Help for my sweet in-laws in Barcelona
 

My in-laws will be in Barcelona between a repositioning cruise. They asked me if I had heard of the Axel hotel in Barcelona. They both love good food and great music (he was Warrent Officer 5 in the Army Band). They are in there 60's and travel frequently. Do you have any experience with this hotel?? Please help. It would make me look really good to help them.:):):)

palau de la musica catalana
A must for any musician

Oh my! I just took a look. How fabulous. Thank you!

Axel Hotel is primarily oriented towards the gay community, but "heterofriendly" as stated on their homepage. Local feel and upscale part of town with excellent bars, cafés, restaurants all over. http://www.axelhotels.com/barcelona/...heterofriendly

Some restaurant tips in the area:
Family owned Ca l'Estevet for traditional Catalan food:
http://www.restaurantestevet.com/wpre/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

Fine tapas at very popular La Flauta: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

High end dining at Cinc Sentits (five senses): http://cincsentits.com/en/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

Thanks!! I will pass this information along.

And if their visit to Barcelona is more than two months away, they can make a reservation at fabulous Tickets for a food experience far out of the ordinary.

Tickets is the new paradise version of traditional tapas style restaurant run by the Adrià brothers of the world's by far most awarded restaurant the past decade, now closed El Bulli. Very affordable Tickets was up on the list of the world's 100 best restaurants after one year (#77). http://www.theworlds50best.com/

The basic concept is traditional tapas prepared and presented as you never would imagine and with tastes to the maximum. Iberian ham, Spanish cheeses, olives, croquetas, tomatoes, anchoas, shellfish, Iberian pork etc etc plus some surprises from out of this world. Just tell the waiter how much you would like to spend and what kind of food you like, and then leave it up to the kitchen to make it an evening never to forget. The four of us had some 17 dishes here some months ago and payed around around 60-65€ each with wine/cava included. Lived very much up to the high expectations.

You can normally only book online and only two months in advance. Tables are literally gone 10 minutes after midnight two months prior to every day year around, so you have to be online on midnight Barcelona time two months on the day before you want to book a table. http://www.ticketsbar.es/web/en/

Guest reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
http://www.foodandthefabulous.com/re...drias-tickets/
The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...dria-barcelona

AND of course Set Portes from 1836 is a Barcelona classic with tons of history in the walls and traditional Catalan food in an old world setting. Have had several fabulous meals here the past few years. http://www.7portes.com/angles/

How long will they be there? If more than two nights, why not rent a flat? Anything within a metro stop of Placa Catalunya will be centrally located.