Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno

Opened in May 2023 amid the hillside vineyards of Priorat and cliffs of Montsant, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno welcomes guests with a highly accommodating staff and a “slow living” ethos. It is the only luxury hotel in the area.

• The terrace infinity pool overlooking the vineyard
• Vinum, the dinner restaurant, with its artfully crafted chef’s tasting menu best enjoyed with local wine pairings
• The access to this under-the-radar region, with its hilltop villages, wineries and the dramatic Montsant Nature Park

Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno is a gentle landing amidst a decidedly adventurous landscape. Whether you get there via the three-track train station in Falset or drove the two hours from Barcelona, the last leg of the journey to Priorat’s lone five-star hotel is a series of narrow, winding roads carved into the steep hillsides (reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast roads, sans the ocean). Opened in May 2023, the 24-suite property’s specialty is relaxation, and the 82-foot infinity pool, delicious food and wine served on the terraces and warm staff make that an easy bill to fit.

The boutique hotel’s interior mixes a “curl up by the fire” vibe with a clean, modern design. In the entry hall, for example, wooden rafters, imitation branch supports and a clock made of books are seen alongside sleek mirrors, Cubist-esque art, and elegant glass ceiling hangings. High ceilings make way for second-floor mezzanines, each furnished with cozy armchairs, couches and a dining table from which to enjoy the electric fireplaces and built-in bookshelves displaying books on history and art.

This same sleek-meets-cozy design carries through to the six suite categories, most of which embrace the surrounding vineyards with floor to ceiling windows, balconies and terraces. The most spacious is Bruno’s Suite (1,300 square-feet), located in the main building, which includes a private dining room and garden, as well as a Roman tub. The Suites (860 square-feet) all have sweeping vineyard views and ample space accentuated by the open floor plans. The Atelier building lining the pool houses Bruno’s Villa and the Garden Suites, all of which have private terraces.

Comfortable as the rooms may be, the common spaces are undoubtedly a highlight of a stay here: from the hillside terraces overlooking the vineyards to the infinity pool lined with lounge chairs, which are sectioned off on two sides by pergolas to allow guests privacy (each pergola even has its own set of steps into the pool). The elegant restaurant goes by two names depending on time of day. For lunch, its “Tarraco” menu serves Roman-inspired cuisine. Come dinner, “Vinum” offers an elegant, elaborate gastronomic tasting menu. For both lunch and dinner (as well as for breakfast) guests can dine inside or on the two-tiered terrace, which is also an ideal spot to enjoy drinks or a wine tasting while soaking in the surrounding nature. On cooler days, peckish guests might retreat to Bruno’s Bar for drinks and tapas. In a hallway to the right of the lobby, it comprises mostly tables for two—the best (and biggest) table though is tucked at the end, set into a wall beneath a stone archway.There is also a spa and wellness area with a heated indoor swimming pool, hammam, sauna, treatment rooms and more.

Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno has succeeded in crafting an experience suited to all seasons, inviting guests to enjoy the rich region even outside those popular wine tourism months of August and September. Guests can explore the villages, sites and landscapes of Priorat via the hotel’s own electric Mini Cooper, which is available for rent.

Travelers seeking an elevated and relaxing food and wine-focused stay or a base from which to explore Priorat