L'Hostal de la Gavina is a mix of exclusivity, glamour, architecture, gastronomy, landscape, and history. A lot of history. Just by entering and contemplating the imposing hall, you already notice that it is not just any space. Located in front of Sant Pol beach, within the S'Agaró complex, the Hostal attracted personalities such as Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Orson Welles, Salvador Dalí, Jack Nicholson, Josep Pla, and Johan Cruyff, among many others. There was a time when everything happened there. It was the place to be. Not only for the summer glamour of a certain Barcelona bourgeoisie, but it was a meeting point that went beyond our borders.
Much has happened since then, but the essence still remains. Hand in hand with the Ensesa family, S'Agaró and Hostal de la Gavina have preserved a cultural legacy very difficult to find (and even more difficult to replicate): a Novecentista architecture that has not capitulated to the excesses of the tourist boom of our times. The Hostal keeps alive the visionary spirit of Josep Ensesa, promoter of a project that goes beyond tourism, gastronomy, and relax. La Gavina has managed to preserve a philosophy of life that seems to have fallen into oblivion: the legacy of those infinite summers that, today, we remember through films and that we try to replicate, with much less glamour, in beer commercials.
A paradise with a legend
Hostal de la Gavina was born almost 95 years ago as a privileged chalet designed by the architect Rafael Masó and promoted by a visionary: Josep Ensesa. Initially, there were two houses that merged to become a hotel with a few rooms. Over time, however, the building grew to become a five-star grand luxury hotel, preserving the spirit of discreet elegance with Novecentista details and a harmonious symmetry that does not go unnoticed by those who have the opportunity to stay in its rooms.
Just by entering its doors, you already detect a subtle and timeless luxury that invites you to breathe history. The disciplined gardens and the seawater pool transport you directly to a postcard from the fifties.
Star gastronomy
One of the jewels of Hostal de la Gavina is its gastronomy. You can enjoy a wide range of proposals and spaces without leaving its facilities. Under the baton of the prestigious Occitan chef Romain Fornell ---the only Occitan chef with two Michelin stars and recently awarded the French Legion of Honor---, each dish combines Mediterranean produce with subtle and contemporary French technique.
You can opt for the pool restaurant, Garbí, where tapas, seafood paellas, and grilled fish are its main draw. Or raise the bar and choose Candlelight, a restaurant that could very worthily boast a Michelin star. Under the direction of young chef Oriol Fernández, you can enjoy a fantastic tasting menu, where traditional Catalan cuisine, with a French-inspired style, reminds you of the exclusivity of the location while you listen to the piano in the background. But the proposal doesn't end here: to top it off, you can also enjoy La Tasca de Mar, a jewel of Catalan Modernism, which offers a great repertoire of fresh fish and seafood right by the sea.
A summer that never ends
Hostal de la Gavina is much more than a hotel: it is a journey through time without sacrificing comfort. A refuge where every detail ---from the garden to the service--- conveys the feeling that life can be lived at a different pace. Here summer never ends; it only transforms into memories that accompany you, like the golden light of a sunset on the Costa Brava. A discreet luxury, true to itself, that continues to be the place to be for those who know how to appreciate the beauty of things that endure.