The Best Hotels in Spain, From Malaga to Barcelona

"Javier López, the boss of the company that owns this magnificent hotel, made his money in construction and loved contemporary art so much he opened a gallery in New York (now closed) and Madrid (very much open). He also dreamed of having his own hotel to house his collection. When he finally bought Finca Cortesin 10 years ago, Marbella was having something of a The Only Way is Essex identity crisis and the Spanish recession was in full swing. It didn't look good. But now this 67-suite, three-villa property is the best on the Costa del Sol, thanks in part to the late Portuguese interior designer Duarte Pinto Coelho. There are Moroccan salons created by some of the craftspeople who restored the Alhambra, jasmine-scented courtyards, beautiful floors made with worn stone hauled from convents in Portugal and gardens linked by elegant pathways shaded in rose-covered arches. The hotel has four pools, including one at the beach club and another, adults-only, for swimming laps, a championship golf course and several restaurants. These include Japan-meets-the-Med REI, which serves Asian-fusion and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, working primarily with seafood and raw ingredients, with all produce sourced locally in line with the hotel’s ‘0km’ ethos. This is certainly one of Europe's smartest places to escape to. —Charlotte Sinclair" - Lauren Burvill