Story and photography by Manos Angelakis
 

Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao
Alameda Mazarredo 61,
Bilbao 48009
Spain
Tel: (34-94)425-3300
A member of The Leading Hotels of the World

A modern 5-star luxury property of 135 rooms and 10 suites; it is located right across the street from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the iconic Zubizuri Bridge. It is within easy reach of all interesting places in this city and approximately 15 minutes from the Bilbao airport (depending on the traffic). The contemporary design of architect Javier Mariscal represents the best of 20^th century Spanish architectural art and is the hallmark of this hotel; another hallmark is the excellent service.

Each floor has its own color scheme: ochre, greens, blues and reds and the corridors are marked by appropriately colored wood panels. In the large rooms, the bathroom is separated from the bedroom area by a glass partition, with a thin-blade-shade that can be closed for privacy or opened. Bathrooms come with the largest amount of toiletries I have seen in a luxury hotel and tubs designed by Philippe Starck. As befits a 5-star property, each bathroom has 2 bathrobes and matching slippers and very large, fluffy, Egyptian cotton towels. Comfortable beds come with Egyptian cotton sheets, wool and cashmere throws, and a pillow menu.

A very small quibble though, the bathroom shaving/makeup mirror is too far away from the edge of the double sink, which makes it difficult if you are near-sighted.

We only stayed one night at this lovely property as it was the end of our Gastronomika trip. We had a remarkable tasting menu dinner at the Guggenheim Museum, across the street from the hotel (see Restaurante Guggenheim Bilbao), so I did not have a chance to taste the food that comes out of the hotel’s restaurant kitchen. The breakfast though on the roof terrace overlooking the museum was indeed superior with hot stations cooking eggs to order in whatever style was preferred, assorted breads and cakes, fresh fruit, assorted cheese platters, assorted cold-cut platters that included Iberico ham, Basque sausages, French ham, and other meat delicacies, choice of juices, and a self-service coffee station that allows you to prepare your morning coffee whichever way you might want.

© February 2011 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.