Typically, a hotel is just a place to rest your head at night — somewhere you’re happy to leave behind to explore the city. However, Spain’s Melia Granada proves there are some properties that can enrich your visit to a new destination.
Shut down for two years, Melia Granada reopened in March 2024 after a $15.4 million renovation and investment. The 181-room property is located in Granada’s city center on Calle Angel Ganivet, well within walking distance to the Granada Cathedral and the charming neighborhood of Realejo.
The hotel’s lobby
Credit: 2025 Melia Granada
When I checked into my sixth-floor room, I had my first glimpse of one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. The hotel’s top floor features a glass-paneled lounge with wondrous views of Granada — the last Moorish state in Spain before it was captured by Catholic monarchs in 1492. In fact, from where I stood in Melia Granada with a glass of champagne in hand, I could see the Alhambra, the famed palace and fortress complex that housed the Moorish kings, overlooking a valley of whitewashed homes with red roof tiles.
The Level
During my stay, I was a guest of The Level, the premium room tier for Melia Hotels that offers private check-in, turndown service, a welcome gift and access to private spaces. Upon arrival, I was ushered past the stylish deep-green lobby to the elevator and up to the exclusive Level Lounge, which provides free breakfast and delicious snacks and drinks every day of a client’s stay. (Considering it can cost just $20 to $30 more per night for a Level Room, I believe it’s well-worth the investment to upgrade.)
The Lounge quickly became an important element of my trip. Every morning, I watched the sun rise over the mountains and admired the rooftops of Granada while eating breakfast on the space’s outdoor terrace.
Most evenings, I found myself returning there to relax with a glass of wine by the stylish fireplace, marveling over the fact that I was in Granada, witnessing flamenco dance performances and walking along the historic Paseo de los Tristes. Granada vibrated within the glass walls of the Lounge every moment I stepped in.
Guestrooms and Suites
The lounge’s elevated decor and warm atmosphere echoes among the property's elegant rooms, which feature wood accents, natural tones and allusions to Andalusia’s rich tile history in art pieces or coffee table books. All rooms have in-room coffee and tea service, a television with Chromecast capability and a choice of fiber, gel or down pillows.
The Level Junior Suite
Credit: 2025 Melia GranadaI stayed in The Level Junior Suite and was amazed by the spaciousness: There was a sitting area complete with a couch and espresso maker, an entryway with an expansive closet (stocked with a cozy robe and slippers) and a bathroom with a waterfall shower and a deep tub — in which I soaked after a multi-hour tour of the Alhambra. Spacious rooms are not as common in Europe, but you can expect plenty of space to unpack and move around in The Level rooms. I witnessed this not only at Melia Granada, but also at Melia Sevilla days before.
Local Tastes
Granada is well-known for its tapas scene, but I couldn’t miss a chance to eat at Ola 1971, the on-site seafood restaurant where I gorged on a variety of seafood bites and paella in a bright and breezy space. There’s also Pecorino, which starts the day off with a breakfast buffet, then evolves into a restaurant serving international food. Italian cuisine features prominently on the menu — which makes sense, considering the grand pizza oven in the kitchen.
Though I’ve visited many cities across Spain, I must say, Granada has become one of my favorite cities in the country — and all of Europe. That’s partly thanks to Melia Granada, which gave me the perfect space to rest and the opportunity to feel like I was part of the city, too.
