Hotel Miro
What We Love
- Artsy vibe
- Handy spot on the Nervión River, across from the Guggenheim and a quick walk to the Old Town
- The lobby’s courtesy bar, stocked with tea, coffee and soft drinks
- On-site Acqua Wellness spa
What To Know
- Only north-facing rooms have Guggenheim views
- No on-site restaurant, but you’re just a few blocks from some of the city's best bars and eateries
- Rooms near the elevator can be noisy
Amenities
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- Gym
- Handicap Accessible
- Parking On Site
- Spa
Overview
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.
How to Get There
Reviews
On the positive side, the location is great close to the two best museums and only 20 minutes walk to the bus station and old town. The staff are friendly, there is a comfortable sitting area with free coffee and water is topped up daily in your room.
We had an economy room which looks nothing like the photos on the website. It overlooked a cramped courtyard with a block of flats very close so you had a choice of blind down with dinginess or blind up without privacy. We treated ourselves to breakfast on the last day and this was tasty but overpriced. My small glass of orange juice was 5 euros and avocado on toast was 14. There are a lot of good bars and cafes nearby which provide better value for money.
Overall, a pleasant modern hotel but if you want to spend any time in your room, it might be worth paying the extra.
It's very central, from the airport bus, the museums and restaurants. The metro is about 10' away and the park nearby, next to the museum of arts has a nice café to sit outside. The night came without breakfast, so we paid that seperately the first morning. I wouldn't do that again. It's totally expensive for what you get, although good, and you can get so much more in town and so much more special.
On a super location, next to the Guggenheim, you will be welcomed like a king in this sympathetic hotel. Nice compact room with a spacious shower, safe, kettle, stocked minibar, beautiful slippers, (I used them the rest of the trip for three weeks). A bit noisy. Secure Wi-Fi. Large parking garage across the street. Breakfast (ordered separately) is compiled entirely to individual wishes. Super stay, four stars plus.
We chose the 4*Hotel Miro, as a treat, for our one night in Bilbao. It was just over the road from the Guggenheim.
Our welcome was faultless, English spoken by all the staff on the desk. Our room was excellent, and we had a beautiful view of the Guggenheim from the large windows.
However, our basin had no plug! As we went out for the evening, we asked the friendly and helpful man on the desk if he could rectify this. No problem, he would sort it.
When we came back later, he told us that unfortunately there were no plugs in the hotel. That no basins had a plug, it was a design feature of the hotel, and that very few people asked for one! So how was my husband meant to do a wet shave? Or wash contact lenses safely? Or wash using the basin?
In the end we put one of the glasses kindly supplied over the plug. Risky, but the water stayed for just long enough.
How daft in a 4* hotel!
We chose not to have the very expensive fancy breakfast at €18!
Understated elegance just across the street from the Guggenheim. Staff are incredible - nothing is too hard for them: walk to everything. Going back would be a dream come true: please don't tell everyone. ;-) (P.S. rooms are not huge but you are supposed to be out exploring the city! Foyer is very nice with some extra special treats which I won't tell you about otherwise I will not be able to get in next time!)