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Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey or Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo?
Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey and Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo are both city hotels in Santa Cruz, a short step from García Sanabria park and about 15 minutes from Tenerife North (TFN). Each has a gym, a pool and good food on site, and Las Teresitas beach is about 15 minutes away by car or bus. The difference is age and scale. The Grand Mencey is a five-star, Canarian-style palace of 261 rooms with courtyards, gardens and a spa of more than 4,500 m². The Contemporáneo is a four-star of 135 rooms on the Rambla, reopened in 2026, with a rooftop infinity pool.
The Grand Mencey suits couples, culture-minded travellers and spa lovers who want five-star comfort and gardens. The Contemporáneo suits city breakers and business travellers who want new rooms, modern Canarian cooking and a pool with a view over the city.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife · 5
Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey
Santa Cruz's only five-star: a grand Canarian-style palace with gardens, a heated pool and a 4,500 square metre spa.
Choose it if you want five-star comfort in Santa Cruz, with Canarian-style gardens, a heated pool and a spa of more than 4,500 m².
Santa Cruz de Tenerife · 4
Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo
A freshly rebuilt four-star on the Rambla with a rooftop infinity pool and a restaurant from a celebrated Canarian kitchen.
Choose it if you want newly refurbished rooms on the Rambla, a rooftop infinity pool with city views and modern Canarian cooking.
Side by side
| Fact | Grand Mencey | Barceló Contemporáneo |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Type | Hotel, 5 stars | Hotel, 4 stars |
| Rooms | 261 | 135 |
| Guests | All ages | All ages |
| Meal plans | Bed and breakfast | Room only, Bed and breakfast |
| Beach | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Pools | 1, heated | 1 |
| Spa | Spa | No spa |
| Kids’ club | No | No |
| To Tenerife South airport | About 47 min by car | About 48 min by car |
| Book through | Expedia or the hotel | Expedia or the hotel |
Drive times are routed without traffic or snow. Checked October 2026.
Where they differ
Style and setting
The Grand Mencey is a Canarian-style building with courtyards, arcades and mature gardens, in the smart residential streets near García Sanabria park, about ten minutes' walk from the centre. The Contemporáneo is on the tree-lined Rambla beside the same park, about a kilometre from Plaza de España.
Rooms and size
The Grand Mencey is a five-star with 261 rooms around its pool and gardens. The Contemporáneo is a four-star with 135 modern rooms, including family room types, reopened in 2026 after a complete refurbishment. It also has five meeting rooms and room service through the day.
Pools and spa
The Grand Mencey has a heated outdoor pool with its own bar, a gym, two paddle tennis courts and the Spa Sensations wellness centre of more than 4,500 m². The Contemporáneo has a rooftop infinity pool and the B-Heaven Macusamba bar, with views to the sea, and a refurbished gym.
Food and drink
The Grand Mencey has three restaurants: Papa Negra for local produce with a modern touch, Los Menceyes and Los Laureles, plus the Iballa bar with live music at sunset. The Contemporáneo has Sanabria Típicamente, from the team behind one of Tenerife's most praised restaurants, and B-Likeat for breakfast.
Questions
Is Iberostar Grand Mencey or Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo closer to the centre of Santa Cruz?
Both are central. The Grand Mencey is about ten minutes' walk from the city centre, near García Sanabria park. The Contemporáneo is on the Rambla beside the same park, about a kilometre from Plaza de España.
Which has a spa, Iberostar Grand Mencey or Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo?
The Grand Mencey has the Spa Sensations wellness centre, covering more than 4,500 m², along with a heated outdoor pool. The Contemporáneo has no spa but offers a rooftop infinity pool, a refurbished gym and a wellness programme.
Which is newer, Iberostar Grand Mencey or Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo?
The Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo is newer in feel. It reopened in 2026 after a complete refurbishment and has 135 modern rooms. The Grand Mencey is the classic grand hotel of Santa Cruz, with gardens and courtyards.
Sources: webtenerife.co.uk, barcelo.com, webtenerife.co.uk.