• 13 October, 2020

    A ROYAL HIDEAWAY AT LAS PALMAS

    An iconic hotel in a dream setting

    For over a century, the Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel has been a privileged witness to the history of the island of Gran Canaria, famous for its white sand and black lava beaches. Ever since it opened in 1890, it has been a landmark of the city’s social life. It has hosted some of the most important people of the late 19th, 20th and first generation of 21st centuries, all of whom have enhanced it with their culture and talent.

    Glamour, authenticity and exquisiteness are part of the essence of the hotel, which has attracted great national and international personalities from its beginnings to stay in its elegant 204 rooms with views of the city or garden.

    Comfort and seclusion in an unsually large private area for a city centre, surrounded by the typical island flora, the collonial design and a large & stylish roof top with 2 swimming pools available are the strongest characteristic features, only eclipsed by the beauty of its setting on a beautiful garden  at the shores of the Atlantic.

    A classical style hotel, where an exclusivity is fundamental.

    It enjoys 2 restaurants and a lovely terrace-bar on the garden floor which we highly recommend.

    It also provides a nice piano bar with a collonial flavour of the hotel entrance with views to the very beautiful fountain.

    https://www.barcelo.com/es-es/santa-catalina-a-royal-hideaway-hotel/

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  • 5 October, 2020

    A RELAXING DINNER AT GRAN CANARIA

    TASCA FLAMBOYAN RESTAURANT, San Juan de Telde

    Come to dine to the heart of Gran Canaria, just 20 minutes drive from Las Palmas.

    The very ancient castillian’ style San Juan village and San Francisco village are both enclosed within the Telde municipality, which is the second biggest town in Gran Canaria.

    Both San Juan & San Francisco villages are towed away from all the surrounding urban areas and seem to suddenly bring you to Cuba, or to any Spanish colonial village from the XVI century. Actually the flora and all the sympathy in Gran Canaria has a flavour of the Caribbean islands, and the land has the colours of Africa, specifically of Morocco.

    Maybe least appealing, or adventurous to mention, but important to remember: This is not just Europe as everyone realizes, but one of te most, laidback, genuine and safe locations within the EU, like any other spot in the Canary Islands.

    From TASCA FLAMBOYAN we can simply say it is a lovely tapas-bar with well looked-after details,  and a very well-run cuisine.

    It is a nice experience, both to sit inside (recommended during lunch when hot outside) or prefferably to come for dinner and take a seat at one of the quiet outdoor tables, having a nice glass of wine and some original tapas while you contemplate a truly begone atmosphere of the plaza surrounded by Ficus tres.

    It all makes you feel completely in armony with Gran Canaria.

    Ps. Don’t forget to plan a 30 minutes easy walk around the pedestrian-connected San Juan & San Francisco villages. We recommend it before sunset and before dinner.

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  • 5 October, 2020

    A HIDDEN HIGHLIGHT IN GRAN CANARIA

    LOCANDA EL ROQUE, italian restaurant.

    (Find it on the picture at the very edge of the building line, towards the ocean)

    This is one of the top highlight experiences if you are visiting Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

    LOCANDA EL ROQUE is a secluded restaurant that has a perfect balance between a homely & high cuisine touch, with a very intimate interior and a terrace which during dusk & sunset  becomes a highlight to remember, candle lights inclusive.

    Located at EL PAGADOR, which is at the Northern Coast before turning uphill to Moya.

    The owner of the restaurant, an italian charismatic man, is not precisely the most sympathetic man on earth, but is better than that, a truly genuine man that could well be a character from Tim Burton’s films.

    His wife (a Canarian very elegant and kind lady) and their daughter, run this space, which apart from the highlights has two or three weird peculiarities:
    The restaurant is not marked nor announced anywhere on the road nor on the building areas, nor a parking ig signed.  They are confident, and so we are, that sooner or later everyone in the island has heard of, or  has come here for dinner or lunch.

    They don’t have a website, just the indications from Google maps and other references from travel blogs.

    Mr. Attilio also claims (if he is in his most genuine mood) that he welcomes everybody to dine except to P(…) and B(…). We keep the secret.

    Obviosuly he addresses such sentences loud and genuinly funny to his customers without knowing their professions.

    And last particularity: on Tuesday he only receives cash. No credit crads. Just on Tuesday. In case you don’t have cash he invites you to pay the bill some other day at your own convenience.

    Nevertheless all of these particularities we can assure, this place is a MUST VISIT restaurant.

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  • 12 December, 2019

    BEST VIEWS OF BARCELONA, HERE

    Martinez is located in the mountains of Montjuic; with a unique view of the port, the city and the sea. The restaurant is an oasis… to relax, share and enjoy.
    The kitchen prioritises the coast above all else; traditional dishes flow with the rhythm of the waves, from the Delicious Socarrat rice, to a steak, to the Quebracho charcoal grill.
    It’s a beautiful winter hideaway, and a sunny, open space in the summer.

    Here you will find a modest kitchen, dressed by the views of the sea and the mountains.

    Please avoid weekends. best from Monday to Thursday, best for lunch.

    Home ES

    Open the menu

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  • 30 March, 2017

    Casa Bonay: Let’s have some fun

    www.casabonay.com

    This space is what a perfect hotel-lounge should be.
    It’s a cocktail bar, it’s a high quality tea corner and also a cute informal restaurant.

    As a part of the cosy hotel CASA BONAY, here people feel just like at home.

    At Libertine, you find the perfect place for a casual meeting; a perfect place to spend an after-work drink, or simply a perfect place for a cool “solo” read-time.

    During summer they open the roof-top, best during the sunny mornings.

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  • 30 March, 2017

    THE SPIRIT OF THE BELLE ÉPOQUE, BARCELONA

    www.hotelpalacebarcelona.com/spirit1919/

    Welcome back to the Belle Époque!

    Welcome to one of the most emblematic hotels in Barcelona since 1919 (the former RITZ , today reconverted as THE HOTEL PALACE BARCELONA).

    There is absolute no need to spend a fortune per night to enjoy a handful of highlights in one single corner of Barcelona…these are 4 of the top-of-the-class experiences you shouldn’t miss if you come here as a visitor  :

    1. THE BLUESMAN COCKTAIL BAR: Arguably one of the best intimate spots in town to taste a Scotch Whisky on the rocks, sitting on a red velvet arm-chair & enjoy in a very pettite commitee a live music band, every week, from Thursday to Saturday, from 2300 hrs to 0100 hrs.
    2. THE ROOF TOP TERRACE: Arguably some of the most imposing roof tops of Barcelona…a place to indulge during the warm sunsets.
    3. THE TEA SALOON: If you think you need to visit Versailles to feel the classical luxury at its best, well, you haven’t been here. If you feel that a classical high tea is only possible at London; well you haven’t been here either. Don’t hesitate to pop in for a drink, for an enjoyable read in a relaxed atmosphere or for a laid back chat with friends or customers….There is also a cosy restaurant called THE 19, next to the green house…because yes, there is a green house too!
    4. CAELIS RESTAURANT: A 1 star Michelin Restaurant headed by the french cheff Romain Fornell.

    Belle Époque…Belle de Jour, Belle de Nuit…

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  • 30 March, 2017

    “LA CRÈME DE LA CRÈME” : THE COTTON-TRADING HOUSE-HOTEL, BARCELONA

    An Autograph collection:

    www.hotelcottonhouse.com/en

    The Cotton House Hotel stands imposingly on the site of the former headquarters of the Cotton Textile Foundation “Fundación Textil Algodonera”, an emblematic 19th-century building in the neoclassical style which is a landmark in the city of Barcelona. Built on the orders of a family of the Catalan bourgeoisie when the textile industry was at its height, it was sold in the middle of the 20th Century to the Cotton Producers Guild which established its headquarters there with the aim of housing the highest possible number of cotton-producing bodies and services: the idea was to create a genuine Cotton House Hotel.

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  • 30 March, 2017

    THE ONLY RELAIX CHATEAUX HOTEL IN BARCELONA!

    www.hotelneri.com/en/

    This chic and exclusive boutique hotel, located in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, Hotel Neri Relais & Châteaux is set in two historical and aristocratic houses, being one of them a medieval palace from the XII century. The building’s original period charm has been preserved and enhanced by the hotel’s sophisticated interior design. Its design blends with relaxing music and sensual aromas to create a unique setting in this ancient area of central Barcelona. Also, Hotel Neri is a hotel with terrace, perfect to enjoy the city’s weather.

    Set right beside the city’s Cathedral, the Hotel Neri Relais & Châteaux lies just a short distance from the bustling Las Ramblas, la Boqueria market, the Picasso museum… Is the perfect place to discover Barcelona.

    The Hotel Neri Relais & Châteaux has been awarded with the distinction of Hotel Monument, a specialization of Barcelona’s Hotels Association which recognizes hotels that add value to the heritage of the city.

    Besides, Hotel Neri is the only hotel Relais & Châteaux in Barcelona, which makes it even more special and unique.

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