HOSTAL DE LA GAVINA: A LATE SUMMER ESCAPE TO SPAIN
IN ONE LINE
Luxury old world romance perched on the Costa Brava, a family run hotel with nostalgic interiors and a charming dose of history.
SETTING THE SCENE
Don’t be fooled but it’s Hostal name, Gavina is definitely a slice of Spanish luxury, in fact back in the golden era of Hollywood, well known faces would frequently escape to Hostal de la Gavina, which is why the hotel earned the nickname “Hollywood by the sea”. And it’s easy to see what Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor might have liked about this sprawling villa that hugs the coastline in a calm corner of the Costa Brava.
This year the hotel is celebrating it’s 90th anniversary and still remains in the 4th generation hands of the family that first opened it. It’s 74 rooms (23 of which are suites) are all individually decorated and hold on to the hotel’s elegant past with dark wood interiors and antique furniture. Those unlucky enough not to have a room with a water view won’t have to go far, as sparkling seaside vista’s wrap around the hotel and grounds. The design and location, along with the discreet and efficient staff, lend the hotel an air of quiet luxury.
OUR ROOM
We spent a serene two nights in a corner sea-view suite. As you might guess, the terrace and view was the main feature for us, although there was plenty of space inside should we have encountered a rainy day. And while we did enjoy the luxe old world vibes, admittedly we would have preferred the bed to have been a bit plusher and for the old headboard to not to creak so much (we also missed having a TV in the bedroom but we can’t moan about that too much as there was one in our private sitting area). The bathroom was a black marble affair with his and her sinks and a coveted window too thanks to our corner location, fluffy branded robes and slippers completed the scene.
One of our favourite parts of our stay was sitting out on our little terrace watching the boats and birds sail by. It was also a morning sun trap and perfect for a breakfast room service, which while we mention it, was truly one of the best room service experiences we’ve had! Delivered by a gloved butler our table was set for us with linen and china and all we had to do was sit back and enjoy. We felt utterly spoiled.
RESTAURANTS
The hotel is certainly not short of gastronomy offerings with 6 restaurants and 2 bars. There is the romantic Candlelight, poolside Garbí, casual all day dining spots Gavina Terrace and El Barco, Vila D’Este where the breakfast buffet is served and finally La Taverna del Mar; a sea front Tavern located a short walk away.
We didn’t get a chance to peek inside Candlelight sadly but we did try all the other restaurants and were impressed with the range of food, service and prices. The views and staff at La Taverna del Mar were particularly wonderful.
Taverna del Mar
BARS
Bar El Barco, known also as The Boat Bar is tucked away behind the lobby and has a great interior, designed to look like a vintage boat. For something more casual you’ll find Blue Bar Piscina down by the pool, which affords an unrivalled view over the beach and sea below.
While Bar el Barco offers a range of wine and spirits we were a little disappointed to find that both bars have the exact same dinky plastic cocktail menu, it wasn’t out of place poolside, but it would have been nice to be able to visit Bar El Barco for something that felt a little more luxe.
The Boat Bar
WHAT TO DO
Spa day: Hostal de la Gavina has a lovely Spa located next to the pool, just make sure to book any treatments in as soon as you can
Walk the Camí de Ronda: This coastal path of S’Agaró was built by Josep Ensesa Gubert in the 19th Century to help the Civil Guard control the coast and stop smuggling. Today it is a beautifully maintained footpath with stunning views that runs just outside the hotel.
Swim in the sea: The hotel has easy access to the beach of Sant Pol and the beach of Sa Conca, which is only accessed by hotel guests and residents of the gated community the hotel sits in.
Get Sporty: Hire a bike from reception or play a game of tennis on the hotel’s courts
Laze by the pool: order cocktails and ice-creams to top off your laziness
Venture further afield: if you have a car we are told there are plenty of lovely villages and beaches to explore nearby. We spent a day in Girona and it was quite a scenic old town to wander around.
The Spa
GOOD TO KNOW
The hotel is dog friendly
The hotel shuts for the winter season at the end of October
The hotel is a popular wedding venue
FINAL THOUGHTS
Our suite did have a few creaks and quirks that you’d expect from a 90year old and a little decor refresh may not go astray, but overall we found the interiors wonderfully nostalgic and in keeping with the tone of the hotel. The crowd during our stay was quite subdued and either babymooners or the older generation and while we actually really appreciated how quiet it was visiting at the end of the season, others looking for more buzz will probably prefer booking in the height of Summer. We’d definitely say this is a spot for romance and peace & quiet rather than beachside parties.
GETTING THERE
Girona airport is a 30minute drive away, while Barcelona Airport is a little further at about 90mins drive time.
Flights to the UK take just over 2 hours.
We were invited guests of the hotel but as always our thoughts and opinions are our own
