ORA Hotel Priorat
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Hotel Details
Location
Tarragona
Spain, Europe
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Expert Review: ORA Hotel Priorat
ORA Hotel Priorat, nestled in the picturesque village of Torroja del Priorat, Tarragona, Spain, stands out as a Michelin Key Selected property offering a unique and refined experience in the heart of the renowned Priorat wine region. This boutique hotel, a member of Design Hotels, is a beautifully renovated 18th-century abbey that seamlessly blends baroque architecture with sleek modern design, creating a tranquil and sophisticated retreat.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The overall sentiment for ORA Hotel Priorat is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "exceptional" and "delightful." It boasts impressive ratings, including a "Wonderful" 9.1 on Booking.com and a "Exceptional" 9.6 on Expedia, reflecting high guest satisfaction. Reviewers consistently praise its stylish ambiance, the peaceful atmosphere, and its prime location for exploring the wine country.
2. Key Highlights
Guests are particularly fond of the hotel's distinctive design, which transforms an old monastery into a luxury boutique setting. The relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, along with comfortable lounge, living room, and library areas featuring coffee/tea facilities and an honesty bar with excellent local wines, are frequently highlighted. The friendly and welcoming staff, as well as the hotel's function as an ideal starting point for visiting neighboring wineries, also receive high praise. The stunning views of the Priorat mountains are another key highlight.
3. Room Quality
The rooms at ORA Hotel Priorat are described as beautiful, comfortable, and stylish, showcasing simplistic modernism with natural tones and contemporary designs. Each room is designed for maximum comfort, featuring king-sized beds, free Wi-Fi, hairdryers, and modern, often iPad-controlled, bathrooms. Some rooms offer balconies and captivating mountain views, and the decor often includes art reflecting the local culture. Guest feedback notes high ceilings and plush bedding, including down comforters and Egyptian cotton sheets. Soaps made from local grape seeds add a unique touch.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel provides a "delicious" and "amazing" delicatessen-style buffet breakfast. It features fresh fruit, juices, rustic bread, a variety of jams, cold cuts, cheeses, locally sourced tomatoes, milk, cereals, and coffee, emphasizing fresh Catalan and seasonal local products. For dinner, ORA Hotel Priorat offers a light option, including a curated selection of local charcuterie and acorn-fed Iberian ham, perfectly paired with wines from their cellar. While many appreciate the breakfast, a recurring criticism is the lack of hot dishes or eggs, and sometimes a crowded breakfast room. The hotel's Shelter bar showcases many of the region's top wines.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff are consistently lauded as "super resourceful," "very very nice," "extremely helpful, kind and professional." Guests highlight their welcoming nature and willingness to go the extra mile. Specific mentions include staff members like Beatriz, who was particularly helpful in making reservations for tastings at local wineries. Multilingual staff speaking Catalan, English, Spanish, and Italian further enhance the guest experience.
6. Location & Accessibility
ORA Hotel Priorat is located in the charming, tiny, and sleepy historic village of Torroja del Priorat, placing it directly in the heart of Spain's prestigious Priorat wine country. It serves as an excellent base for exploring numerous wineries and the natural beauty of the Serra del Montsant mountains. While offering a "great location" within the village, accessibility can be challenging; guests note it is somewhat remote, parking can be tricky down a steep hill, and there may be a distance from parking to the hotel entrance. Some areas, like the breakfast room, are two stairs from certain rooms with no elevator, which could be an issue for guests with mobility concerns. Reus Airport is approximately 29 km away, and the Roman city of Tarragona and the beaches of Costa Dorada are about a 40-minute drive.
7. Value & Pricing
The hotel generally receives a good "Value for money" score of 8.4 on Booking.com. Guests perceive it as a "very stylish Hotel, well above it's rated 3 stars," indicating that the quality and experience often exceed expectations for its official rating. While specific price ranges vary by date, the unique design, high level of service, and prime location in a sought-after wine region contribute to its perceived value.
8. Common Complaints
While generally highly rated, some guests have noted a few recurring issues. The most frequent complaint revolves around the breakfast, specifically the absence of hot dishes or eggs, and occasionally a crowded breakfast room. Accessibility is another concern, with mentions of the hotel being remote, tricky parking on a steep hill, and the lack of an elevator to all areas, particularly the breakfast room from some accommodations. Some guests also found the iPad-controlled lighting system overly complex, describing it as a "silly system for adjusting every light source with percentage." A few reviews also mentioned limited staff, with one person sometimes covering multiple roles, and the lack of tissues and a TV in some rooms.
