Hotel Palacio Alcazar

Opening the balcony door in the morning and feeling the dew coming off the orange tree right outside was simply magical. An unforgettable experience for me, a feeling not every hotel can give you.

The rooftop breakfast was the standout for me: a good cappuccino with a lovely view across the historic skyline made for a memorable start to the day. Hotel Palacio Alcázar has a charming feel and a fantastic location, just a stone’s throw from the Real Alcázar and the cathedral. The room was clean and comfortable, though the linen quality could be better. One thing to plan for is that there’s no direct road access, so you’ll need to carry your luggage a short distance. It’s a nice boutique hotel with a few quirks, but worth considering for a short stay in Seville.

The service was friendly and helpful, and the terrace view, 24-hour reception, and location were the only things that felt worthy of four stars. The rest reminded me of a very basic three-star hotel. Calling it four stars felt like misleading marketing to me. If the owner had honestly advertised it as three stars, I’d have given it five. I don’t like feeling deceived. I paid €150 a night plus about €12 a night for local fees and taxes. The room was basic: a bed, one chair, one tiny bedside table, very little decor, and no work table. There was a kettle and just two tiny packets of instant coffee, with no tea. It was at street level, with a small window and little natural light, and someone was smoking outside it. The bathroom had a clean bathtub and bidet, basic lighting, shampoo, gel, soap, and slippers. Breakfast was a €12.50 basic continental buffet, with no hot food, just bakery items, dairy, ham, jams, and similar things. The only fresh fruit or vegetables were apples and avocados. The orange “juice” tasted like cheap supermarket Sunny concentrate. There’s no dining room, so meals are served on the uncovered terrace whatever the weather. There’s no pool, spa, gym, or other facilities. The decor was very plain and cold, more like a private medical clinic, though I’ve seen clinics with better design.

The location was superb, and the staff were attentive and very helpful. Our room smelled humid and felt damp, and there wasn’t much space for clothes. Breakfast was served on the terrace, which had a nice view, but it was a bit cold on a winter morning even with the heaters. The food was okay rather than impressive, and the cured ham in particular could have been much better. I’m not sure I’d recommend it.