A STYLISH STAY IN THE SOUL OF SEVILLA

Mercer Plaza Sevilla is a 5-star hotel in the centre of Sevilla.

The capital of Andalucía and spiritual home of flamenco, Sevilla is an enchanting mix of history, colour and architectural styles. Its distinct Andalusian character is everywhere, from Moorish palaces and Gothic landmarks to Baroque façades, intricate tilework, carved balconies, hidden courtyards and, of course, its famous bitter orange trees.

It’s also a city with some seriously characterful places to stay, many of them within old buildings that have been carefully brought back to life. For this trip, we checked into Mercer Plaza Sevilla, overlooking Plaza de San Francisco. And in a city where flamenco is such a part of its identity, our first evening brought a captivating (and unexpected) surprise. The opening of the Sevilla Flamenco Biennial was taking place in the square below, with cantaores singing from the balconies and flamenco dancer Ana Morales performing beneath them.

The real draw for us, though, was all of Sevilla’s biggest sights are just minutes away. The Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, is dominated by La Giralda, the former Moorish minaret that became its bell tower. A few steps away is the Real Alcázar, with its Mudéjar architecture, tiled courtyards, ornate rooms and sprawling gardens. Game of Thrones fans might recognise parts of it too, with the palace doubling as the Kingdom of Dorne in the series. Together with the Archivo de Indias, the three make up Sevilla’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mercer Plaza Sevilla is set across two early 20th-century buildings, originally built as family homes in the 1920s. There’s plenty of the original architecture still to see, with Baroque, Mudéjar and Gothic influences throughout, alongside a glass-covered central courtyard and a beautiful staircase lined with traditional Sevillian tiles.

There’s an even older surprise downstairs. During the hotel’s restoration, part of a 3rd-century Roman wall was discovered beneath the building and carefully preserved. In fact, you can still see it within the hotel today.

We were in the Premium View room overlooking Plaza de San Francisco, and after long days exploring Sevilla, we loved coming back here. Our favourite part was the mornings, when the church bells would ring as the square below came to life. It all felt distinctly Sevilla.

Inside, everything felt calm and relaxed, with natural walnut floors, contemporary furniture and a soft, neutral palette creating a welcome contrast to the lively square outside. The king-size bed came dressed in crisp 400-thread-count linen with a pillow menu, while the sleek bathroom had a generous rain shower, plush robes and Eight & Bob amenities. It was all very understated, with just enough pampering to make the room feel like a proper escape.

Breakfast is served downstairs at Bar Plaza, and we made sure to leave enough time for it each morning. The buffet isn’t overwhelming, but everything is freshly made, with fruit, pastries and breads, cheeses, cereals and a good mix of sweet and savoury options. There are also dishes cooked to order, but we obviously looked forward to the freshly squeezed orange juice. Of course it tastes better in Sevilla.

Later in the day, Bar Plaza switches to a menu inspired by Andalusian cooking and local produce. Inside, the restaurant feels contemporary, with large-scale works by Spanish artist Agustí Puig, while outside, tables line the edge of Plaza de San Francisco. The street terrace is quintessentially Sevilla and a great spot for people-watching, with locals and tourists coming and going across the square throughout the day.

Upstairs, Terrace 1912 was our secret retreat. Set across three levels, it boasts some of the most scenic views across Sevilla’s rooftops and church towers. There’s also a small pool reserved for guests, and after a full day taking in Sevilla, we’d head up for a quiet sunset swim to regroup before getting ready for a (late) dinner.

Mercer Plaza Sevilla was just what we wanted: intimate, full of character and right in the centre where we needed to be. The team were warm and incredibly helpful, planning our days around Sevilla’s historic landmarks while pointing us towards lesser-known corners like Callejón del Agua in the old Santa Cruz quarter. We left Sevilla with plenty still on our list and every intention of coming back. Mercer Plaza Sevilla included.