Meliá Hotels International has announced plans to open the first five-star hotel in the Spanish port city of Cádiz.

The hospitality company this week announced that it has signed an agreement for its 28th hotel in Andalusia (Spain). Operating under the Meliá Collection brand, the new hotel will emerge from the transformation of two historic buildings – an old baroque palace built for the Marquise of Casa Recaño in 1760, and an Elizabethan-style estate from the late 18th century – situated on Alameda Apodaca in Cadiz’s historic center. It is expected to open in 2026.

Both buildings will undergo meticulous renovation to preserve their historic design details and architecture along with the integration of contemporary five-star hotel comforts.

Meliá Cádiz will have 40 guestrooms, a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Alameda, an exclusive rooftop with a pool offering sea views, a fully-equipped gym, and a dedicated space for wellness.

Gabriel Escarrer, president and CEO of Meliá, expressed pride in their role as the leading hotel chain uplifting the standard of five-star hospitality in key Spanish destinations. He emphasized the company’s commitment to excellence in Cádiz with this new hotel. Property owners Luis López de Carrizosa Caballero and Diana Domecq Delgado also conveyed their satisfaction, seeing the project as pivotal in attracting higher quality tourism to the city.

For Meliá, this venture marks its second hotel in Cádiz and the sixth in the province, contributing to a portfolio of more than 1,000 rooms. Notable hotels in the region include the Gran Meliá Sancti Petri in Chiclana and the recently revamped Meliá Zahara Resorts & Villas in Zahara de los Atunes, a benchmark for hotel repositioning in southern Spain.​

As part of the Meliá Collection portfolio, this hotel joins a curated selection of luxury hotels with an independent spirit that includes properties in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.