In Brief: Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián, Curio Collection by Hilton, has reopened following restoration, marking the first time the 1914 landmark has welcomed guests in four decades.
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Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián, Curio Collection by Hilton – Image Credit Hilton
Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián, Curio Collection by Hilton, has officially reopened in the center of San Sebastián, Spain, after an extensive restoration of the 1914 Beaux Arts building. The property, which originally housed one of Spain’s earliest cinemas, now operates as an 81-room hotel. The restoration included the reconstruction of the building’s dome and refurbishment of the façade and decorative detailing, led by architect Ignacio Quemada.
The hotel is located within walking distance of the city’s coastline, historic Old Town, pintxos bars, galleries, and theatres. The restoration preserved key Beaux Arts features while introducing contemporary design elements inspired by the building’s cinematic history.
The interiors were reinterpreted by the Spanish interior design firm Isabel López Vilalta + Asociados, while maintaining respect for the cinema’s original layout. Guests enter through the former stage, passing beneath the proscenium arch, with spaces throughout the hotel influenced by themes of light, shadow, and movement.
Room categories at the hotel include Gallery rooms, Amphitheatre rooms, Grand Stalls rooms, and suites such as the Front Box, Corner Box, and Cupula Suite beneath the restored dome. Each of the 81 rooms features a work from the site-specific art collection “Creation: Light, Movement and Gaze,” curated by Basque artist Lander Andonegi, referencing the building’s origins as a theatre and cinema.
The hotel’s dining offering is anchored by Lotu, a restaurant led by chef Andoni Luis Aduriz. Lotu serves a menu that includes classic dishes such as pâté en croûte, beef Wellington, and sole meunière, as well as regional items like txangurro donostiarra and chuleta. The restaurant operates throughout the day and features a street-level bar and an on-site bakehouse that produces breads and pastries daily. Breakfast is served at the table and features items such as viennoiserie, breads, Japanese pancakes, eggs benedict, and brioche egg sandwiches.