A boutique hotel in the heart of Cardiff city centre has been named the best city hotel in the UK in The Sunday Times' 100 Best Places to Stay in Britain for 2023.
Parador 44 only opened in June 2022 but has since garnered rave reviews from renowned establishments such as The Times and The Telegraph and has made it onto well-revered lists such as The Guardian's Top 10 Best New Hotels in the UK. And now, it has another accolade to add to its name.
Announcing this exciting news to its followers on Instagram, Parador 44 wrote alongside the Times' excerpt of just why they had been picked: "BEST CITY HOTEL IN THE UK. Over the moon this morning that @thetimes have named Parador 44 the best city hotel in the United Kingdom. And also in the Top 100 places to stay in the UK. Super proud of the @parador_44 & @asador44 team. What an opening year it has been for us."
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As the name suggests, the hotel's ethos takes inspiration from Spanish paradors - which are state-owned luxury hotels that have been converted from a beautiful and historic building such as a monastery or castle - and is run by the successful siblings, Tom and Owen Morgan and Natalie Isaac, behind Bar 44 and Asador 44 - which just so happens to be situated below this gorgeous stay. Guests can even enjoy a sumptuous breakfast downstairs in the much-loved Spanish grill restaurant - read our review of it here.
Situated in the city centre, just off St Mary Street, Parador 44 was transformed from what was known decades ago as The Model Inn into a metropolitan paradise which has been heaving with city-goers and travellers ever since swinging its doors open last summer.
The reason they made the cut on this prestigious list is, according to The Times is: "Twenty years ago, brothers Owen and Tom Morgan, along with sister Natalie Isaac, opened Bar 44, a tapas bar in Cowbridge, South Wales. It was a massive hit and fans of Spanish food travelled from far and wide to sample its authentic dishes.
"Three restaurants later, the siblings' latest opening is a nine-bedroom luxury Spanish-themed hotel in central Cardiff. Parador 44, inspired by Spain's castle hotels - paradors - is found above their Asador 44 restaurant. It's on the site of an ancient pub, the Model Inn, where, according to local legend, member of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army were billetted during the English Civil War."
Parador 44 wasn't the only Welsh hotel on this lengthy round up. Also included in their category was Plas Weunydd in Gwynedd. The Times wrote: "Transformed from family home to hotel and from slate mine to fun-fuelled playground, PlasWeunydd is at the heart of adventure tourism in Snowdonia. The 24-room hotel, with various glamping options, gears itself to families and adrenaline junkies keen to make the most of on-site ziplines, underground trampolines and mountain-bike trails at Llechwedd slate mine near Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd. All ages are welcome - dog, too - and a simple restaurant serves breakfast, brunch and light suppers. Whatever the weather, there's masses to do nearby to kieep everyone entertained - with the promise of a warm and welcoming base to come home to."
The Albion in Ceredigion too made it to the best Welsh hotel of the year's round up, as well as The Royston and Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms in Powys and Pembrokeshire's The Grove.
To read the whole list, see here.
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