Squirrelled

Squirrelled
away in a labyrinth of stone-slabbed streets you’ll
stumble across
Corral del Rey. Plotted in Andalucia’s
most romantic city (we’ve been wooed), the original
17th-century casa palacio has been lovingly restored and converted
into a small luxury boutique hotel. Occupying properties on both
sides of the street, interiors are kitted out with Roman-style
marble columns, restored-wooden doors and Tarifa stone floors –
it’s charmed to say the least.

Rooms

Decorated by Kuky Mora-Figueroa, rooms are an eclectic mix of
ancient and modern. Natural linens and hand weaves are offset with
artwork by Enrique Vara and Nick Devereux. Superior-double and
deluxe-double rooms are similar in style and all come with
exceedingly comfortable beds, hand-dyed muslin curtains and an air
of restful, understated sophistication.

What’s for breakfast?

In the main building’s modest breakfast room your morning meal
is served until 12pm. All guests receive a complimentary breakfast
with their booking, consisting of fruit, granola with natural
yoghurt, fresh-baked breads and pastries, a selection of homemade
conserves, a jug of orange juice and tea or coffee. If you would
like to up the ante, add acorn-fed Iberian ham with avocado and
poached eggs to the mix.

How about lunch and dinner?

There’s no formal dining room, but the café, bar and lounge on
the ground floor serves food until 11.45pm. Choose from a tapas
menu of croquettes, padron peppers and tortilla de patata.
Alternatively, opt for afternoon tea and cake to tide you over
until supper. Spot-hitting and just €6.

Is there a bar?

In addition to a relaxed rooftop mirador (a great place to enjoy
a premium sherry) there’s also an honesty bar in the central lobby,
offering a small selection of spirits and wines. If you drink, it’s
important to ink (basically, write it down so the hotel can charge
you accordingly).

Amenities

A large, colour-injected lounge area is a nice spot for an
hour-long retreat at the hotel. The rooftop terrace with plunge
pool makes a great warm weather hangout.

Things you should know…

Soundproofing is non-existent. Charming when it’s the click
clack of horse hooves in the morning hours, less so when it’s your
vocal neighbour after 11pm.

Access to both buildings is via door code. There’s no security
at the hotel after 12pm, so unless you want to wake up a nearby
staff member, write those digits down and commit them to memory
ASAP.

Within a short walk you’ll find…

Located in the centre of Seville
in the old quarter of Barrio Alfalfa, a five-minute walk will bring
you to the cathedral. In the other direction, you’ll reach El
Rincocello, Seville’s oldest drinking den in around the same
time.