Mountaintop culinary fortress
Raw concrete architecture meets serene mountain silence, where panoramic viewing terraces and secluded stone walkways wind through restored fortress ramparts.
“all of which featured beautiful brutalist interiors that created a surreal spatial experience and engulfed us with lush nature.”
Where it shines
Remarkable
Brutalist interiors carved with local limestone, cork ceilings, and raw geometric concrete.
Remarkable
Fifteen mountaintop suites with freestanding baths, and dessert-centric breakfasts by Jordi Roca.
Remarkable
Traditional Catalan home recipes and botanical spirits distilled from local mountain herbs.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and Tatler.
Here the Roca brothers’ aesthetic is on full display; the interiors are modern and light-filled, outfitted in natural materials and oriented to the outdoors.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Perched above the Ter Valley in Sant Julià de Ramis, the hilltop grounds sit just fifteen minutes north of Girona.
The rooms
Excavated into the mountain, light-filled suites feature cork ceilings, linen upholstery, and freestanding soaking tubs overlooking the surrounding countryside.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The open-air L-shaped pool borders the fortress ramparts, looking out across the Empordà plains.
The spa and gym
Heated mosaic loungers rest under vaulted brick arches, and the fitness room looks out over the valley.
Dogs stay too.
At the table
Round dining tables look out across the valley, serving Catalan classics and retrospective tasting menus by the Roca brothers.
The sleek, airy, almost Brutalist design deserves just as much praise. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of Baix Empordà and the distant Pyrenees…
How it began
A nineteenth-century military fortification on ancient Iberian land was reimagined as a hillside retreat dedicated to gastronomy and craftsmanship.
Good to know
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Hotel Esperit Roca
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.