The family-owned and -operated Santa Isabel la Real is built inside a renovated 16th-century Andalusian-style home. The overall feel is quaint and charming with loads of attention to detail like an interior courtyard with a water fountain, hand-painted floral tiles, and wooden staircases. The cozy living room has a working fireplace and red upholstered wooden chairs. Ample sunlight streams in from large windows covered in white draperies. A small terrace holds colorfully tiled tables and black wrought-iron chairs. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are visible in the distance.

The hotel is located in a hilly and picturesque neighborhood about a 15-minute walk from the city center with a plethora of shops and restaurants. There are a few Spanish restaurants close by, but they don't open until after eight. The streets are narrow and parking is at a premium so the hotel offers a private garage for a fee with reservations. A minibus picks up passengers just outside the Santa Isabel la Real, arriving in the city center in just five minutes. Note that the hotel can be difficult to locate on winding streets and some streets are closed to private cars and monitored with cameras to keep them that way. It is best to contact the hotel directly for directions instead of depending on a GPS.

There are 10 guest rooms in the Santa Isabel la Real and each is very clean and well-maintained while retaining much of its original charm (the building is a renovated 16th-century house). Some of the furnishings (like a white patio table) look a little out of place next to heavy wooden doors and ceilings with wood beams. Most rooms have tube TVs and some rooms don't have exterior-facing windows, though the ones that do look onto the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance. Bathrooms look modern and clean with full bathtubs and pretty gray and white tile.

Breakfast is served in a pretty room with small windows and table lamps to bring in more light. Fare is better than basic with pastries, eggs, fresh fruit, and strong coffee. Free Wi-Fi is another perk, but guests have complained it doesn't work well on the second floor. Garage parking is available for a fee and with advanced reservations. Business travelers won't find much in the way of business services and there isn't a fitness center or swimming pool. Those staying longer than four nights might appreciate free laundry services.