you feeling hungry? Definitely go for the tapas. They are seriously huge and will satisfy even the hungriest of diners.
The Hotel Colón Gran Meliá property is part of the Spanish-owned Meliá Hotels International chain and has properties around the globe, not least on the Iberian Peninsula and in Latin America.
The prestigious properties chain prides itself on being located in some of the leading tourist destinations around the world. Situated within some of the world’s most beautiful landmarks, this Seville hotel certainly ticks all those boxes. And the best thing? You can admire them both on foot or simply from the rooftop from the comfort of the hotel.
Hotel Colón Gran Meliá – Where and How?
Hotel Colón Gran Meliá is located at Calle Canalejas, 1, 41001, Sevilla, Spain. Hotel enquiries can be made via +34 954505599, and for reservations, visit www.melia.com. Rooms at Hotel Colón Gran Meliá start from €290 / £250 per night.
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