Travel at a leisurely pace amidst 17th century walls: Hotel Claude combines local art and slow travel in the Old Town of Marbella
Marbella´s first luxury boutique hotel launches a cultural program with an exhibition by Julia Roder
- Hotel Claude restores the artistic spirit of a house that, in the 1970s and 1980s, hosted opera rehearsals, literary gatherings, and social dances, and was the home of the French soprano singer Claude Devoize.
- The exhibition launches an ongoing cultural program open to the local public— featuring exhibitions, literary evenings, concerts, tastings, and culinary gatherings— that aspires to establish the hotel as a cultural landmark in the Old Town.
- With just seven rooms and an international clientele, the establishment boasts a slow travel model based on small scale, authenticity, and heritage preservation.
- Its commitment to the city translates into its ongoing collaborations with local artists, galleries, musicians, artisans, and suppliers, and will continue until late 2026 with the opening of Soleil Brasserie, the group´s first restaurant open to the public.
Marbella, 29th of July 2026 – Hotel Claude, Marbella´s first luxury boutique hotel, has yesterday unveiled an exhibition by artist Julia Roder in the common areas of the 17th-century mansion it occupies, just steps away from Plaza de los Naranjos. The event marks the beginning of an important cultural calendar – exhibitions, literary gatherings, live music and culinary experiences – with which the establishment reaffirms its commitment to the cultural life of the city and to a model of travel that is unrushed, authentic and deeply connected to its location.
An Evening of Reconnection Between the Hotel and the City
The opening has been held in the hotel´s marble courtyard and rooftop terrace, featuring a tour guided by the artist herself, live music and a tasting prepared by the in-house culinary team. Among the attendees were Kika Caracuel, 5th Deputy Mayor, Councillor of the Marbella City Council and 4th Vice-President of the Málaga Provincial Council.
The exhibition brings together 18 paintings that engage in a dialogue with the building´s original architecture — the patio, the library and the upper terrace. With free entry, you will be able to visit until July 2027, making it accessible not only to guests but also to the residents of Marbella and those strolling through the Old Town during peak season.
“Exhibiting my work at Hotel Claude holds special significance because it is a place where art naturally belongs. The building itself tells stories, and its intimate atmosphere creates a unique dialogue between the artwork, the architecture, and the viewers. I hope that visitors leave not just having seen an exhibition, but having lived a memorable cultural experience,” said Julia Roder, the exhibition´s artist.
The Memory of a House that was a Cultural Centre in Marbella.
It is not a casual gesture: the art forms part of the biography of the house. Opened in 2007 as the first luxury boutique hotel in the city, Hotel Claude occupies a stately 17th-century residence in the heart of the Old Town, a building linked by local tradition to Empress Eugénie de Montijo and later the home of the renowned French opera singer Claude Devoize and her husband, Don Juan Berjano. The couple´s passion for music, art and culture converted the house into a place for artists, intellectuals and illustrious guests, and during the 1970s and 1980s the property was a prominent feature of Marbella´s cultural scene, with opera rehearsals, literary gatherings and society balls within its walls. That legacy continues to define the hotel´s identity today.
From Accommodation to Cultural Ambassador of the Old Town
The exhibition is not an isolated event, but rather the first element of a long-term strategy through which Hotel Claude aims to establish itself as a cultural host, a social meeting place, and an ambassador for Marbella. The establishment often collaborates with artists, galleries, cultural organisations, musicians, artisans and businesses of the city, and creates a calendar that will bring together displays of art, literary gatherings, concerts, wine tastings and culinary experiences open to the guests as well as the public.
“Hotel Claude is not simply a hotel; it is a house with a soul, where history, culture and genuine hospitality come together to create truly memorable experiences. Every decision we make is guided by one principle: making every guest feel they have discovered something truly unique. As we continue to evolve, our ambition is to preserve the timeless character of this remarkable house while enriching it with exceptional gastronomy, art and cultural experiences that celebrate the spirit of Marbella. We want every guest to leave not only with wonderful memories, but with a genuine emotional connection to Hotel Claude—one that inspires them to return and become part of our story,” stated Olivia Voicu, manager of the hotel.
Seven Keys to Handling Volume Growth
The cultural focus aligns with a business model built on a small scale. Rather than pursuing volume growth, the hotel has chosen to grow in depth: its seven rooms, each dedicated to an Andalusian province and designed around craftsmanship, local materials, and bespoke furniture – support and ethos of travel at a leisurely pace. This approach invites guests to explore the city on foot, stay in a meticulously restored historic residence —the most recent comprehensive renovation completed in 2021 — and discover Marbella from within its historic center, just minutes from the Mediterranean. Since then, the property has maintained ongoing investments in its rooms, common areas, technology and service.
With only seven keys, the hotel operates with a team of around 12 hospitality individuals who drive the service, supported by a selected network of external collaborators, including chefs, sommeliers, artists, musicians, photographers and event specialists, enabling the creation of bespoke experiences without compromising intimacy.
The guest profile explains a significant part of this strategic focus. 95% of clients come from international markets, compared to 5% from the national market, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland leading the list of popular nationalities. These travelers are predominantly older and possess high purchasing power: 23% are aged 50-59; 22% are 40-49; 18% are 60-69; and 16% are 30-39. They travel for leisure, business, and increasingly, for short getaways. Between 15% and 20% are repeat guests, a loyalty rate rarely seen in establishments of this size.
The same principle guides its commitment to sustainability, an approach the establishment views primarily as the preservation of heritage, collaboration with regional suppliers, artisans, and seasonal producers, waste reduction, and conscious operational decisions. This approach has earned the hotel industry recognition — including the Booking.com Traveler Review Award 2026 and the Tripadvisor Travelers´ Choice 2026 —as well as the appreciation of guests who value authenticity and discretion over conventional luxury. Hotel Claude is part of the Grand Hotel & Suites Group, while also operating Graffiti Suites, an aparthotel brand with two properties in Málaga.
The Next Chapter, Soleil Brasserie
At the end of 2026, the cultural program will coincide with the opening of Soleil Brasserie, the first restaurant to be open to the public. Led by the Executive Chef Volodymyr Huk, whose background blends classic European culinary training with extensive experience in fine dining and luxury hospitality, the restaurant will offer refined cuisine with Mediterranean accents in an intimate dining room seating.
The group estimates that the majority of the restaurant’s clientele will consist of residents and visitors who are not staying at the hotel. This projection positions Soleil Brasserie as a dual asset: it diversifies the establishment’s revenue streams and, above all, opens the brand up to a local audience that previously had no reason to step inside a seven-room hotel, thereby reinforcing its identity as a culinary and social destination within the Old Town.
ABOUT HOTEL CLAUDE
Hotel Claude is Marbella’s first luxury boutique hotel. Opened in 2007 in a 17th-century mansion in the Old Town, just steps away from Plaza de los Naranjos, it features seven unique rooms themed around the provinces of Andalusia, a historic marble courtyard, a library, and a rooftop terrace. It is part of the Grand Hotel & Suites Group, which also operates the Graffiti Suites aparthotel brand in Málaga. Its team of approximately twelve professionals works with a network of local collaborators—including chefs, sommeliers, artists, musicians, and photographers—to create bespoke experiences.
