Historic San Sebastian’s Maria Cristina Hotel reopened following a $25 million restoration
The historic Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian, was reopened following an extensive $25 million restoration. The hotel’s building is considered to be one of the grandest hotels in Europe, originally designed by famed French architect Charles Mewes for its namesake, Queen Maria Cristina.
Christened in July 1912 by a visit from the queen herself, Hotel Maria Cristina was built during the Belle Epoque, a time when haute couture was still burgeoning and there was a fluid emphasis on Art Nouveau.
The extensive nine-month project features interiors restored with a special care to enhance the elan, soft curves and powerful feminine presence that have characterised the hotel since it opened. The hotel also offers The Luxury Collection Concierge service to all guests.
Hotel Maria Cristina features 107 luxurious guest rooms and 29 suites that are dressed in pastel tones inspired by the fresh tints of macaron patisseries, with elegant gold furnishings and accents. Hues of grey, lavender and sky blue adorn the rooms, while chocolate colours enhance the suites.
The guestrooms’ design revels in the feminine spirit. Plush tufted headboards are framed in white painted mouldings which trace a curvaceous outline and play upon the rooms’ exquisite Art Nouveau detailing.
Following the restoration, the Maria Cristina Hotel introduces Tse Yang, a haute cuisine Chinese restaurant. First established 15 years ago in Madrid, then in Geneva, Tse Yang brings the elegance and sophistication of its authentic Chinese cuisine to San Sebastian, offering the city’s residents and visitors an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Signature dishes include lobster mushi, Peking roast duck and dim sum.
The renovation of Luxury Collection’s Hotel Maria Cristina, which was completed in time for its 100th anniversary this month, is part of a larger strategy to invest in the restoration of Starwood’s most celebrated Luxury Collection hotels.
The reopening of Hotel Maria Cristina follows in the footsteps of Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seville, which underwent a meticulous multi-million dollar refurbishment earlier in 2012. The restored Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris and The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, will debut in 2013.
