By Amy Kadori
View of Granada from hotel room balcony
La Gran Francia is a charming, boutique hotel in Granada on a corner of the Parque Central, or main square. It is surrounded by neo-classical and colonial architecture. The thick adobe walls of the original building date back to the founding of Granada in 1524. There are twenty-one Spanish colonial rooms with dark wood antique furniture and local art. The rooms surround an open courtyard with a pool. All rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, fresh flowers, free Wi-Fi and include breakfast. The hotel has two bars, a gift shop, concierge, laundry service and the best location in town.
Wows and Woes
Decor includes polished wood and handmade tiles
Dining upstairs at El Arcangel restaurant you can watch the vibrant nightlife below in the park across the street.
Breakfast rates high for quality and ambiance. Dine inside or out in the garden.
La Gran Francia offers three classes of rooms. Older, "classic" rooms have nice bathrooms, antique furniture and nice artwork but are small.
Insider Tips
Take a carriage ride around Granada
The intimate La Bartolina taberna, one of the two bars in the hotel, was originally a 19th century jail. It once housed William Walker, an American expatriate who attempted to conquer Central America in the 19th century.
The "colonial" rooms and suites don't cost much more than the "classic" rooms and are worth the difference in cost.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
Granadinos meet and party both day and night in the Parque Central diagonally across the street from the El Archangel Restaurant at the Gran Francia. It's the center of town both literally and figuratively. We enjoyed watching the action while we dined on the terrace. It gave us a chance to observe local families and feel a part of the street scene.
Bottom Line
Granada is popular with foreigners because of the architecture and charm. La Gran Francia has attractive furnishings and all the needed amenities.
Resources
About the Author:
Amy Kadori, a former dietician, has a degree in health and nutrition from the University of Massachusetts and writes on health issues and travel reviews. Before moving to Arizona Amy wrote a travel guide to Florida and a prize winning industrial newsletter.
