The Look

Hotel Miró’s unassuming façade and minimalist design mimic the avant-garde aesthetic of its neighbors, the Guggenheim and the Museum of Fine Arts. The brainchild of Barcelona-based fashion designer Antonio Miró, this former music school blends right in with its artistically inclined surroundings, with thoughtful interiors that have a modern museum vibe. Black marble, quirky photography, contemporary artwork, tripod lamps and chrome chairs decorate the public spaces.

Bed and Bath

The boxy guestrooms, which are red, black and white, are simple, spacious and flooded with light from wall-size windows. Curtains separate sleeping, lounging and bathing spaces, keeping things fluid and multifunctional. Bathrooms are petite and clad in black marble, with products from Gilchrist & Soames.

Beyond

Downstairs you’ll find the courtesy bar, dressed in sunshine yellows, where you can have a soft drink, coffee or tea before hitting the town. Need to brush up on your Basque knowledge? Head to the library, a quiet space filled with reading material for the curious traveler. Sure, the hotel is well appointed, and its convenient location is a key selling point, but it’s the service that truly shines. Staff members speak excellent English and bend over backward to help guests — whether it’s a relocation (should your neighbors party late into the night) or securing a table at the hottest restaurant in town. It’s a touch of Old World care in a totally New World building — a stay that appeals as much to travelers who appreciate the finer things as to diehard Frank Gehry fans.

In the Area

As mastermind behind the Spanish outpost of one of the world’s most beloved art franchises, Frank Gehry managed to inject a newfound energy into Bilbao’s Guggenheim. Nearby you’ll also find the Museo de Bellas Artes, the city’s revered fine arts institution, which is well worth a visit. Stroll downtown to the area known as the Old Town; the entire barrio has been declared a national landmark. Many of the buildings, such as the Catedral de Santiago and the Basílica de Begoña, date back as far as the 14th and 15th centuries. The Basque region of Spain is known for its tapas (called pintxos locally), which place a heavy emphasis on seafood bites such as cod. Get in on the action via a favorite Spanish pastime: a self-organized pub crawl of nearby establishments — of which there are many — that serve such fare.