Miro Hotel

Rooms

The hotel was designed by Antonio Miró, a Catalan fashion designer. The style is contemporary and minimalist - smart black carpets, crisp white linen. Walls are white to soak up the light, cushions are geometric print, headboards are soft shades of green, blue and yellow to add some colour. You get flatscreen TVs, fast WiFi and air con, too - always welcome when it’s 36 degrees outside. All rooms have oversized power showers in divine black marble bathrooms. A few come with a bath, too.

Bedrooms range through several categories and many have views of the Guggenheim museum. Bigger rooms also have white leather sofas and windows that jut out. We stayed in a Deluxe Guggenheim View room which, as the name suggests, looked out on the museum and La Salve Bridge, with stunning mountains as a backdrop. The second-largest rooms - the Junior Suites Guggenheim View - are especially lovely, with lots of space, plus a wall of glass to frame the view and white leather window seats to enjoy it from. Biggest of all, the Master Suites are enormous, with equally good views and a double-ended bath in the room. But if you can sacrifice a view and extra space, one of the smaller rooms will suffice. All beds are kingsize, except in Urban Smart (queensize), and Urban Executive Twin (two single beds).

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The buffet breakfast is served in an airy first-floor dining room, with good art on the walls and healthy dishes to choose from. The selection of organic, sourdough bread tasted superb with their homemade grated tomato, jam and local multi-flower honey. There are also gluten-free options. If you miss breakfast, room service is open 24 hours, as is the honesty bar - a nice touch.

Dinner in Bilbao is a chance to dig into some lovely rustic Basque food. You have 2 choices: pintxos bars or restaurants. This Basque equivalent of tapas has far more attitude and flair. The idea is you stop in a bar for a quick drink, help yourself to some lovely food, then move on to the next place. You’ll eat cherries stuffed with blue cheese, squid croquettes, tacos and tortillas, chorizo and cheese, perhaps grilled scallops served on potatoes. If you’re looking for restaurants, try Casa Rufo for authentic Bilbao cuisine set inside a delicatessen. Or go for the upmarket, sustainable restaurant Azurmeni – the only eatery in Bilbao with 3 Michelin stars. Its sister restaurant, Eneko, has a relaxed atmosphere and is excellent value.

Restaurants are plentiful, too. Those getting good reviews during our visit were Etxanobe, which has a Michelin star and a roof terrace for river views, and Café Iruña on the Jardines de Albia, a Bilbao institution for over a hundred years. Bear in mind that most restaurants close on Sunday nights and that you might end up eating pizza in the Old Town, as we did, if you don’t indulge in a little forward planning.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• You can’t come to Bilbao and not see the Guggenheim. The collection is a bit hit and miss but what’s good is excellent and the building alone is worth the entrance fee
  
• Nor can you miss the Museo de Bellas Artes. It’s an important Spanish museum and it opens to the side onto the Parque Iturriza Doña Casilda
  
• Hire a bike from reception and cycle along the river to the 14th-century Old Town. You’ll find good shopping, great pintxos and the gothic cathedral of St James
  
• Take the underground up to Getxo, an attractive Basque town where Bilbao’s well-off citizens live. Drop down to its lovely beach or take to the skies and ride a gondola across its impressive transport bridge. You’ll be 65m above the river
  
• Head out to the hugely symbolic town of Gernika (Guernica), bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1937 on Franco’s orders, prompting Picasso to paint his masterpiece that bears the town’s name. Check out the old parliament, its beautiful debating chamber, the Tree of Gernika and the peaceful park. Market day is Monday
  
• Head south into the mountains and discover the Zeberio Valley with its huge hills and simple restaurants. You’re only 15km south of the city, but you’ll feel as if you’re lost to the world. There’s great hill walking and mountain-bike trails
  
• Follow the coast west to Bermeo, an attractive fishing town where you can eat excellent fish on the harbour. You can surf at Mundaka or cross the estuary and find a string of lovely beaches north of Kanala; we loved Laga beach

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming

Kids

Children are welcome, but it's not really a family hotel. Arty teenagers will love it here.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Suites can each accommodate 2 adults and 2 children

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Miró Hotel is set on Bilbao's Golden Mile in the city centre, south of the river, and 300m west of the Guggenheim museum on the opposite side of the road. Bilbao is in the Basque region, in northern Spain.

By Air:
Bilbao airport (15km) or Santander (100km). From Bilbao airport, it's easiest to take a taxi or bus into the city; otherwise hire a car.

By Boat
Brittany Ferries sails from UK to Bilbao and Santander (early booking is recommended).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.