The Carlton Hotel turns one hundred

SOUL

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April 2026

Since its opening in 1926, the Hotel Carlton has stood as the guardian of Plaza Elíptica and the last great example of Bilbao’s classic hotel architecture. Designed by Manuel María Smith, this iconic building has been a haven for figures such as Einstein, Hemingway, and Audrey Hepburn, and served as the seat of the first Basque Government.

The Carlton Hotel first opened its doors on 20 September 1926, following the plans drawn up by Bilbao-born architect Manuel María Smith. Ever since, the building has stood as a witness to the city’s unfolding history, its distinctive portico opening onto Plaza Elíptica, the junction between Indautxu and the Ensanche district.

A young Ernest Hemingway once walked through its grand lobby, in search of the essence of bullfighting and war that drew him to Bilbao. The mystique of Federico García Lorca also lingered within these walls during his time touring with the theatre group La Barraca. Over the years, the hotel has welcomed figures of global renown. Albert Einstein gazed out from its balconies, captivated by the vibrant energy of the city. Decades later, the Carlton became a refuge for Hollywood stars such as Ava Gardner, who sought anonymity behind velvet curtains, the sophisticated Audrey Hepburn, and the legendary Maria Callas.

In 1936, the palace-like building took on a new role. It became the headquarters of the Basque Government under Lehendakari Aguirre. The basement bunker still retains the heavy atmosphere of those gunpowder-filled days.

Bilbaína de Hoteles. These leading figures of Biscayan industry sought accommodation worthy of their economic dynamism. Today, the hotel belongs to the Aranzazu Hoteles group, a company that carefully preserves the legacy of this architectural gem.

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HOTELS OF ANOTHER ERA

The Carlton belongs to a lineage of historic hotels, of which it is now the last remaining representative.

The Hotel de Inglaterra once reigned over El Arenal, facing the Teatro Arriaga, as the epicentre of 19th-century glamour. It disappeared to make way for the expansion of banking.

Nearby, on Viuda de Epalza, the Hotel Continental exuded a sense of modernity later erased by demolition.

The Hotel Torrontegui overlooked the Albia Gardens, where bullfighters would steady their nerves before entering the arena.

Finally, the Hotel Excelsior lent a note of British sobriety to Hurtado de Amezaga. Today, its distinctive building houses the Bizkaia Provincial Assembly and features an appealing exhibition hall.