Operated by the acclaimed Silken group and a member of Leading Hotels of the World, the Hotel Domine exudes the kind of cutting-edge design with which the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim put Bilbao on the tourist map, yet retains a warm charm and flawless hospitality that make it an excellent choice for any visitor to this intriguing Basque city.
Guggenheim Bilbao Views
The marquee draw to the city remains the astonishing architecture of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, designed by award-winning architect Frank Gehry and opened in 1997, and it is also clearly the main initial attraction of the hotel.
The hotel’s back entrance is a mere few steps from the plaza leading to the museum, complete with Jeff Koons’ Puppy flower sculpture (1992), perfect for visiting the collections often overshadowed by the structure, or for just strolling around the site to take in the building’s amazing shifting perspectives, reflecting pool and world-class sculpture like Louise Bourgeois’ Maman (bronze, 1999).
The Domine also offers striking views of the Guggenheim Bilbao from many of its rooms, which are cleverly designed to optimise the vista, making it a feature even from the stylish bathrooms. The Guggenheim view rooms are available at a higher rate than the standard, but with rates starting at around $165 a night - extremely attractively priced given the hotel quality and level of service - it is well worth the premium to wake up to one of the truly iconic sights in modern architecture.
Michelin Rated Restaurant
There are equally stunning views from the lobby’s Cafe Metropol and Splash & Crash bar and lounge, and from the rooftop terrace. Breakfast is served every day on the terrace, which at night plays host to the award-winning cuisine of the Michelin rated Beltz the Black restaurant.
Spain’s Basque country is a region that prides itself on its cuisine, and while there are many excellent meals to be had in Bilbao, the combination of the view, the fresh local ingredients and the elegantly adventurous alchemy of award-winning Chef Ramón Berriozabal make Beltz the Black hard to beat.
Bilbao's Ultramodern Designer Interiors
Both the rooms and public spaces of the hotel are decorated in a manner perfectly befitting Bilbao’s newfound status as a vibrant modern European centre of art and design. Javier Mariscal interiors and original artwork are complemented with fittings by ultramodern designers Phillipe Starck and Arne Jacobsen. The bathrooms are a particular delight, with his and hers sinks and sleek free-standing oversized bathtubs on raised wooden decking that doubles as an open-air shower platform.
The Gran Hotel Domine, with its sleek designs, luxurious comfort and impeccable service, succeeds admirably where too many hotels situated at world tourism meccas fail: rather than lazily exploiting its proximity to the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Domine offers a truly exceptional stay at a reasonable price.
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