Hotel Mercer Plaza Sevilla

Located on Seville’s main square, just a few blocks from the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, Hotel Mercer Plaza Sevilla has one of the most enviable addresses in town. Plaza San Francisco is something of an architectural showcase, but the hotel’s entrance is elegant and discreet, tucked away behind a row of citrus trees in a pair of 1920s-era buildings that were once family residences. Many of their charming original details remain — high archways, decorative tilework, wrought-iron railings, a central Andalusian patio — and the interiors have been redone in a minimalist style that allows the historic features to shine.

Rooms and suites are quiet, high-ceilinged, and light-filled, done up in a sophisticated palette of slate gray, sage green, and indigo. Some have Japanese-inspired wood paneling and mosaic flooring, while others have curving French doors or exposed brick walls. Instead of squeezing in the maximum number of rooms, the owners opted for fewer and better: Hotel Mercer Plaza Sevilla’s suites are large and luxurious, with some set over two levels, and all with palatial modern bathrooms and freestanding tubs. The hotel also has more dining venues than you'd expect at a relatively small hotel — the highlight is the rooftop bar with sunset views over the city’s famous spires.