San Sebastián gets its landmark back
The famous historic “Palacio Bellas Artes” building in San Sebastián had stood empty since 1989. This summer, it has reopened – not in its former role as a cinema and theatre, but as a hotel in the Hilton chain: the Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián, Curio Collection by Hilton.
The palace was built in 1914 to plans by the architect Ramón Cortázar, a leading figure in Basque architecture. It housed one of Spain’s first cinemas and served as a cultural centre that shaped the city’s social life for decades.
In 1982, the cinema closed its doors to regular operations; from 1989 onwards, the building stood completely unused and was left to fall into disrepair for years.
In 1995, it was listed as a cultural heritage site in the city’s master plan and was officially declared a cultural monument by the Basque Government in 2015. Despite these protective measures, the building’s owner was able to dismantle the iconic dome that same year.
Under the direction of architect Ignacio Quemada, the landmark was finally extensively restored: this included the striking dome, the historic façade and numerous original decorative elements, all of which were reconstructed with meticulous attention to detail.
In mid-2026, the building reopened as the Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes San Sebastián, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton brand.
81 rooms with a theatrical flair
The past remains palpable inside too: the Spanish design studio Isabel López Vilalta + Asociados has reinterpreted the former theatre’s architecture. Guests enter the lobby through the former stage area and pass beneath the historic stage arch before bright, modern spaces open up before them. The 81 individually designed rooms and suites bear names that evoke the building’s original use: from the Gallery rooms, through the Amphitheatre and Grand Stalls rooms, to the Front Box and Corner Box suites, named after what were once the theatre’s most sought-after boxes. The highlight is the Cupula Suite, situated directly beneath the building’s restored dome.
Culinary highlights include the Lotu restaurant, led by top chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, complemented by a lobby bar serving as a meeting place for guests and visitors to the city.
Fire protection with special tested nozzles
The historic building’s fire safety is ensured by FOGTEC technology. A high-pressure water mist fire suppression system has been installed in all rooms, escape routes, public areas and the underground car park. Special nozzles developed and tested specifically for electric vehicles as part of the SUVEREN research project have been installed in the underground car park. The fire safety concept is supplemented by wall-mounted hydrants for manual firefighting.
The high-pressure water mist system has been integrated into the structure of the historic building in a space-efficient and virtually ‘invisible’ manner. If the system is activated in the event of a fire, only small quantities of water are used, thereby minimising disruption to the hotel’s operations.
