About Us

The Hotel Meliá was founded in 1895 by Don Bartolo Meliá, a Spaniard. It began as a grocery store, restaurant and 9 room hotel on the Plaza las Delicias in Ponce. In 1915 Don Bartolo opened the 21 room section along Calle Cristina. In 1940 he added 26 more rooms to the Hotel Meliá and in 1960 the final 26 rooms were added. The Hotel Meliá has been owned and operated by the Meliá family for over 100 years. It is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Puerto Rico. It is the original Hotel Meliá in Puerto Rico and has no relation to the Melia chain of hotels from Spain.

The Hotel Meliá is located in the heart of the Historic District of Ponce, facing Plaza Las Delicias and the colorful and picturesque Firehouse Museum. The Hotel is within walking distance of Ponce's Central Business District. The Ponce Art Museum, the Museum of History of Ponce, the Serrallés Castle Museum, and many other tourists attractions are within minutes of us. Across the street the Municipal Goverment of the City of Ponce offers free trolley tours around the Historic District.