AC Ciudad de Tudela

An 18th-century ancestral house converted to an intimate boutique hotel, the AC Ciudad de Tudela boasts a brand of elegance can certainly be called contemporary — with the caveat that most hotels would seem positively futuristic surrounded by the Gothic architecture of Tudela’s gorgeous palaces and cathedrals. While the European boutique experience largely depends upon this sort of melding of old-world ambience with modern amenities, the AC Ciudad’s attention to detail and lack of pretense make it worthy of consideration, whether you’re in northern Spain to tour the wineries or to check out that obscure annual tradition, something to do with some running bulls.

The hotel’s ample and well-tended public spaces — courtyard garden, meeting rooms and lobby — are suffused here and there with a blue glow that lends an urban-nightlife sheen to the cozy sitting-room atmosphere. The forty-one guest rooms are a world away from the opulence of a trendy Madrid luxury hotel; instead, they offer a more provincial take on modernist comfort, in a palette of oranges and lemony creams. This no-frills sophistication gives way to delightfully sleek bathrooms, where vanity lights flank the mirror above an all-glass sink.

The hotel restaurant, Alcazaba, is a workhorse that prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to providing 24-hour room service. Abundant fresh produce provides the basis for a few innovative variations on the traditional regional cuisine. And, of course, legendary local wines offer tasty complements. For scenery-hunters, the above-mentioned Gothic architecture finds its apex in the 12th-century Cathedral de Tudela, a quick walk from the hotel.

How to get there:
The hotel is located 58 miles from Pamplona Airport (PNA).