Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel

Hartmut “habu” Wöhlbier

Short version: We absolutely love this hotel! The wonderfully personal service, beautiful pools, fantastic restaurant, and truly amazing staff make every stay an exceptional experience. Long version: This is already our fourth visit — and for very good reason. Everyone here is incredibly warm, welcoming, and attentive. A special mention goes to Laura at the ground-floor bar — she is simply outstanding — but the same kindness and professionalism extend to the spa team, the lovely pool staff (both upstairs and downstairs), room service (sorry for the broken glass!), the breakfast team, reception, and the staff at “1890,” the excellent on-site restaurant. You instantly feel at ease with everyone. Truly — the staff deserve 6 out of 5 stars! The hotel itself has real character. It carries a slightly old-world charm — cozy, classic, and elegant. What stands out in particular is the immaculate cleanliness. Spotless in every sense. The beds are made twice daily, and in the evening, after siesta, you return to a freshly prepared bed with a little treat waiting for you. Everything is tasteful and refined. It’s worth noting that the average guest age tends to be a bit older. So this is not a loud, party-style atmosphere like you might find at a W Hotel — instead, it’s calm, relaxed, and sophisticated. At the same time, the service team is mostly young, which creates a wonderfully balanced and pleasant vibe. We highly recommend booking breakfast included. The buffet is extensive and excellent, and the terrace is simply beautiful — a perfect way to start the day. The lobby bar has its own unique charm: live music, flawless service, great drinks, a lovely small menu, and spacious, comfortable seating make it a wonderful highlight of the hotel. The lobby bar truly feels like the heart of the place. In addition to “1890,” which is a superb restaurant with cozy terraces and outstanding dishes, there is also a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer an à la carte option — which we personally prefer — so we can’t comment further on that. The beds are very comfortable, the shower and bathtub are excellent, and the rooms are generously sized. I recommend booking a room facing the front — the view over the entrance area toward the harbor is lovely. Honestly, I can’t think of a single negative point. Everything was outstanding. As I said — we love this hotel!

Nicole Annan

I’m late in writing this review, but my boyfriend and I had the best stay at the Santa Catalina. What a special place! We stayed in a suite with a private patio. The room was luxurious and spacious. The building is historic with gorgeous architecture, and the grounds were so fun to explore. It really feels like a palace. We enjoyed both the rooftop and ground level pools, with their respective bars/dining. The lobby bar was lively in the evenings with live entertainment and friendly staff. There were lots of interesting people staying here - We met and made friends with several other guests. Every single staff member that we interacted with was kind and helpful. Also, the value for cost was exceptional. We felt the room rates were very reasonable, especially compared with rates in the US. We highly recommend!

Omar Choudhury

A truly fantastic hotel worthy of a five star rating. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was classy and the food delicious. The breakfast was amazing. The rooms are very well specified. No complaint and I would go back again.

Shida Khan

We have just returned from a 4 night stay at the Santa Catalina Hotel. We have had a wonderful stay, the rooms are immaculate, the staff are friendly and welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. They are professional and hard working and always greet you with a smile and a hello. Breakfast was fresh and varied and delicious and plentiful. Our stay was just perfect and we would highly recommend this hotel for a great stay!

Sandra Lawler

Spent a few days here in November. Second visit and again loved our stay. Staff and Manager were welcoming and professional. Breakfast was an highlight and enjoyed the bodega too. Pool areas were lovely, even if the weather was a bit mixed! Hotel itself is full of character -will definitely be back next year. Recommended!