It takes some nerve for a hotelier to think they can improve on a 16th-century palace in central Lisbon. But we’re grateful for the confidence shown by One Hotels, the high-end division of the Spanish H10 chain. They’ve managed to transform this 1533-vintage aristocratic home into something more than a restoration, thanks to the work of designer Jaime Beriestain, whose contemporary minimalist interiors are a delightful counterpoint to the palace’s ornate architecture. The One Palácio da Anunciada is impressive from top to bottom, and its expertly balanced style will appeal to traditionalists and design enthusiasts alike.

Right in the heart of Seville’s pedestrianized city center is the H10 Casa de la Plata, a boutique hotel from the Barcelona-based H10 group which offers what might be the best of both worlds: the modern functioning of a newly built hotel along with an aesthetic that complements, rather than imitate, the city’s distinctive architectural setting.

If there’s one European city that’s consistently punched far above its weight when it comes to high-design boutique hotels, it’s Barcelona, and it’s a trend that shows no signs of reversing itself. H10 Cubik begins with a refurbished modernist building in the center of the city, an emblem of Barcelona’s adventurous architectural spirit, and takes it one further with colorful, vibrant contemporary interiors by designer Lázaro Rosa-Violan.

About Tablet Hotels: