About this hotel
General information
Hostal de La Gavina has stood above the bay of Sant Pol in S’Agaró since 1932, the centrepiece of a garden-city resort first laid out on the Costa Brava in the 1920s. Its architect worked in the Catalan Noucentista idiom of porticoes, towers, terraces and low-pitched roofs. The name is Catalan for seagull, and the bird’s angled wings became the hotel’s emblem; the word “hostal” was kept on purpose, a nod to the homely roadside inns of Catalonia.
Inside, it has the air of a grande dame: marble floors, antiques, 17th-century Aubusson tapestries in the breakfast hall and silk-upholstered furniture, gathered over generations of travel rather than by an interior designer. There are 76 rooms and suites, a 25-metre pool poised above the bay, a Valmont spa, clay tennis and padel courts, and several restaurants led by the fine-dining Candlelight. The Camí de Ronda coastal path starts at the foot of the garden.
Location
The hotel sits on a rise between the beaches of Sant Pol and Sa Conca in S’Agaró, a residential resort on the Costa Brava in the province of Girona. Barcelona city centre is about an hour’s drive along the AP-7 towards France (exit 9 for Sant Feliu de Guíxols and S’Agaró), and the nearest airport, Girona–Costa Brava, about half an hour. The concierge arranges taxis and car hire, and guests have a reserved outdoor car park.
Spa
The Valmont spa lies below garden level beside the outdoor pool. It has a heated indoor pool with a separate jacuzzi and views over the bay of Sant Pol, a sauna and steam bath, three treatment rooms (one double, two single) looking out over the water, and manicures and pedicures. Facials use the Swiss brand Valmont, body treatments Germaine de Capuccini, and a Technogym-equipped gym shares the spa level. Children under 14 may use the spa and indoor pool only between 13:00 and 14:00, accompanied by an adult.
Sports & leisure
- The 25-metre Garbí outdoor pool above the bay, watched over by the Venus of S’Agaró statue, with loungers along its length and cabanas with terraces to rent
- Two clay tennis courts at the Club Deportivo La Gavina and two padel courts by the pool
- Technogym gym, personal training, and one-to-one yoga, aerial yoga, Pilates and fitness classes, held in the gardens or on sea-facing terraces in fine weather
- Mountain and road bikes to hire, with three routes from the hotel: along the coast, inland past fields to medieval Pals, and an e-bike wine tour to the Clos d’Agon winery
- Private boat trips to secluded coves aboard a De Antonio D29
- Kayaking, paddleboarding and water-skiing on Sant Pol beach, plus snorkelling, sea fishing and hot-air balloon flights arranged by reception
- The Camí de Ronda clifftop path, with a walking map from reception
- Two 18-hole golf courses about 10 minutes away and the Camiral golf resort near Girona, about 20 minutes
- A billiard table, board games and the Boutique Garbí resort-wear shop at the pool gates
For children
Families have their own categories — the two-bedroom Family Room and the self-catering Family Residence with a kitchen. Cots are free, extra beds are available at a charge, and the hotel can arrange babysitting. Children under 14 may use the spa and indoor pool between 13:00 and 14:00 with an adult. The site mentions no kids’ club.
Restaurants & bars
Chef Romain Fornell sets the culinary direction of the hotel, with chef Oriol Fernández running the Candlelight kitchen day to day.
- Candlelight — fine dining in a basement room reached by a narrow marble staircase: reworked classics alongside contemporary creations, a cellar of more than 200 wines and summer dinners on the terrace to live piano; dinner Tuesday to Saturday, smart casual
- Garbí — the poolside lunch restaurant overlooking the bay of Sant Pol: rice dishes, fresh fish, Josper-grilled meats, summer salads and Empordà wines
- La Taverna del Mar — a seafood restaurant in a white seven-arched building on Sant Pol beach, a two-minute walk down from the hotel: contemporary takes on Catalan classics, catch of the day and a panoramic terrace
- El Barco and Gavina Terrace — a relaxed restaurant and a garden terrace under plane trees sharing one menu of tapas, salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and grilled fish, with live music at sunset
- Bar El Barco — a wood-panelled nautical bar with model ships and a porthole ceiling, serving cocktails, wine and tapas
- Blue Bar Piscina — the pool bar for cocktails, fresh juices, smoothies, ice cream and light snacks
- Vila d’Este — the breakfast hall of marble floors, mirrors and Aubusson tapestries, with a buffet, eggs to order and a sea-view terrace
Room service runs around the clock.
Swimming
The hotel lies between two beaches — Sant Pol, directly below the garden, and Sa Conca — which only hotel guests and local residents can reach by car. In summer, striped bathing huts modelled on a 1920s design can be hired on Sant Pol; sunbeds and parasols are available on both beaches, and beach towels come from reception. Above the bay there is also the 25-metre outdoor pool, with a heated indoor pool in the spa.
Pets
Pets are welcome. An up-to-date vaccination record is required, animals must be kept on a lead, and they should not be left alone in the room if they may disturb others. They may use the public areas except Candlelight, the dining rooms of Garbí and El Barco, the breakfast room, the spa, the pool area and La Taverna del Mar. A daily cleaning fee applies, set by the pet’s weight.
Rooms
The 76 rooms and suites are spread over three floors, each with its own theme: Castilian furniture and religious pieces on the first, Asian antiques on the second and a Mediterranean feel on the third. Interiors are classic Mediterranean, Imperial or Elizabethan in style, with views of the sea, the bay or the gardens.
Silk upholstery, hand-blown Murano glass lamps, Egyptian cotton bedding, an Italian marble bathroom with bath or rain shower and twin basins, monogrammed robes and toiletries, individual air conditioning, a minibar with mineral water, a safe, TV with international channels, a pillow menu, evening turndown and free Wi-Fi.
Standard Room
The hotel’s smallest category: a 25 m² room without a terrace, furnished in the same classic house style as the other rooms, with a marble bathroom.
Classic
One of 15 rooms overlooking the gardens, with herringbone parquet floors and a marble bathroom.
Classic with Terrace
One of 27 rooms across all three floors, with wooden floors, wallpaper matched to the bedding, a marble bathroom and a balcony over the gardens and main terrace; some have lofty cathedral ceilings.
Family Room
Made for families with young children or teenagers: two bedrooms with balconies — one with a double bed, one with two singles — parquet floors and a marble bathroom.
Superior with Sea View
One of 11 rooms on all three floors, Mediterranean in feel with whitewashed walls and red tiled floors, opening onto a sea-facing balcony.
Junior Suite
One of seven suites with garden and sea views: a king-size bed set in an alcove, a separate sitting area and green-shuttered French doors onto a large private terrace looking through umbrella pines to the sea.
Suite
One of 13 suites with sea and garden views, furnished with Baroque-style antiques, a marble bathroom with hydrotherapy bath, an espresso machine and minibar; bookable without or with a terrace (Suite with Terrace).
1 Bedroom Garden Suite
A bedroom, living room and Carrara marble bathroom, with red-and-white Catalan mosaic floors, Murano lamps and a private bar, opening onto a terrace and private garden with sunbeds and parasols. It can be combined with the two-bedroom Garden Suite.
2 Bedroom Garden Suite
Two bedrooms, two Carrara marble bathrooms, a large living room, a private bar, a terrace and a private garden; together with the one-bedroom suite it forms one larger suite.
The Royal Suite
A Louis XV-style suite with a striking marble floor, mahogany panelling with Rococo gilding, a Bohemian glass chandelier and a collection of Sèvres porcelain vases, plus a terrace. A favourite with honeymooners.
Family Residence
A self-catering residence in a more contemporary style, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a large living room with panoramic sea views; a third bedroom with its own bathroom and entrance lies across the courtyard, along with a furnished terrace. Hotel services can be used as wished.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.