Powered By TripAdvisorCenturies Old Convent in the Center of San Sebastián
Powered By TripAdvisorHotel Catalonia Donosti occupies a 17th and 18th-century convent, with a north façade that has been carefully maintained, preserving the spectacular bell tower and the central body of the church. Warm hospitality surrounds you in the elegant atmosphere inspired by noble English estates, decorated with velvets, marble, copper, dark woods, and authentic local design elements. Perfectly positioned in the natural lookout of San Bartolomé, the rooftop terrace offers panoramic views over Playa de la Concha, the Cathedral, and the city center. Hotel highlights include:
- Contemporary guestrooms and suites at this intimate 128-room hotel offer sea views, some from private terraces
- Enjoy an avant-garde approach to Basque gastronomy with touches of Catalan cuisine at the Aldapeta Gastrobar
- To unwind, relax with a glass of wine on the rooftop terrace, take a dip in the plunge pool in the summer, or visit the expansive wellness center with a Finnish sauna, steam bath, cold water pool, and massage cabin
- Perfect for business events, meeting rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual gadgets; smaller event spaces are ideal for family celebrations
Protected by the Urban Heritage of San Sebastián, the building has important historical value, but the contrast between the façade of the old convent and the main entrance of the hotel, newly built and modern in design, is surprising.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
Guestrooms, including single rooms in the old towers of the convent, offer views of the city and the Cantabrian Sea. The lobby’s manor-inspired design and dark wood finishes are carried through into the larger rooms and suites. Expansive family rooms, located in the central core of the building overlooking Alto de San Bartolomé, are completely soundproofed and equipped with everything you need for a carefree family trip to San Sebastián.
Dining
Charge your batteries each morning at the breakfast buffet with options that range from smoked salmon toast to a variety of cold cuts and cheeses accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine, if you wish. Enjoy lunch and dinner at Aldapeta Gastrobar, a tribute to the Basque culinary traditions created with high-quality local ingredients; for a more informal meal, the bar area offers its own distinctive dishes.
Aldapeta Gastrobar — Avant-garde Basque cuisine with Catalan touches of cuisine will delight your palate; try grilled monkfish with refried mussels or suckling pig shoulder in its juice with Idiazábal cloud.
Bar — Visit this pool area space designed with a unique circular bar, and enjoy everything from classic bravas to more daring dishes, such as steak tartare brioche, accompanied by a great selection of wines or innovative cocktails created by an expert mixologist.
Activities at Hotel Catalonia Donosti
Hotel Catalonia Donosti has an outdoor plunge pool on the rooftop Mirador Terrace, along with a solarium equipped with sun loungers, offering panoramic views over the city of San Sebastián and La Concha Beach, as well as a quiet library with an elegant manor-inspired atmosphere and stately décor.
A lively city with a great cultural scene, including the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Hotel Catalonia Donsoti sits in an excellent location, walking distance from San Sebastián’s cobblestoned old town, where upscale shops sit alongside vibrant pintxo bars that pair local wines with bite-size regional specialties. The 24-hour reception staff will happily offer tips and recommend activities to enjoy during your visit to San Sebastián.
Nearby Activities & Attractions
- Aquarium de San Sebastián
- Miramar Palace
- Parque Aiete
- Catedral del Buen Pasto
- Peine del viento
- Monte Igueldo
- Monte Ulía
- Monte Urgull
- Isla de Santa
- Playa de La Concha
- Playa de Zurriola
- Playa de Ondarreta
- Playa de la isla de Santa Clara
Location
Hotel Catalonia Donsoti is located in the city center of San Sebastián on the natural viewpoint of the San Bartolomé hill.
Address
San Bartolome Gaina K., 9, San Sebastián, Spain
Transportation
- Public Transportation
- Amara-Donostia Station, which connects San Sebastián with other cities along the Basque coast, is a 7-minute walk from the hotel, and local buses stop nearby
- Airport
- San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is 14 mi / 21 km away — approximately 25 minutes by car
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Reviews
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Beautiful hotel in a fantastic location
Tue Jul 29 2025 13:51:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Peter K
Beautiful hotel in a great location! Didn’t disappoint in any way! Great rooftop pool and bar! Staff friendly and attentive! Loved our balcony room with views over San Sebastián and the sea! The mystery lift is quite an experience! Breakfast well worth it!
Beautiful Property, But Disappointing Service for a Honeymoon Stay
Mon Jul 28 2025 10:42:12 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Amy L
We visited Catalonia Donostia during our honeymoon, coming off an incredible trip in Greece where hotel staff greeted us warmly, celebrated our occasion with a handwritten note, wine, and specialty treats, and made us feel truly welcome. Unfortunately, our experience here was starkly different. Upon arrival, the front desk had two staff members. One ignored us entirely, focused on his computer despite no other guests waiting. The other—a woman with shoulder-length wavy hair—finished assisting another group, gestured us over, and avoided eye contact. We were excited and said in Spanish, “It’s our honeymoon!”—no reaction. Thinking she hadn’t heard, we repeated it in English and Spanish. She finally looked up, made eye contact, and simply said, “OK.” That was it. We almost laughed because it felt so dismissive. The hotel itself is attractive, clean in most areas, and the rooftop pool offers a beautiful view. Breakfast service staff were warm and attentive. However, our shower had black mold, which was disappointing for a four-star property. This hotel may be a good fit for families—most guests seemed to have children—but it didn’t feel welcoming or celebratory for a couple on a special trip. By checkout, we noticed another couple visibly upset with the front desk, which made us feel less alone in our frustration. That said, the younger receptionist with darker hair and skin was lovely and helpful whenever we interacted with her. San Sebastián itself was absolutely wonderful, and we’re glad we visited, but based on principle, we wouldn’t choose this hotel again. My only regret is not voicing our concerns during the stay—it bothered me the entire time.
Ok but I hate expensive hotels that then try to rip you off with extras that should be standard
Sun Jul 27 2025 10:30:18 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Martin H
Nice hotel but if I pay £1000 for 3 nights after booking the hotel partially due to its spa, it’s a nasty surprise to be told you need to pay extra (20 Euros is the same as for a non guest). Pretty poor and not made clear anywhere when you book. Room is ok.
A Lovely Stay
Fri Jul 25 2025 16:55:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by franfran2021
We had a very comfortable room and excellent breakfast, and it was a shame we had only one night to spend here in San Sebastian. They upgraded us to a lovely suite because we had joined the Catalonia club and had stayed at another Catalonia hotel previously. This hotel's staff was remarkably helpful, even when we were emailing them with questions before (and after) making our reservation. The spa pool was warm and the staff helpful there, as well.
Amazing view from Rooftop Bar
Wed Jul 23 2025 14:33:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Wellywoman
The hotel is located in a lovely quiet area. The decor throughout is to a very high standard. Our standard room was very large and beautifully decorated but the view from the window was just of waste ground which was disappointing but you could see the sea in distance. The bathroom was large and the shower was amazing. Beautiful comfortable bed and lovely furnishing. We were celebrating a big anniversary during our 3 night stay which the hotel were aware of when we made the booking months in advance but nothing was offered for same, not that we expected it but even a small box of chocolates or something as a token would of been nice. But they did very kindly give us an early check in of 13.30 which was greatly appreciated When you join the Catalonia rewards scheme you can avail of a 10 per cent discount for food and drinks at the hotel The view from the rooftop bar/pool was just amazing and we did enjoy our anniversary afternoon up there with a nice bottle of bubbly The lift that brings you to street level is just great you will be provided with a code for same upon check in We didnt avail of breakfast as lot of places nearby for a light breakfast Would highly recommend for its quiet central location
