Malaga, SpainCentro Historico
Palacio Solecio
Restored cardmaker palace
Centro Historico Malaga, Spain
Renovated
2023
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LocalOutside the door
Restored cardmaker palace
The 1789 mansion operates as an intimate aristocratic manor, with daily life revolving around its glass-topped central courtyard.
“This four-star hotel in Málaga’s historic center is inside a palace, built in 1789, that was brought back from a state of almost total neglect and opened as a hotel in 2023.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
An eighteenth-century cardmaker palace with restored Tuscan columns and a grand stone staircase.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The resulting hotel is as luxurious as any new build, but its centuries of history lend it a depth of character no modern resort hotel can match.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
The front doors open directly onto pedestrian Calle Granada, opposite the historic Santiago church and steps from the Picasso Museum.
The rooms
Parquet floors carry custom herringbone fabrics reproduced from archival photographs, and select rooms look straight out toward the Alcazaba.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A plunge pool sits on the annex rooftop terrace, ringed by sun loungers with views across the historic skyline.
The gym
The annex fitness room has treadmills facing a mirrored wall beneath dark exposed ceiling beams.
At the table
Chef Dani Carnero oversees Andalusian cooking at Balausta, and La Terraza pours rooftop cocktails under hanging greenery.
How it began
Genoese cardmaker Félix Solesio built the residence in 1789 under a royal monopoly supplying playing cards to the Americas.
Malaga
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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.