Our history

The Hotel Restaurant Manolo*** in Cartagena did not start out as we see it today after almost 40 years since its opening and three generations of family members that have guided its growth. In September 1971 a new bar-restaurant opened where cold meats, and particularly great ham, were served alongside the traditional family dishes prepared by the two women in the household. It was plain and simple family cuisine featuring specialities such as meatballs, rabbit in garlic, roast lamb, soups, stews, and delicious desserts. The facilities also included a hostel with 20 rooms to meet the needs of guests at the time. Not long after it became clear that a greater amount of services were required and 13 new rooms were added all with their own private bathroom, as well as a new reception area and a TV room.

But growth did not stop there. The family bought a piece of land alongside the existing services and built a new building with 43 apartments and a large hall for events and celebrations for up to 400 people which opened in 1987.

In 1991 the magnificent work done by the family was recognised by all of their peers in the business when the founders, Manuel Sánchez Martínez and his wife were named “Santa Marta Business Personality of the Year 1991”.

In September 1992 the Hotel Restaurant Manolo*** was selected to promote the local cuisine at the stand that the Region of Murcia hosted at the Universal Exhibition “Expo 92” in Seville.

Time marched on, and the hostel began to be in need of a thorough renovation, which was finally carried out in 1996, coinciding with the incorporation of the third generation of family members who also brought a new outlook and approach to the project. In the same year another family member, Isabel Alcaraz López (founding chef) received another award for her work when she was named “Santa Marta Woman” for her excellent work in creating exceptional traditional cuisine based on superior quality fresh local produce and with no frozen products or pre-cooked ingredients.

In February 1998 the Hotel Restaurant Manolo*** in Cartagena achieved three star classification, but the renovations and improvements did not cease. Last year the façade and the hotel lobby were renovated and even to this day we continue to make constant improvements to our guest rooms to ensure they provide all of the services required by our modern guests, many of them now also great friends of the family,.

But the most important thing about this hotel is that Fulgencio Sánchez García, the current General Manager, manages to make us all feel as if we were part of this large family, and that’s why we all make the greatest efforts we can to make sure this hotel remains the best hotel in Cartagena.