Hospes Palacio del Bailío, Córdoba

Pros

• Built atop a historic Roman villa (with peek-a-boo views from the in-house restaurant), you can enjoy several common areas, including an outdoor pool, sun deck, lounge, fragrant inner courtyard, and restaurant. 
• Rooms are huge for such a historic space, all with elements of its Roman and Moorish past, and some with garden views.
• Enjoy formal Andalusian fare (lunch and dinner) and a buffet breakfast at Arbequina, or tapas and cocktails poolside or at the gastro bar. 
• As a Hospes hotel, you can relax at the Bodyna Spa, though this location is special; it features an underground modern Roman bath with a thermal water circuit, massages, and other body treatments.
• Check out the hotel's very own archaeological site with a preserved Roman mosaic floor while you dine in Arbequina.

Cons

• Though the rooms do decently well in channeling the building's unique history, some of the furnishings feel outdated and out of place for a 5-star hotel.

Authenticity

Hospes Palacio del Bailío is an eclectic, contemporary stay that highlights its first-century CE Roman beginnings as well as its more current 16th-century Moorish start. You'll find preserved Roman ruins (seen from the in-house restaurant's transparent floor) and a modernized take on Roman baths in its underground spa. As for Mudéjar details, there's the citrus-filled courtyard with a beautiful bronze-tiled pool (formerly where the property's alberca or reservoir once stood), ornate horseshoe stone arches, hand-painted stucco walls, and frescoes and friezes. The hotel's inclusion in the Michelin Guide 2024 speaks to the quality and character of this special space and the innovative Cordoban culinary offerings at Arbequina.

Location

The palatial hotel takes you out of the winding streets of the Jewish Quarter and into a corner of the Old Town, providing a reprieve from the city's buzz. Still, you can easily walk to the Mezquita-Catedral in less than 15 minutes, passing the Templo Romano and picturesque Plaza de la Corredera along the way. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

No two rooms are fully alike, though most incorporate historic details with chic modern elements in velvet-patterned headboards and furnishings. At the same time, all bathrooms are sleekly modern and spacious in gray marble, with rainfall showers, double vanities, bathrobes, and slippers. Dreamer and Deluxe rooms have original details like brick arches, and suites provide Juliet balconies, fragrant garden views, and/or free-standing soaking tubs. Reserve a Junior Historic Suite to feel like you've stepped back in time, with fresco paintings of historical and literary scenes (like those from Don Quixote) and molding, plus floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the aromatic citrus garden. 

Amenities

There are quite a few amenities to enjoy at Hospes Palacio del Bailío, especially its Roman-style bathhouse in the subterranean Bodyna Spa. Here you'll find a thermal water circuit with three pools stretching down corridors. But if you want to take your swim in the sunshine, you can enjoy the outdoor pool with stylish sunbeds, or simply relax in the citrus and palm gardens. The on-site Arbequina restaurant is another highlight, offering outdoor dining on the terrace or within a grand hall, complete with plexiglass floor panels. You can refresh with a drink and light snacks poolside and enjoy tapas in the casual gastro bar.

Family-Friendliness

While children are welcome and there are interconnected room options (cribs and cots are available, the latter for a fee), the hotel is more suited to adults seeking a sophisticated escape.