Catalonia Donosti

A convent dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries serves as the raw material for San Sebastián’s Catalonia Donosti, but this is no historical revival — this city-center boutique hotel is a thoroughly contemporary production, however atmospheric its architecture may be. Contrasting with the imposing façade is an unmistakably modern entrance, and the interiors, oddly enough, are marked by a distinct British accent; there’s a warmth and a cheeky clubbiness to the décor that wouldn’t be out of place in an English or Scottish country house or luxury hotel.

Leather headboards, tartan blankets, hardwood floors, and accents in saturated gem tones keep the rooms and suites looking stylish and comfortable. The singles may be cozy, but they’re well-equipped, and the better rooms look out to sea — the junior suites from their private terraces.

One thing that’s not British — hold your jokes — is the cuisine, which is thoroughly Basque in inspiration, and is driven by the typically Spanish appreciation for artful, forward-looking technique. A capacious spa and wellness center includes a pool, a solarium, and a sauna, and the city-center location places most of the best of San Sebastián within easy reach.