Gar Anat Boutique Hotel, Granada

• You'll stay in a historic 17th-century nobleman's estate with lovingly preserved Moorish architectural features, such as wooden shutters, wood-lined galleries framing the courtyard patio, and traditional vaulted brickwork.
• The hotel is in the lively Realejo neighborhood, within a 5-minute stroll of restaurants, bars, plazas, the Cathedral, the lower Albaicín, and city-center shopping streets. 
• Literary-themed rooms are contemporary, each decorated by a local artist, and include antique furnishings.
• Sit down to a buffet breakfast served in Gar Anat's 13th-century repurposed Arabic cistern.
• There's a small library nook where you can relax with a book, and complimentary snacks and drinks are available throughout the day.
• Each room has soundproofed, double-glazed windows to minimize street noise.
• There are a few adapted rooms, and the second and third floors are accessible via an elevator (though you'll need to climb two flights to reach La Leyenda de la Rosa in its private tower).

• The hotel's amenities are spare: there isn't a pool, spa, or in-house restaurant or bar.
• While you may experience some ambient noise from pedestrian traffic outside, the hotel's double-glazed windows do a decent job of keeping it muffled.
• Some bathrooms have a bathtub/shower combo that could do with a curtain or partition to prevent flooding the floor.

Authenticity

The name "Gar-Anat" is an old name for Granada (which translates to "pilgrim's colony"), and it hints at the building's past. First, it was a 17th-century palatial Moorish home to a wealthy Muslim family before becoming an inn for pilgrims traveling the Mozarabic Way, a branch of the Camino de Santiago. The once-abandoned building eventually became a boutique hotel in 2008 following meticulous renovations, keeping many historical elements, including its aljibe (cistern) that dates back to the 13th century. You'll also find plenty of restored wood-beamed ceilings, brickwork, tile floors, wrought-iron balconies, marble pillars, antique furnishings, and the Mudéjar-style inner courtyard complete with a fountain.

Location

Gar Anat lives in the western side of the lively Realejo-San Matías neighborhood, a medieval Jewish suburb in the historic center and at the foot of the Alhambra (though it's still a 15-minute uphill walk—or about 25 minutes if you take a scenic route through the upper Realejo—or a 9-minute drive away). Small shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars surround the hotel, while the closest grocery store is just a 5-minute walk, as is the Granada Cathedral. Sierra Nevada National Park is a 40-minute drive. The Granada Train Station is a 12-minute drive, and the airport is 22 minutes by car. The nearest bus stop, Jesús y María, is outside the entrance.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Rooms (there are 15) are uniquely designed by local artists, with themes that tribute past literary figures' work, like Juan Ramón Jiménez and Granadian Federico García Lorca. The upper floor rooms are brighter, though all rooms have wood floors, original wood beam ceilings, and come with nice little extras, like Egyptian cotton linens, a pillow menu, bathrobes, slippers, and glass water bottles refilled daily. Upgrade to the Leyenda de la Rosa for views of the Alhambra from its turret windows or Serena de Amarillos for city views from its three historic balconies. Double-glazed windows help to minimize street noise.

Amenities

There's a cozy library nook on the main floor where guests can enjoy snacks and refreshments throughout the day, and if you're in need of a massage, it can be arranged. The buffet-style breakfast (not included in the room rate) is served daily in the basement's El Aljibe, a 13th-century Arabic cistern. Breakfast is made with local, organic ingredients, and a Nespresso machine is available for complimentary coffee-making in the afternoon.

Family-Friendliness

Children under three stay for free. Babysitting services are available for an additional fee, and cots and cribs can be requested. Most rooms can accommodate a cot (Don Alhambro, Léon El Africano, Itaca, and Carta al Tiempo may be your best options). The hotel is stroller-friendly, with an elevator accessing all floors (except for the La Leyenda de la Rosa tower option), making it as family-friendly as other hotels in the area. 

Other Highlights

The metallic wishing tree in the inner courtyard is a nice nod to the hotel's former life as an inn where weary pilgrims took respite on their way to Santiago de Compostela. In the spirit of pilgrimage, guests are asked to leave a note or a wish they can tie to the tree. Beyond the literary theme woven throughout the property, as Gar Anat's owner is an art enthusiast, the displayed artworks are changed up every couple of months, showcasing local artists.