Balcón de Córdoba Hotel

The rooftop at night was incredible with a drink in hand. I also loved the little patio off the first floor, with its plants and small bath or fountain. It felt tucked away, perfect for reading or a quiet chat. We had a lovely stay at Balcon De Cordoba, and I’d come back and recommend it to anyone.

The setting was lovely, both the roof terrace view and the courtyard, but our celebration meal was disappointing. We had booked ahead and asked about allergy options, yet there was no gluten-free bread to start. They were also out of starters for the rest of our party. The mains came in small portions and weren't very warm. The beef cheek was delicious and the tuna tartar was good, but the lamb shank needed sauce. The leek dish was the worst issue for size rather than taste: three pieces of leek presented as a main and priced at €18. We asked how that could count as a main course. No allowance was made on the bill even though we left hungry. The woman serving us was kind, so this isn't on her, but I hope the chef and owners take this feedback seriously and make changes.

The only real irritations were the neighboring building's barking dog and the young man on the breakfast coffee machine. I asked for an omelette on the first day and it never came; the next day I got scrambled eggs after seeing other tables receive theirs. Another guest brought up the same issue without being asked. Still, I’ve kept it at five stars for the hotel itself, its location, the room, and the front desk team. The hotel is charming, a mix of modern and traditional in a former 14th century convent, just steps from the Mezquita. The front desk staff are always warm and welcoming. Our room had very high ceilings and windows facing both the inner courtyard and outside. There are only 10 rooms, which keeps the place small and charming. Breakfast is included, with a good cold selection and coffee made to order.

The staff were lovely, helpful, and pleasant, even with what seemed like a very small furnishing budget. That helped, because the room and breakfast came with a few quirks. There were three of us for breakfast, though we had told the hotel the night before, and they seated us at a table meant for two. We dragged over a third chair and squeezed in. The room had a €6 kettle but no Nespresso machine, and the water appeared on the first night only. The TV was an 18-inch mid-90s relic, the kind that made me think of my grandfather's living room and Teletext. In the bathroom, the extractor fan made plenty of noise but did nothing about the steam. The stay was memorable, partly as a comedy of retro gear and cramped breakfast seating, in a charming little hotel.