Hotel Snapshot
Between Barcelona and the Pyrenees Mountains, Off Grid Girona is a hotel housed in a 300-year-old masía, a traditional Catalan farmhouse. This ivy-covered hotel offers an authentic Spanish-style rural experience with 10 bedrooms, plus an attached four-bedroom barn. The intimate property offers a warm refuge where guests can gather around the fireplace or enjoy a family-style meal, complemented by a novel community dining concept.
The new hotel is a passion project of Yotel co-founder Gerard Greene, but the atmosphere couldn’t be more different from the urban hotel chain’s futuristic aesthetic. The charms of time are embraced throughout the hotel, which has been carefully restored to highlight the original architecture, showcase upcycled furniture, and adapt the centuries-old building with contemporary amenities. In the heart of one of Europe’s cycling hubs, it’s an outpost for adventure and a hideaway immersed in nature.
Design & Character
The building is an authentic farmhouse dating back to the 1720s, so creaky floors and sloping ceilings are part of the charm. In the restoration, which came together in less than a year, the team went to meticulous lengths to preserve every last detail, down to door handles. Designed by the Girona-based Ariadna Puigdomenech, natural materials are emphasized with limewashed walls and reclaimed wood alongside singular details like an iron cauldron hanging from the beams and original painted tiles from Las Bisbal d’Emporda, a nearby town with a historic ceramic industry.
The hotel’s character is defined by its original details, which are highlighted and not overshadowed by contemporary choices. Walls and doorframes painted in muted colors, and shiny white-tiled bathrooms with gold-colored fixtures are offset by raw-edged countertops and stone basins. The communal areas are more rustic indoors, while the massive pool is surrounded by comfortable loungers and playful bean bag chairs. As you walk through a distinguished archway of the courtyard that connects the main house to the private barn, it feels like stepping into a micro-village. Staff live on and near the property, so you may also be greeted by their friendly pets.
The Rooms
The rooms are not flashy, but instantly calming. A surprising highlight of the stay is the extremely comfortable beds dressed in the ultra-soft linen sheets from BeKume, a small Barcelona-based brand. Rooms range in size and shape from single to two-bedroom suites with views of the sunrise-facing garden and green mountains.
There is heating, but no air-conditioning; instead, each room has a large Dyson fan. The level of character in this authentic farmhouse is impossible to manufacture, which also means you may hear your neighbors from time to time.
Amenities
A fully-equipped cycling shed with tune-up tools and electric road bikes is an essential on-site amenity for adventurous clientele. Road and gravel bikes can also be rented through the hotel’s partnership with the Girona-based Eat Sleep Cycle, which also offers guided tours. There is a large pool (65-foot-long and 9-foot-deep), an event space, and complimentary yoga classes are offered both outdoors and in a private studio. There is no spa, but outdoor massages in the garden can be arranged.
The Food and Drink Situation
Community dinners are one of the highlights of this property. According to the hotel’s Km0 dining ethos, the resident chef tailors each day’s menu to the freshest ingredients available. Dinner is not included, but guests who book in advance will eat together at one table. The three-course meal is served family-style with unlimited wine. During my stay, I enjoyed an appetizer of smoked leeks with fresh cheese and nuts as well as grilled entraña, or skirt steak, with a red wine and mushroom sauce.
The complimentary breakfast includes a continental spread with yogurt, meat, cheese, bread, and eggs that can be made-to-order. There are no mini-fridges in the rooms, but honesty bars in the common area (guests are asked to write down what they take in a notebook) are stocked with drinks and snacks, plus complimentary bottled water.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Leaving from the property, you can connect to cycle routes along the Via Verde, old railway lines that have been converted into cycling paths, or take an excursion to nearby towns like medieval Besalú or the serene Banyoles, which sits on a large lake popular in the summer for freshwater swimming. More ambitious cyclists can also travel towards the Costa Brava for seaside routes, or if you prefer a break to hike, there is a challenging trail to the viewpoint at Santuari de la Mar de Déu, which can also be reached by car. This is the best place to see the Pyrenees stretching across the horizon all the way to the Mediterranean.
Fast Facts
Location: Más Salvanera, Spain ( 30 minutes from the nearest train station in Figueres, 90 minutes north of Barcelona)
Vibe: Rustic simplicity with luxurious touches for adventure and community-seeking travelers
Pricing: from €178 per night (two-night minimum)
Our favorite thing about the hotel: The optional community dining concept brings guests together for candlelit family-style meals, helping to break the ice and embrace the serendipity of travel.
Nearby Attractions: Banyoles, Besalú, and Santauri de la Mar de Déu Mare del Deu
Airport: 45 minutes from Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) or 30 minutes from the Figueres Train Station
Más Salvanera, Spain
