Murcia City opens its first five-star hotel inside restored 18th-century palace

Amid vibrant music, mouth-watering regional food, and a grand, festive atmosphere, Murcia has also officially entered a new era of luxury hospitality with the opening of the city’s very first five-star hotel, coinciding with the 2026 edition of the Murcia Fair. The landmark opening of the Palacio de San Juan, a Royal Hideaway Hotel on Wednesday, September 9, has fulfilled a long-standing ambition to establish a luxury accommodation in the heart of the capital.

Restoring an 18th-century palace for luxury living: Murcia City’s first five-star hotel

The boutique hotel, in the Plaza de San Juan, occupies the 18th-century Palacio de Floridablanca, the former home to the iconic hotel Arco de San Juan. The transformation is the result of a joint business venture between Barceló Hotel Group and Grupo Fuertes, representing a total investment of more than €17 million. Architect Jesús Zafra led the two-year restoration, carefully preserving the building’s Grade 3-protected neoclassical facade while adding two upper levels to expand the property.

Inside, the hotel merges historic architecture with contemporary luxury, using wood and marble finishes, as well as inspiration from Scandinavian interior design. The hotel boasts 70 rooms, each starting between €200 and €300 per night, and ultra-luxury suites reaching up to €1,500 per night. The opening of the hotel has also created 70 direct jobs.

Michelin-starred dining and delicious local tapas

Gastronomy is central to the hotel’s identity. On the ground level, the Ocra restaurant offers refined cuisine crafted from local Murcian produce, under the guidance of two-Michelin-starred consultant chef Juanlu Fernández and executive chef Pablo Rodríguez. Later this autumn, a traditional tapas terrace will open adjacent to the hotel in the plaza to welcome locals for the city’s tardeo tradition.

Rooftop views across the historic centre: See the Murcia Cathedral from a luxury hotel bar

On the upper floor is Royal Heaven, the city of Murcia’s first rooftop bar and pool deck reserved exclusively for guests. The terrace provides panoramic views across the historic centre, including the spire of the famed and iconic Murcia Cathedral.

As Grupo Fuertes president Tomás Fuertes noted at the launch, the arrival of the Royal Hideaway marks a transformative investment that elevates quality tourism and positions Murcia firmly on the global luxury stage.

With the grand opening, a former three-star property in Murcia has been transformed into a luxury five-star destination, and this year’s edition of the Murcia Fair had yet another reason to be the major talking point of the Costa Calida this September.