Palacio San Juan, a Royal Hideaway Hotel: Murcia’s first five-star hotel opens in the Palace of Floridablanca

Murcia, Spain’s seventh-largest city with a population of nearly 470,000, has never had a five-star hotel. That changes on 8 September 2026, the opening date of Palacio San Juan, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, offering 70 rooms and suites housed in the palace of the Count of Floridablanca, on Plaza de San Juan, just a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral. The project brings together two heavyweights of the Spanish economy: Grupo Fuertes, a regional agri-food group and property owner, and Barceló Hotel Group, which operates the address under Royal Hideaway, its luxury brand.

The Palace of Floridablanca, residence of a minister of Charles III

José Moñino, Count of Floridablanca, served as First Secretary of State to Charles III and later Charles IV. One of the great reformers of the Spanish Enlightenment, he was also a native of Murcia. The neoclassical palace bearing his name served as the family’s urban residence. It remained a sleeping beauty in the historic centre until Grupo Fuertes initiated its restoration, entrusted to Murcian architect Jesús Zafra. The facades and the layout of the square have been preserved, while the interior has been entirely redesigned for hospitality, using regional materials from marble to wood, and a decor in terracotta and sand tones that evoke the light of the huerta.

70 keys, a rooftop pool and a two-star restaurant

The 70 rooms and suites are spread across five levels, featuring terracotta velvet headboards and ceilings adorned with botanical motifs. The fifth floor brings together the hotel’s two standout features: Royal Heaven, a tapas and cocktail space with a panoramic pool overlooking the rooftops of Murcia, opening on 16 September, and a restaurant terrace. In late October, Ocra will follow, the restaurant by chef Juanlu Fernández, who holds two Michelin stars in Jerez for his restaurant Lú, Cocina y Alma, and two knives at the Best Chef Awards. According to the group, the opening creates around 100 jobs, with 80% local suppliers and 22% short-chain produce.

Why Murcia was waiting for this five-star hotel

“The restoration of the historic Palace of Floridablanca offers a unique proposition combining heritage, contemporary luxury, and a deep connection to Murcia’s identity,” summarises Gaspar Sáez, Barceló’s Director of Operations for Southern Spain and the Algarve. For Tomás Fuertes, President of Grupo Fuertes, the goal was to “recover this jewel of Murcian heritage” and make it “the city’s first five-star hotel.” The subtext is economic: lacking this category, Murcia was leaving high-end clientele to Cartagena, Alicante, or the Costa Cálida. Discover hotel news in Spain on La Revue des Hôtels.

Our perspective

Royal Hideaway is the brand Barceló reserves for its most refined addresses, from Royal Hideaway Corales in Tenerife to Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri in Cadiz. Opening one in an inland regional capital, far from the sea, is a wager on the city itself. The real test will come in late October with Ocra: Juanlu Fernández’s restaurant is what will draw Spanish travellers from Madrid and Valencia, more so than the 70 rooms. Our recommendation: book a room with a terrace on the upper floors, and aim for a date after 16 September, when the rooftop and its pool are open.

Practical information

• Address · Palacio San Juan, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, Plaza de San Juan, 30003 Murcia, Spain
• Opening · 8 September 2026 · Royal Heaven rooftop from 16 September · Ocra restaurant in late October
• To see on foot · Murcia Cathedral (5 mins), Real Casino de Murcia (7 mins), banks of the Segura (5 mins)
• Official website · barcelo.com