Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian on Postcard

"Like all great hotels, the Maria Cristina—which opened in 1912—is even more than the sum of its considerable parts. San Sebastián’s most venerable and glamorous lodging has no sprawling gardens, no pool, no big-name spa, or chef-driven restaurant. But its situation beside the river Urumea, with views of Rafael Moneo’s Kursaal building and the Cantabrian Sea beyond, is as nearly perfect as any hotel in Europe. If the building’s sandstone façade has a certain severity, the interior is voluptuously furnished in the eclectic style of modern luxury, with a soft-edged color scheme in grey, mauve, and turquoise. Named for Spain's regent queen, mother of King Alfonso XIII, the Maria Cristina has history and heritage in spades; anecdotes cling to it like sequins. (Here's just one: a portrait of Bette Davis, who smoked her last cigarette here before being rushed to Paris and death, presides over the cocktail bar.) Worth singling out for praise is the hotel’s charming and discreetly omnipresent service, which creates something of the intimacy of a grand private household." - Paul Richardson

The 10 Best Hotels in San Sebastián, Spain

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"Inaugurated in 1912 by its namesake, the Spanish regent Maria Cristina, this belle epoque landmark has welcomed international elite to its gilded halls from day one. Designed by the same architect behind the Ritz in Paris , the hotel has long been a favorite of celebrities during the San Sebastián Film Festival (Bette Davis was, notably, a fan). A $25 million renovation in 2012 only cemented its status as the city’s most luxurious hotel. With three of the city’s most elegant eateries (including a favorite see-and-be-seen bar), panoramic views of iconic belle epoque buildings and the Urumea River from the many terraces, and signature Luxury Collection concierge service, the Maria Cristina still feels fit for the aristocracy who frequented it in the city’s beach-destination heyday. Spacious and decadent rooms with an updated belle epoque style, as well as a central location within walking distance of many of San Sebastián’s Michelin-starred restaurants, only sweeten the deal."

Where to Find the Best Gin-Tonic in San Sebastián

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@afar

"Inaugurated in 1912 by its namesake, the Spanish regent Maria Cristina, this belle epoque landmark has welcomed international elite to its gilded halls from day one. Designed by the same architect behind the Ritz in Paris , the hotel has long been a favorite of celebrities during the San Sebastián Film Festival (Bette Davis was, notably, a fan). A $25 million renovation in 2012 only cemented its status as the city’s most luxurious hotel. With three of the city’s most elegant eateries (including a favorite see-and-be-seen bar), panoramic views of iconic belle epoque buildings and the Urumea River from the many terraces, and signature Luxury Collection concierge service, the Maria Cristina still feels fit for the aristocracy who frequented it in the city’s beach-destination heyday. Spacious and decadent rooms with an updated belle epoque style, as well as a central location within walking distance of many of San Sebastián’s Michelin-starred restaurants, only sweeten the deal."

The Best Hotels in San Sebastián

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Carlos L

Google

We love this hotel! This is one of our favorites hotels in whole world!||We were greeted warmly at check in by Julia and were pleasantly surprised to find out that we had been upgraded to a beautiful room 316 (amazing suite!)||||The staff is always amazing from housekeeping to concierge to bar staff to breakfast staff. For example at the Concierge, Minerva gave us some great new ideas as we had been to San Sebastian numerous times and all of her suggestions were amazing. She recommended Eduardo Chillida musuem and we loved it; excellent suggestion! ||||Breakfast staff also are amazing and breakfast always is a highlight and this time once again we were left satisfied. Alesandro and Yescia (dont know if this is correct spelling she is a wonderful Peruvian woman) were all attentive and friendly.||||Lastly one cant come here and not enjoy a wonderful drink at the Dry San Sebastian Bar and once again service and drinks were superb! Luca was friendly and great.||||Highly recommend!

JCNL T

Google

We had the best time in San Sebastian, and definitely our stay at Maria Cristina was unforgettable!||We made yearly visits to various European cities and by far Maria Cristina @ San Sebastian wins hands down! ||The warmth, smiles and greetings from the doormen, to reception, to breakfast restaurant were ever so friendly and welcoming. The waitresses at the restaurant always remembered our favourite drinks and our breakfast items that we ate consecutively for 3-4 days.||Our beds were warm and inviting. Our room temperature were perfect and can be easily controlled within the room. We had absolutely no complaints of any sorts whatsoever. It was just perfect!||Thank you, Maria Cristina! We hope to be back again!

John A

Google

At a hotel like this, you expect the beds to be comfortable, the decor to be tasteful (maybe a little fussier than you'd want at home, but fun to visit). And you get all that in a great room in a location that cannot be beat. ||You wouldn't expect the internet to be rock solid. Or the incredible friendliness of everyone you will talk to or just pass in the hall. The hospitality is amazing, without ever feeling forced. ||A special shout out to the fantastic concierge team -- when our flight was cancelled they were able to help us sort a car service on short notice, while it was pouring rain. Somehow they manage miracles, with a genuine smile. This has been and will continue to be our go to hotel in San Sebastian.

Tom W

Google

We’ve stayed here 4 times. 1 before Marriott and 3 after. But never again, Our last stay cured us forever. Three things happened:|1. At check in we were asked if we were staying in San Sebastian for the first time. We’ve stayed at this hotel 4 times, the time before last in Feb 2024. NOT a hotel that cares about repeat business.|2. After driving 5 hours from outside Madrid, and with a full pintxos bar tour mapped out, we dropped by the bar at the hotel and without looking at menus, simply asked ro 2 Negronis. We were charged 25 dollars each. Maybe okay in Manhattan, but Spain? Insane mark-up.|3. On our second night the staff knocked on the door to offer turn-down service. We were both a bit indisposed from having eaten something a bit off at lunch. We said no to the turn-down, but asked that our 2 free water bottles be replenished (as had happened the previous night without charge or problem). The staff did not understand what we asked for, so reception called up and spoke to us in English. We explained we were a bit ill, didn’t need the full turn-down service, but would appreciate our water being replenished. 10 minutes later a man showed up at the door with 2 small bottles of water and said they’d have to charge us 6 euros each per bottle. We declined.||So the hotel is beautiful and has a lovely location. But for 500 euros (550 usd) per night, the persistent Marriott nickel-and-diming really rankled. It’s not the money, but rather the attitude. You are not a guest, but a cash cow to be exploited. After all, it’s not like you will be a repeat visitor, right? So if you are well-off and don’t mind being relentlessly exploited (almost forced to buy their 15 euro a day wifi upgrade, no nespresso in the room, very high valet charges) , then go and enjoy. We will never/ever stay at this Skinner box of corporate cash extraction ever again, and will look to high-end Airbnb rentals instead. Shame that such a beautiful hotel, with such a truly decent and friendly staff, has been so totally ruined by a rapacious corporation. At the end of the day it is not luxury — collection or otherwise — it’s just Marriott. Yuck.

Barry M

Google

We do aim for outstanding hotels in lovely or interesting locations and when expectations are exceeded this makes a long journey so worthwhile. That is when I just have to post a review. ||||However Concierge Mariana Rodriguez has been so excellent in the week before we have even arrived this review is just about pre-arrival service and I will update it later. Hotels tend to be so occupied with existing guests that this level of service and thoughtful consideration is the exception.||||I will be editing this short review after my stay with an update.||||Mariana started off after first reaching out to me well over a week before our arrival by arranging an excellent transfer from our hotel in the city which we are visiting first, being an S class Mercedes. She has since put in a considerable effort with slightly complicated restaurant booking arrangements including for my wife's birthday. We were also pre-warned by Mariana about a major event in the city on our day of departure which could affect arrangements transferring to the airport.||||This is the first Relais & Chateau Hotel we have booked for quite some time. We used to book them regularly 30 years ago especially throughout France and they were always special. When a hotel is this good in advance, the anticipation of a lovely trip is heightened.

JOHN S

Google

WOW. This hotel is beyond exceptional. It was very expensive, but worth every penny. We were greeted at the door with champagne and the staff could not have treated us any better. The room was exceptional and the this was a 5 star experience all the way around.

Kirstin Hoff

Google

Spectacular room, guests services and amenities. The location is perfect on the river for old town, new town and Gros. It is a very quick and easy walk if you are planning for time on the beach as well. I walked with a chair and bag and was at beach in 5 minutes. I would choose this property again over a property just to be directly on the beach. The rooms were very spacious. We were surprised at the prices in the hotel bar (1 drink 24 euros) compared to the 5 star restaurants we enjoyed. But it does not change the amount of stars I give this hotel.

Petar K

Google

This hotel exceeded all my expectations! The moment I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly front desk staff. A special shoutout to Brian who went above and beyond to ensure my stay was perfect. He was simply amazing, surprisingly speaking my native language .||||The room was spacious, clean, and the breakfast is delicious with a great variety of options.||||Overall, my experience was wonderful, and I can’t thank Brian and the rest of the team enough for their exceptional service. I will definitely be returning to Maria Cristina on my next visit!

Carlos L

Google

We love this hotel! This is one of our favorites hotels in whole world!||We were greeted warmly at check in by Julia and were pleasantly surprised to find out that we had been upgraded to a beautiful room 316 (amazing suite!)||||The staff is always amazing from housekeeping to concierge to bar staff to breakfast staff. For example at the Concierge, Minerva gave us some great new ideas as we had been to San Sebastian numerous times and all of her suggestions were amazing. She recommended Eduardo Chillida musuem and we loved it; excellent suggestion! ||||Breakfast staff also are amazing and breakfast always is a highlight and this time once again we were left satisfied. Alesandro and Yescia (dont know if this is correct spelling she is a wonderful Peruvian woman) were all attentive and friendly.||||Lastly one cant come here and not enjoy a wonderful drink at the Dry San Sebastian Bar and once again service and drinks were superb! Luca was friendly and great.||||Highly recommend!

JCNL T

Google

We had the best time in San Sebastian, and definitely our stay at Maria Cristina was unforgettable!||We made yearly visits to various European cities and by far Maria Cristina @ San Sebastian wins hands down! ||The warmth, smiles and greetings from the doormen, to reception, to breakfast restaurant were ever so friendly and welcoming. The waitresses at the restaurant always remembered our favourite drinks and our breakfast items that we ate consecutively for 3-4 days.||Our beds were warm and inviting. Our room temperature were perfect and can be easily controlled within the room. We had absolutely no complaints of any sorts whatsoever. It was just perfect!||Thank you, Maria Cristina! We hope to be back again!

John A

Google

At a hotel like this, you expect the beds to be comfortable, the decor to be tasteful (maybe a little fussier than you'd want at home, but fun to visit). And you get all that in a great room in a location that cannot be beat. ||You wouldn't expect the internet to be rock solid. Or the incredible friendliness of everyone you will talk to or just pass in the hall. The hospitality is amazing, without ever feeling forced. ||A special shout out to the fantastic concierge team -- when our flight was cancelled they were able to help us sort a car service on short notice, while it was pouring rain. Somehow they manage miracles, with a genuine smile. This has been and will continue to be our go to hotel in San Sebastian.

Tom W

Google

We’ve stayed here 4 times. 1 before Marriott and 3 after. But never again, Our last stay cured us forever. Three things happened:|1. At check in we were asked if we were staying in San Sebastian for the first time. We’ve stayed at this hotel 4 times, the time before last in Feb 2024. NOT a hotel that cares about repeat business.|2. After driving 5 hours from outside Madrid, and with a full pintxos bar tour mapped out, we dropped by the bar at the hotel and without looking at menus, simply asked ro 2 Negronis. We were charged 25 dollars each. Maybe okay in Manhattan, but Spain? Insane mark-up.|3. On our second night the staff knocked on the door to offer turn-down service. We were both a bit indisposed from having eaten something a bit off at lunch. We said no to the turn-down, but asked that our 2 free water bottles be replenished (as had happened the previous night without charge or problem). The staff did not understand what we asked for, so reception called up and spoke to us in English. We explained we were a bit ill, didn’t need the full turn-down service, but would appreciate our water being replenished. 10 minutes later a man showed up at the door with 2 small bottles of water and said they’d have to charge us 6 euros each per bottle. We declined.||So the hotel is beautiful and has a lovely location. But for 500 euros (550 usd) per night, the persistent Marriott nickel-and-diming really rankled. It’s not the money, but rather the attitude. You are not a guest, but a cash cow to be exploited. After all, it’s not like you will be a repeat visitor, right? So if you are well-off and don’t mind being relentlessly exploited (almost forced to buy their 15 euro a day wifi upgrade, no nespresso in the room, very high valet charges) , then go and enjoy. We will never/ever stay at this Skinner box of corporate cash extraction ever again, and will look to high-end Airbnb rentals instead. Shame that such a beautiful hotel, with such a truly decent and friendly staff, has been so totally ruined by a rapacious corporation. At the end of the day it is not luxury — collection or otherwise — it’s just Marriott. Yuck.

Barry M

Google

We do aim for outstanding hotels in lovely or interesting locations and when expectations are exceeded this makes a long journey so worthwhile. That is when I just have to post a review. ||||However Concierge Mariana Rodriguez has been so excellent in the week before we have even arrived this review is just about pre-arrival service and I will update it later. Hotels tend to be so occupied with existing guests that this level of service and thoughtful consideration is the exception.||||I will be editing this short review after my stay with an update.||||Mariana started off after first reaching out to me well over a week before our arrival by arranging an excellent transfer from our hotel in the city which we are visiting first, being an S class Mercedes. She has since put in a considerable effort with slightly complicated restaurant booking arrangements including for my wife's birthday. We were also pre-warned by Mariana about a major event in the city on our day of departure which could affect arrangements transferring to the airport.||||This is the first Relais & Chateau Hotel we have booked for quite some time. We used to book them regularly 30 years ago especially throughout France and they were always special. When a hotel is this good in advance, the anticipation of a lovely trip is heightened.

JOHN S

Google

WOW. This hotel is beyond exceptional. It was very expensive, but worth every penny. We were greeted at the door with champagne and the staff could not have treated us any better. The room was exceptional and the this was a 5 star experience all the way around.

Kirstin Hoff

Google

Spectacular room, guests services and amenities. The location is perfect on the river for old town, new town and Gros. It is a very quick and easy walk if you are planning for time on the beach as well. I walked with a chair and bag and was at beach in 5 minutes. I would choose this property again over a property just to be directly on the beach. The rooms were very spacious. We were surprised at the prices in the hotel bar (1 drink 24 euros) compared to the 5 star restaurants we enjoyed. But it does not change the amount of stars I give this hotel.

Petar K

Google

This hotel exceeded all my expectations! The moment I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly front desk staff. A special shoutout to Brian who went above and beyond to ensure my stay was perfect. He was simply amazing, surprisingly speaking my native language .||||The room was spacious, clean, and the breakfast is delicious with a great variety of options.||||Overall, my experience was wonderful, and I can’t thank Brian and the rest of the team enough for their exceptional service. I will definitely be returning to Maria Cristina on my next visit!

Andrea R.

Yelp

If you want to feel like royalty this is the place to stay...in fave it was even built by Queen Maria Cristina. We had the most lovely stay here in my new favorite place, San Sebastián. The hotel itself couldn't be more beautiful and we truly felt like we were living in a palace. The staff couldn't have been more friendly. And it's in the most perfect location - just minutes away from the best pintxo spots in town. I didn't get to check out any other hotels in San Sebastián, but find it hard to believe we would find anything better than the Maria Cristina.

Jocelyn L.

Yelp

My husband and I loved our stay at this hotel!!! There were so many things that were lovely. We loved our room. I can't remember what we originally booked, but we were upgraded to the Royal Suite Corner room on arrival. This had a super nice bed, and second "living room" that faced the river - so beautiful! The bathroom was nice too. Towels were luxurious, toiletries were all Aqua Di Parma!!!! They welcomed us to San Sebastian with a sparkling Cava and strawberries on arrival in our room. Terrific customer service at the front desk, who gave us a tour of the hotel, brief history, ending at our room. The lobby is beautiful, with a grand staircase that makes you feel like a queen. Also the outside of the hotel looks so beautiful and classic! The location is superb. You are located on the main street Boulevard Zumardia, which has so many shops and restaurants. It's also next to the river, and just a few blocks from many of the beaches. It's also located right above a public parking lot, which is quite convenient too. There is a lovely luxury food shop in the lobby, which has a very nice collection of spices, iberico jamon, olive oil, premium wines, and nice souvenirs to bring home. This shop also offers shipping too! Although we loved most things about the hotel, we weren't sure if the price was really worth it. The breakfast, although in a nice dining room area, didn't seem like anything special - just your typical Marriott breakfast buffets. Also, there was no swimming pool. I didn't really care about the pool, but if you're going to advertise your hotel as a "retreat" type of resort, you should have amenities like a pool available. There is a cocktail bar in the lobby, but it closed somewhat early from what I remember, and the drinks were extremely expensive for an average drink. Overall we were very pleased with this hotel. You'll love this place!

Afshin A.

Yelp

A part of San Sebastian History Hotel Maria Cristina first open its doors on July 9, 1912. The first celebrity to visit was the Regent Queen Maria Cristina after whom the Hotel was named. The building was and is a magnificent piece of architecture designed by French architect Charles Mewes, who is also credited for designing the Ritz hotels in Paris and Madrid. During the Spanish Civil War that started in 1936 the hotel was temporarily occupied by troops sympathetic to the revolution, but after a few days they surrendered to the local militia men. Fortunately the building was not damaged much in the process, but if you carefully look, you may still see a couple of the bullet holes on the walls outside. The hotel is an exclusive five-star hotel with a price tag that is too rich for my blood, but one can walk in and sit at one of the available tables in the lobby, order a coffee or drink and admire their surroundings.

Andrew C.

Yelp

What a beautiful Hotel that we had the great pleasure to lodge thanks to our Tauck tour director. A hotel that was established as far back as 1912 named after the Spanish regent Maria Cristina. The Hotel is exquisite in design and eloquent in all ways. One of the most popular celebrities that often lodge at this hotel was Bette Davis. Their bar is decorated partially with her photographs in many ways. Our room was spacious and it was obvious that the entire Hotel had been newly renovated. We had a balcony panoramic view of the Urumea River as well as the Atlantic Ocean. We also had the pleasure to dine in their restaurant where we enjoyed a fabulous dinner. The Hotel location is within walking distance of many of San Sebastian's Michelin-starred restaurants along with the beaches that surround the City.

David L.

Yelp

Every bit as grand a place as you'll find anywhere. Taking a break from being a strolling tourist in the rain at the Dry Bar in the San Sebastián Maria Christina Hotel. The menu cover has what is purported to be the last known photo of Bette Davis having a smoke in this very spot. Feels like a location from a James Bond movie. A martini, shaken or stirred, will set you back about $20. Same as in Brooklyn, but without hipsters.

Avelino C.

Yelp

This is one of my very favorite hotels in the world. The service is exceptional. The architecture is phenomenal. The food is wonderful and the drinks are extraordinary. There's not much more I can say other than you must come and visit just wonderful establishment

Richard M.

Yelp

Beautiful hotel in the heart of San Sebastián. Service has been exceptional since check in. Just finished a wonderful breakfast in there restaurant, great variety. Rooms are good size with huge beds. Thought I was sleeping alone most of the night.

Percy N.

Yelp

This is a nice ornate old luxury hotel but my review is really on the afternoon tea service. The tea service took a long time to produce after our order and unfortunately fell short of our expectations. This was disappointing given the premium price for this experience. My advice is skip the tea and enjoy a drink at the bar.

Annette L.

Yelp

The service was great, the rooms were very nice and well Appointed with modern amenities. However, the lobby is a bit work and carpets very dirty in entry. But overall, a beautiful hotel.

Leslie K.

Yelp

It was not my intention to stay at this hotel. It wasn't even on my radar. I paid for 3 nights at Tryp Orly via hotels.com and was shocked the first night of my stay to have no control over the room climate. Hotels.com said "climate control" but Tryp Orly turns their AC off and makes no exceptions. It was 80 F outside; I was up all night. But...I'm reviewing the Maria Cristina. In the middle of the night we called all over San Sebastian to find a hotel with AC. There were others but as soon as I looked at photos on their website I fell in love with this hotel. They only had a suite available, I was desperate, and my pockets just emptied. But...I have to say it was a totally memorable stay. The room, the view from the terrace, the food, the service...perfection!

Donald G.

Yelp

What a RIPOFF. We stayed in hotel four night and the room rate kept increasing the longer we stayed. We were given one of the worst rooms in the hotel, which was euro100 more than rooms across the hall with a view. Did they think we would enjoy kids running and screaming down the hall? We did not. We stayed in 5 star hotels across France, Netherland and Spain and were never gouged for parking. Parking at Maria Cristina hotel is above Euro50 per night. This was never posted or told to us, simply added to the bill with no explanation. BEWARE the parking is added in TWO catagories, the single price is astronomical enough, so it is split and added twice. Every other hotel on the continent, parking was included, not so at Maria Cristina where parking can easily surpass 10% of the room rate. This is a typical trick with Marriott, advertise low rates, then gouge with specific fees. I stay away from Marriotts, having had this experience. You should too. San Sebastian is a great town, find another hotel

Mandi B.

Yelp

This is a beautiful hotel. Top, top, top notch. It underwent a renovation a few years back and they did a wonderful job. The opulence is in every detail. The hotel staff are kind, polite and gracious. Check in, concierge, the doormen, bellman, room service, ironing services, turn down service ... all good experiences. The beds are enormous and the sheets are divine. I loved the view from our balcony and enjoyed the colors of the San Sebastian sky at the end of sunset from there. The bartender in the evenings makes fabulous cocktails as well... He talked me into Serena's Cat and it was one of the most ornate, delicious and potent cocktails I've had. I can't say enough good things. If you can swing the price for the room here, you won't be disappointed.

Schelly Y.

Yelp

Love this hotel! A great combination of old world luxury with modern touches. The staff was incredibly friendly and the location could not be better. The concierge was ridiculously kind and helpful. At one point she even stood outside with us as we waited for the taxi to arrive. This hotel is so close to all the great pintxos in the area so stumble on over and feast!

Xiouping C.

Yelp

Great toilet paper, wonderful fabulous accommodations, highly recommended to the rich and famous. If your on a budget forget it. Lolz

Robin D.

Yelp

A lot of hotels call themselves luxury but very few really know what it means. I have much higher expectations for luxury hotels and very few pass my test. HMC is a luxury hotel in all aspects of this category. From the moment I made my reservations months prior to our arrival to our departure, the hotel lived up to my expectation and even surpassed it some aspects. Let me start with Ms. Eugenia Lopez who went out of our way to help us with our tight reservations needs. We went there in early Sept which is peak season and she help us get a coveted rate which I got for the wrong dates which I explained to her and she worked with me to make it happen. This is the type of service you get from hotels with employees who know what true customer service is. We stayed at room 130, we can only afford the standard room and there are only few rooms in this garden category which are on the low floor. I typically dont like staying on lower floors due to noise but that wasnt a big issue at all. The room was beautiful. Old charm with classic touches. For a standard room in Europe I though the size was ok. Well laid out and very functional. Has all the amenities that a luxury hotel offers (plush bathrobes, slippers, high quality toiletries, etc). The shower was pretty amazing, I spend an extra 5 mins every time I am in there. The internet service was pretty fast and reliable as well. Aesthetically, this hotel captures the elegance and sophistication of its time period yet adapting to the modern trends. Service is what truly defines a property for me. You can have the best looking property but if your service is poor, you are DEAD TO ME. The service here is professional, polished but still very personal. I always judge a luxury hotel by the quality of their concierge and the concierge team here is one of the best ive experienced in my world travels. I have to call out Ms Edurne, beautiful, charming and very knowledgeable. Her recommendations and responses were spot on. I can't remember the younger gentleman who also helped us on days when Edurne was not there, he was also excellent. You cannot ask for a better location while in San Seb, this hotel sits regal in the middle of the city where everything can be reached via foot. The price is not cheap but this is the true price of luxury. I don't mind paying the money if I am getting what I paid for. So many "LUXURY" hotels charge this amount of money and you leave feeling ripped off. Not this one, it is worth every euro.

Asuka N.

Yelp

We stayed at the Hotel Maria Cristina during our couple days in San Sebastian, and it's a choice I definitely have very little regrets about. The location is conveniently located just outside of the old city, making it easy to walk to from the hotel, but it's also located on a main road - so it was easy for us to drive up to it and park. The valets and gentlemen at the front of the door were very welcoming with helping out with our bags and making sure our car was accounted for, and the folks at the front desk were just as helpful. For tourists - I venture to guess they usually deal with out-of-towners, so while the English wasn't completely fluent, we had zero issues interacting and speaking with the staff (outside of the cleaning staff - declining turndown was a bit tricky). The lobby is quite grand and adorned with many photos of what look like royalty from a bygone era (Maria Cristina, perhaps?), but it's not so overly done that it comes off as being ostentatious. The restaurant and gift shop are to the right of the check-in desk; while we didn't peek into the shop, we did have breakfast every day. It's probably the best of the European-style breakfast buffets I've had at a hotel, with lots of pastries (excellent chocolate croissants and donuts), delicious cured meats, and standard items like scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh-squeezed orange juice that might make you contemplate if you want to wait for that late-afternoon lunch and just stuff yourself at the moment. The dining room has views out onto the river (or canal?) that flows into the bay, so it's a very pleasant view to enjoy in the morning. The gym is downstairs; it's definitely a bit limited - like many European hotels, there are definitely less weight / strength training options - but it'll get the job done for a short trip. The rooms themselves are exceptionally well-appointed as well. We had a room that was facing north/northeast, and the window lets in plenty of light with the bonus of not ever having direct sun exposure. The room was also plenty big - a spacious bathroom with both an individual shower and bathtub; a main room with space for a large king bed and a desk, along with a closet to stash our clothes and suitcases. The decor is again elegant without overdoing it (although the ornate chandelier over the bed was verging on it). The only main downside to the room was that the king bed wasn't a true king but instead was two twin (or full-sized) mattresses next to each other, and each with their own set of sheets as well. As such, getting cozy with your bedmate is going to require a bit of reworking in the middle of the 'king' bed. Nonetheless, we found this hotel to be a relaxing and convenient place to stay at during our time in town. It's an older building on the outside, but the decor has been updated to keep a timelessly classic look while burnishing the hotel with modern amenities. I would definitely stay here again whenever I can make it back to San Sebastian.

Seung Eun C.

Yelp

Fabulous hotel in San Sebastián that is true elegance and made me feel like royalty! It's ideally located next to the old quarters so walking to the world's best pintxos is about a 5 minute walk. The bartender will give you a little map of all the good places to eat at. The hotel in itself is so beautiful. All the decor in the lobby from the business center to the bar area is so posh and unique. The chairs are large and regal and all different from each other. Everyting that you could possibly need is within reach. Need a pen? A pen cup full of new pens right next to you. Need to throw something out? A clean trashcan under your desk. It's raining? No problem, an umbrella bag is right in front of you. This hotel is 5 star customer service. Can I live here? Please? Pretty Please??? Our room was amazing. Call me a Queen for a day please. We had a balcony overlooking the little San Sebastián River. Oh, and did you know I'm a toiletry whore? Yes, it's embarrasing but true. Caudalie anyone? I wanted to raid the maid's cart... I did ask for extras though =)

Mallory P.

Yelp

Hotel Maria Cristina is overflowing with old world elegance and the location is perfect for discovering old town San Sebastian. We went here for our honeymoon, and it was perfect from the moment we walked through the revolving doors like tattered vagabonds after a long journey from North Carolina. The women at the front desk are so incredibly warm, knowledgable, and professional. We had champagne and the best cheese and fig I've ever tasted in my life waiting for us in our room the first day. Service is incredibly prompt, kind, and consistent. The rooms are airy and elegant with tall ceilings, enormous and incredibly comfy beds that deserve their own street names, bright artwork, large tubs and shower pressure that will make every other shower feel like an eclipse of that shower, plus romantic details like chandeliers, fainting couches, and casement windows fit for any wayward princess or celebrity (The menu in the hotel's excellent Dry Bar is splashed with the last known image of Bette Davis, pensively smoking a cigarette in that very bar). In the lobby you will also find an enchanting, small shop called San Sebastian Food, impeccably stocked in the best wines, gourmet sweets, meats, cookbooks, and Basque Country culinary goods that San Sebastian has to offer. Stop in and sign up for the Pintxo Hunting tour for the foodie experience of your life ( Pintxos are Basque tapas-- colorful and delicious with Mad Hatter levels of imagination and flavor). Ellie was our tour guide and I still miss her to this day. I could get lost daydreaming in this review, so I will end by saying Hotel Maria Cristina is a poetic, impeccable, special hotel that cannot be missed if you ever find yourself in the beautiful and curious old port city of San Sebastian.

Kathy S.

Yelp

Stopped into the bar for cocktails and snacks and had a wonderful afternoon. The bar is just lovely and the frozen gin and tonic was simply fabulous....... I had two! My husband tried a couple different varieties of the gin and tonics and enjoyed both. Bar food was good. Great afternoon respite.

Celia M.

Yelp

This is a beautiful luxury hotel conveniently to everything, very good basque restaurants, La Concha beach and even close to the bus station when arriving from the Bilbao Airport, only 17 euros one way. I highly recommend it, the staff are very friendly and the room is very comfortable, it makes you feel like at home.

Daniel B.

Yelp

Honestly perfect. From the moment we chose the hotel, through the time we walked through the front door until the second we left. Sure, the building is absolutely stunning... but it's the people that really made the difference. Their concierge team helped us obtain one of the most difficult dining reservations at a 3-star restaurant on a Saturday night. One night upon returning to the hotel late, Alejandro kept the bar open for us even though it was well past closing. "That is for customers, you are friends" he said. A truly great hotel should make you feel special. This does that. Perhaps the best place I have ever been.

Christy L.

Yelp

Newly updated and renovated! Spent about a week here while visiting San Sebastian. Absolutely loved the hotel, the impeccable service, the hip and new decor. Somehow they managed to take a larger hotel and give it a very boutique hotel feel. In typical Starwood Luxury Collection fashion, you are treated like royalty from the moment you arrive. The beds are amazing, the views stunning and the location...premiere! Close to Parte Vieja where a myriad of bars and pintxos establishments will insure you don't eat the same thing every night. The hotel is closest to Ondarreta beach, with La Concha about a 10 minute walk away. Good to know: If you drive, parking is very expensive! It was close to $35 euro a day. If you can find street parking, save yourself some $ (and treat yourself to one of the many Michelin star restaurants in the vicinity - or at least a good night of pintxos!).

Greg E.

Yelp

Really the nicest hotel in town, great location at the top of the "new town", just next to the Old Town. Incredible service, from valets to bartenders. Bar was slightly disorganized, long waits, but while drinking delicious beers and champagne. Security was all over the place. Really enjoyed our stay, though definitely expensive.

Seri T.

Yelp

What an amazing hotel! We stayed 4 nights here in our Spain/Italy trip and I'm so glad we chose this hotel. The concierge was so helpful before and during our stay. I requested a higher floor room, and I believe we were upgraded to a roomy suite on the top floor w/ a HUGE balcony. It was storming when we were there and the room came with an umbrella we could use. Nice touch! Service is impeccable. We requested an ironing board and forgot that we had our do not disturb sign up. A guy came to our room but had to call front desk to make sure that we were ok to be "disturbed." That's the level of service you will get here. The bed was comfortable, amenities were more than sufficient, everyone was friendly. Their Pintxos map was very useful (along with the list of specialty pintxos at each place) and they made great lunch recommendations for us. The only minor complaint is that the taxi takes a long time to arrive. Even though they call the company ahead of time, we still waited 10 minutes every time we needed a taxi. But that seems to be a problem w/ the taxi's response rather than the hotel's request. There's also a taxi stand a couple of blocks away so that's another option. The hotel is walking distance to both beaches, pintxos restaurants, the hike to the Jesus statue. Free wifi and use of printer w/ access code - handy to print out boarding passes. We stayed for about $350/night in May 2013. Well worth it and we'll definitely stay again when we're back!

Nicole K.

Yelp

This hotel is amazing! The wrought iron, I don't even know all the names of the things done to the walls inside nor how to describe the building....it's what I thought I would find in France. I love that it has chandeliers in the rooms. It just may be the fanciest hotel we have stayed in!

Kris M.

Yelp

Didn't stay at this hotel but worked with Alba at reception to order champagne and goodies for friends who were staying there. Alba was incredibly graceful and helpful. If she is any indication of the hospitality at Hotel Maria Cristina, we will certainly make our way there one day. Muchas gracias, Alba!

Mad M.

Yelp

Highly recommended. Even the most basic room was huge. Top notch service from valet, doorman, front desk, bellhop, chamber maid.

Jenn S.

Yelp

Pros: - Convenient location. Walking distance to beach and old town. - great service. Spoke English - quiet - art exposition was on during our stay. - updated, clean room with beautiful terrace - large room. - Love the bath tub with hand shower - love the shower as well. - breakfast buffet had many options, international and local. Beautiful room Cons: - no pool - no spa - expensive parking Overall probably the best hotel I've stayed at.

Peter M.

Yelp

Fantastic hotel in an ideal location. Both charming and extremely comfortable, the hotel has a great look and feel with fully modern luxuries mixed in with belle epoch architecture. Typical of Starwood luxury hotels, the service staff go out of their way to make the experience a good one. The location is also perfect for pintxo tasting in Old Town.

brian c.

Yelp

This is the quintessential luxury hotel. Apart from the ideal location in San Sebastian with access to old and new sections of the city, this hotel just does everything right. The service is so responsive as to be intuitive. Every request whether for ice , a coffee machine, a yoga mat etc was answered and over-delivered within minutes. The front desk staff and concierge were as good as it gets. They make impossible dinner reservations happen and have knowledgable, sophisticated options for tours- e.g. a remote farmhouse an hour into Basque country with a Michelin starred restaurant. Talk about off the beaten track. I have stayed a great hotels all over the world and this is the best

Xavier C.

Yelp

This place can take you back in time, a time of luxury and abundance. My cousin and I decided to have a drink after dinner. We visited the Dry bar at this 5-star hotel and rapidly felt like in a James Bond movie. We were lucky enough that it is slow season in San Sebastián and there were not many people at the bar, so we could chat with the bartender about the hotel, the bar, anecdotes, you name it. The craftsmanship dedicated to each drink was outstanding, it was like admiring and artist working in a masterpiece. Javier took the time to explain what and why he was doing on each drink he prepared while we where there. Honestly, it was a very fine experience and I am looking forward to come back to San Sebastián and visit this bar again. The service was beyond outstanding, regardless of whether you are staying in the hotel or not, this is a visit that I highly encourage. Please feel free to chat with the bartender and he would be happy to prepare a drink that accommodate your palate, that's how good they are.

Pepper P.

Yelp

Gorgeous hotel with a lovely spa and in a great location. The rooms were absolutely pristine, the service very hospitable, and the restaurant/breakfast totally luxurious. We had a balcony onlooking the water, which was incredibly charming. Upon entering our room, we were gifted a bottle of regional Rioja, and a cheese & fruit plate. I hope to honeymoon here!

Greg M.

Yelp

Great "Old World Charm" and elegance! Only downfall was that maid service was irratic.

Meredith K.

Yelp

Fabulous hotel - LOVE! I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone & everyone. I'm so glad it's part of the Starwood family otherwise I wouldn't have been able to stay here w/ points. It's very pretty and modern in this hotel. All of the staff was friendly and the concierge is extremely helpful. They even had a map of all their recommended pintxo bars. Also, I must add that prior to arriving, I received a courtesy email general information about the town including restaurant recommendations. I loved the personal touch. It's a great hotel! When I was there in mid May it was rainy so it was nice to hang out in a comfortable & luxurious room. Keep in mind this town is more a foodie town so there isn't a whole lot to do. Lastly not sure if I lucked out or if all the rooms are like this but we got a mini suite. We had plenty of seating along with the bathroom on the other side of the entry way so it felt more like an apartment. The bathroom was very nice with a tub and waterfall shower. Great location as well as it's walkable to a few different areas, especially old town!

Al S.

Yelp

Excellent hotel. Service was amazing. Everyone we encountered was very friendly and helpful. All of the restaurant recommendations from the concierge were a hit. This is one of the best Starwood properties I have stayed at in Europe. Excellent location!

Aaron H.

Yelp

If you need to splurge, you better do it here. Top notch service, rooms, location, and everything in between. We were treated like royalty during our stay in one of their standard rooms and enjoyed every second we were there. Yes, it is expensive but you understand why after you stay there. We even enjoyed doing a little shopping in their kitchen/pantry store on the 1st floor (we tried some wine and olive oil). We even used their car service to catch a ride to Biarritz for our train to Paris. One of the finest hotels we have stayed and it truly has earned its 5 star designation.

Christopher A.

Yelp

This is an excellent hotel if you can afford it. However if you can't afford to stay here please feel free and I would say obligated to go to the bar and have a drink or even better stay for the tea service which was excellent. It also has an excellent ask food store attached to it called the San Sebastian food company. They offer everything from wine tastings to Pintxos tours and even some wonderful cooking classes which my wife took advantage of. You do not need to stay at the hotel to partake in any of these activities.

D S.

Yelp

Our second favorite hotel in all of Spain. Staff could use some work on proper etiquette but the location and hotel are superb.

David M.

Yelp

Glamorous, elegant and chic. Stellar cocktails and beyond attentive service. I could go on and on but you need to see it to believe it- world class.

San H.

Yelp

The only hotel we stayed in. You get what is on the label traditional accommodation in walking distance from the city centre. You get what you pay for.

Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian

Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian

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