La Mer Hotel

Stone, garden and the old Can Vivé farmhouse set the tone here. La Mer Hotel occupies a rural property with more than four centuries of history, six individual rooms, a library, a sitting room with a fireplace and a wine cellar. It is a small place rather than a resort machine, with enough room to sit down properly after a day out in the Maresme.

The setting suits you if your ideal evening involves a quiet drink, a swim and dinner on site rather than a search for the next neon sign. Families can use the larger accommodation, while couples have the more intimate rooms and the restaurant's interior or exterior setting. There is a garden, a sun terrace and an open-air bath, so the practical business of relaxing does not require a timetable.

You are in Cabrera de Mar, in Catalonia, at Camí de Santa Elena 30, beneath the hill of Burriac and surrounded by the Maresme countryside. This is not a seafront address: Vilassar de Mar Beach is about 3 miles away by road, with other beaches along the coast a little farther on. Pack accordingly; the sea is nearby, but it is not waiting outside your door.

The position gives you a rural base without cutting you off from useful places. Cabrera de Mar–Vilassar de Mar railway station is about 2.5 miles away by road, while Mataró station is about 3.5 miles away. Cals Frares restaurant is about 50 metres away, and Ruïnes de l'Ermita de Sant Vicenç del Castell de Burriac is about 1.5 miles from the hotel. Barcelona El Prat Airport is roughly 25 miles away by road.

The room choice is really a question of how much space you want around the luggage, the clothes and the people. The Superior Double Room works for a couple and can accommodate a third guest, while the Superior Twin Room keeps things straightforward for two separate beds. For a family or a group, the Junior Suite and especially the Family Suite give you the room to spread out rather than treating every bag as an unwanted fourth occupant.

The rooms have air conditioning and heating, which matters when you return warm, salty and ready for a proper night's sleep. A mosquito net, tiled or marble flooring, a wardrobe, clothes rack and private bathroom cover the useful basics. There is also a desk, seating area, television and free WiFi in every area of the property, so you can deal with the day's messages without turning the bed into an office.

Views open towards the garden or pool, depending on the room. Daily housekeeping keeps the practical side under control, while room service lets you keep the evening indoors when energy levels have finally reached zero. Family rooms are available, and cots or extra beds can be requested according to the accommodation selected.

The restaurant is El Edén, with indoor and outdoor seating and Mediterranean cooking based on local produce. Breakfast is continental, with fresh pastries, cheese and juice, and à la carte choices are also available. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is useful when the last thing you want after a full day is to go back out in search of food.

The kitchen is presented around a chef with two Michelin stars, while the dining style remains tied to Mediterranean and nearby products rather than a long list of international concepts. Dinner is served in a romantic setting, but the tone need not be solemn: you can eat indoors or outside and let the garden do the decorative work.

There is a bar, a snack bar and an on-site coffee house, with wine and champagne available. The useful distinction is that the drinks are not confined to one formal restaurant moment. You can move from the terrace to dinner without turning the evening into a logistical exercise.

The outdoor swimming pool is open throughout the year, and the property also has a small open-air bath described as a Roman bath. Pool and beach towels, sun umbrellas and outdoor furniture are available, giving you the option of putting your feet up without making a project of it. The garden and sun terrace are the natural places for the quiet part of the afternoon.

For something more active, the hotel offers a yoga room and gym. Bike tours and walking tours are available, while hiking takes you beyond the property. A golf course lies within about 2 miles. None of this requires you to turn the stay into a sporting camp; it is there for the day when another few hours beside the pool would feel like surrender.

The library, sitting room with fireplace and outdoor fireplace add a few options for cooler evenings. The grounds also work for a simple post-dinner wander, with the old farmhouse setting doing more than a plastic sign marked 'leisure area' ever could.

Check-in runs from 17:00 to 22:00, and you need to tell the property your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 08:00 to 12:00. Payment is by cash, and a refundable cash damage deposit is required on arrival. Guests under 18 can check in only with a parent or official guardian, while there is no minimum age requirement for check-in.

Barcelona El Prat Airport is about 25 miles away by road, and an airport shuttle is available. The hotel also offers a shuttle service, private on-site parking, luggage storage and a tour desk. Parking does not require advance reservation. Free WiFi covers all areas, and room service is available when the sensible decision is to remain horizontal.

Pets are welcome, with a maximum of two pets per booking. Cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the selected accommodation and availability. Non-smoking and allergy-free rooms are available, alongside daily housekeeping and private bathrooms.