Hotel Spa Relais & Chateaux A Quinta da Auga

Situated in a bucolic hectare of countryside just outside the Galician capital city of Santiago de Compostela, A Quinta da Auga is probably the most charming and accommodating paper mill you’ll ever have the pleasure of visiting. That’s former paper mill, of course, one old enough to have acquired a pleasant patina — this 18th-century industrial building has been converted by the Lorenzo Garcia family into a boutique hotel, retaining the original stonework, while the interior has been renovated to provide French-inspired country-manor coziness.

The ample common spaces are steeped in a country-house atmosphere, which is bolstered by clubby leather furniture and fireplaces. The 45 guest rooms scale this back, and let the aforementioned stonework complement the rustic wallpaper, in patterns unique to each room. The scenic garden views don’t hurt the ambience, of course, and a generous selection of indoor plants brings some of the outdoor freshness into the guest rooms. Thematic elements are well balanced: there’s enough antique furniture to emphasize the country-inn feel of the place, and enough contemporary pieces to avoid feeling like a period piece.

Although the hotel largely eschews the modern taste for clean lines and stark décor, it does offer surprisingly sleek spa facilities as its concession to modern luxury living, with multiple heated pools and saunas. The restaurant, Filigrana, offers traditional Galician cuisine, while the more laid-back Qcafebar mimics a French bistro, right down to the patio — and there are any number of additional options nearby, as here you’re minutes from the center of historic Santiago de Compostela.

How to get there:
Hotel A Quinta da Auga is located 20km from the Santiago de Compostela Airport(SCQ) and 4 km from the Santiago de Compostela Rail Station. For guests self-driving to the hotel, parking is available outside at no cost, while covered indoor parking is available for a fee.

Thank you for noting that the access to the spa is not included in the room rate.