Cathedral / Calle Alemanes

EME Catedral Mercer Hotel

★★★★★

For sheer proximity to Seville's great monument, nothing beats the EME Catedral Mercer. It stands on the Calle Alemanes, facing the north side of the Cathedral and the Patio de los Naranjos, with the Giralda rising above, and the best rooms frame the tower and the Gothic pinnacles through their windows. The hotel was created by joining a group of historic Sevillian houses, and it combines patios and traces of their old architecture with a crisp contemporary design. It is now part of Mercer Hoteles, the group behind the boutique Mercer hotels in Seville and Barcelona, and is a five-star property. The hotel is known above all for La Terraza del EME, its rooftop bar, one of the most famous terraces in the city, where the Giralda seems close enough to touch; it is popular with Sevillanos as well as guests, and busiest at sunset. There is a pool and solarium for cooling off, and the M Spa has a thermal circuit and a menu of treatments. Food and drink are a strength: guests can choose between AL LADO, Mi Arma and Maestro, a wine and tapas bar, as well as the terrace, and breakfast is served in the Mercer style. Room categories run from Superior and Deluxe up to Grand Deluxe Views, Junior Suite Views and Suite Views; the names tell you which ones look at the Cathedral, and those are the ones to book. Interiors are modern and comfortable, with bold colours, good beds and designer bathrooms. The atmosphere is lively and fashionable rather than hushed, which suits travellers who want to be in the middle of things.

Who it suits: couples and design-minded travellers who want a five-star base with a view of the Giralda and a social rooftop, and anyone who wants to step out of the door and be at the Cathedral, the Alcázar and Santa Cruz within minutes. It is less suited to those seeking deep tranquillity, since the terrace is busy and the streets around the Cathedral fill with visitors by day and with people heading out in the evening.

Living in it: pay for a View category if the Giralda matters to you, since the difference is the whole point of staying here. Reserve a table on the terrace for sunset even as a guest, especially at weekends and in spring. Use the pool and the spa's thermal circuit in the heat of the afternoon, when sightseeing is hardest. The hotel's location on a pedestrianised street near the Cathedral makes arriving by taxi slightly awkward; ask for the best drop-off point and help with luggage. Its restaurants mean you do not have to go far for a good dinner, but the old town's bars are on the doorstep.

Value: rates are in the upper-middle to high range for Seville, higher for view rooms and much higher during Holy Week, when the processions pass close by and the area becomes one of the most sought-after in the city. Seville does not charge a tourist tax at present. The value case is location and view: you will not find a room closer to the Cathedral.