June 5, 2025 . . . A true benchmark for luxury getaways in Spain and set in a privileged natural environment, CoolRooms Palacio de Luces—the only hotel in Asturias awarded a Michelin Key—has just joined the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ collection, the most coveted community of independently spirited hotels and travelers in search of authenticity.
“We are proud to announce that CoolRooms Palacio de Luces has joined the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ collection—the world’s most coveted community of independently minded hotels and discerning travelers seeking authenticity,” said Bruno Veiga, General Manager. “Set within a meticulously restored 16th-century palace and surrounded by 13,000 square meters of lush gardens, our hotel offers a serene escape just two kilometers from Lastres, one of Spain’s most picturesque coastal villages, in the heart of Colunga.”
Nestled between the Cantabrian Sea and the Sueve Mountains, CoolRooms Palacio de Luces has become the only hotel in Asturias—and one of just three in northern Spain—to join the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World™. “This distinction strengthens our commitment to a different kind of luxury—one rooted in local character, excellence in hospitality, sustainability, and genuine connection with every guest. SLH personally verifies each of its hotels against more than 750 quality criteria,” explains Veiga. “We share their vision of conscious, authentic, and positive-impact travel. At CoolRooms Hotels, we believe in luxury that inspires, protects, and moves. Thank you to our entire team for making this dream a reality, and to our guests for accompanying us every step of the way,” he adds.
Asturias’ Best-Kept Secret
Palacio de Luces is Asturias’ best-kept secret. and perfectly reflects the ethos of CoolRooms Hotels: elevating the art of living to its highest expression by integrating into the culture of each place and seeking uniqueness in hospitality, with a commitment to protecting and promoting the richness of the traditions that shape its context, while preserving local heritage and the environment.
Originally built in 1580 by Spanish nobleman Juan Victorero, known as El Viejo, who journeyed to the Americas and returned to Asturias with a blend of Old and New World influences. The palace has been meticulously restored and — is a destination in itself, a place created by and for the 21st-century traveler.
A true benchmark for luxury getaways in Spain, the hotel is set in a unique setting between the sea and the mountains, surrounded by woodlands of beech, yew, cherry, pine, and holly trees. Palacio de Luces is the ideal place to disconnect from the noise of everyday life and discover the pleasure of silence and purity.
Nature, Culture, and History in Every Corner
Reopened in 2022, the hotel was redesigned by the architectural studio Proyecto Singular, which approached the restoration by respecting the architectural evolution of the palace while reinterpreting its indiano character. Each space was conceived to harmonize with the light, nature, and memory of the place.
The hotel features 44 classically styled rooms and suites. Every room or suite offers panoramic views of the palace’s tranquil gardens, the Bay of Lastres, the Sueve Mountains, the Cantabrian Sea, or the distant Picos de Europa—seamlessly blending interior elegance with the beauty of Asturias.
Each room extends the surrounding landscapes framed by its windows and tells stories of the past and the achievements of its former residents, both in Asturias and the Americas. The main building also houses four newly renovated CoolSuites that now impress with their elegant simplicity thanks to light tones, green hues, plain fabrics and wallpapers, and natural wood furniture, all inspired by the indiano heritage.
Asturian Roots and American Influences in Cuisine
Palacio de Luces is also home to the fine-dining restaurant Tella. Chef Pachi Ruiz offers a cuisine that blends Asturian roots with American influences, with a strong emphasis on the use of local products from the region. His proposal includes fish and seafood from the Bay of Lastres as well as meats from the pastures of the Sueve Mountains. He works with local producers, such as Hazas anchovies, and supports artisanal Asturian cheeses. “My cuisine follows the market, locally sourced organic products, and what Colunga offers—which includes nearly everything, from legumes to fish, seafood to game, and cured meats to poultry,” he explains.
Tella is located in a space that integrates with the surrounding landscape. The large picture window in the restaurant frames an unmatched scene of Asturias with views of the Sueve Mountains leading up to the Picos de Europa. This landscape inspires Tella’s irresistible dishes and tasting menus (Tella, Sueve, and Pienzu), which blend flavors, textures, and techniques that reinterpret local traditions: Hazas anchovies, exclusive Tella edition, from our neighbors, Asturian lettuce gazpacho with marinated white shrimp and smoked herring caviar, Pitu Caleya cannelloni with smoked cheese foam and seasonal mushrooms, Grilled octopus with hummus, smoked paprika butter air, and kale, Traditional Asturian Fabada PGI or a plant-based version with seaweed green curry, Catch of the day from the Lastres fish market, prepared fresh and seasonally, Stewed Xaldu lamb—an Asturian native breed—with red curry, vegetables, and yogurt-mint bread.
To finish the experience, the desserts: Tella Torrija: caramelized French toast, citrus crumble, rice pudding ice cream, and its tuile, Wild berries from our surroundings: strawberry and tonka bean ganache, blackberry and violet ice cream, blueberry jam, and walnut crumble, Fleur de Cao chocolate ganache with matcha.
The hotel also offers a more informal restaurant, La Palmera Gastrobar, and a wellness area with treatment rooms and a heated indoor pool. All of this comes with breathtaking views of the Sueve Mountains, the Picos de Europa, and the Cantabrian Sea.
A Benchmark for Luxury Getaways in Spain
CoolRooms Palacio de Luces boasts numerous accolades that affirm its status as a benchmark in luxury hospitality in Spain. Since April 2024, the hotel has held a Michelin Key, the guide’s distinction for the most exceptional hotels, and is the only one in Asturias to receive it.
It has also been recognized as:
- Best Countryside Hotel at the Condé Nast Johansens International Excellence Awards (Europe and Mediterranean)
- Finalist in the 2023 CN Traveler Awards in the category of Best Getaway Hotel
- Finalist in the 2023 National Geographic Travel Readers’ Awards, in the Best Hotel in a Natural Setting in Spain category
- International nominee in the 28th edition of the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, the world’s leading travel media awards
Moreover, its Tella restaurant has received the “Mesas de Asturias” certification for culinary excellence, its Chef Francisco Ruiz has been named ambassador of “Cocina de Paisaje”, and its pastry Chef Daniel Díez Berdía was awarded second place in the “Luna Cítrica” competition for the best artisanal chocolate in Asturias.
About CoolRooms Palacio de Luces
The charming fishing village of Lastres in Asturias is home to CoolRooms Palacio de Luces, a 16th-century building surrounded by wooded areas by the sea and breathtaking views of the Sierra del Sueve, the Picos de Europa, and the Cantabrian Sea. There, just 25 minutes by car from Gijón and 40 from Oviedo and immersed in 13,000m2 of gardens, travelers can find a haven of peace and escape from all kinds of noise and pollution. The hotel has 44 rooms and suites. Led by the prestigious Chef Francisco Ruiz, its Tella restaurant offers cuisine with Asturian roots influenced by the Americas based on quality local products. As for its available activities, it combines relaxing wellness experiences with adventures like quad excursions, climbing Pico Pienzu, surf lessons, and even visits to neighboring cheese factories and canneries.
Hotel CoolRooms Palacio de Luces, Carretera AS 257, s/n, Luces, Asturias, Spain Follow us on Instagram @coolroomspalaciodeluces Please email: hotel@palaciodeluces.com Starting Rates 240 Euros (VAT included)
Media Contact: For further information and high resolution images, please contact KVD Creative Communications NYC, 287 Park Avenue South, New York, NY- Kathleen Duda kathleen@kvdcom.com or Angela Nigoghossian an@kvdcom.com
Credits:
Photography Courtesy of CoolRooms Palacio de Luces