A sleek new addition to Barcelona's top-end lodging options, this carefully produced and managed operation is, all things considered, nearly perfect. It's a 10 to 15-minute walk from the top of the Rambla, and well connected by bus and metro to any place you need to go. There's also superb Mediterranean-Mexican fusion cuisine in the restaurant Mexiterranée, a rooftop pool, and spa treatments offered at the Stone Spa therapy center; the mint or strawberry water at the reception desk is just icing on the cake. The bar at street level, thoroughly soundproofed, offers bustling street life and people-watching while you sip your tequila. Pros: Maximum comfort in a hip and happening environment, good location. Cons: This is 21st-century, post-contemporary Barcelona: forget about classical Europe.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip