Reserve well in advance—this is one of Barcelona's most popular hotels. The pentagonal lobby has a marble floor and the original columns and courtyard from the 1891 building while the newest rooms have hot tubs and terraces overlooking interior gardens. An affiliated fitness club nearby has golf, squash, and swimming. The hotel's two restaurants, Lasarte and the less formal bistrolike Loidi, serve excellent Basque-influenced cuisine. Pros: Elegant Moderniste building with chic contemporary furnishings, prime spot in the middle of the Eixample. Cons: Too large to have much of a personal touch, the staff sometimes seem overextended.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip