Fodor's Expert Review Gallery Hotel

In the upper part of the Eixample, below the Diagonal, this contemporary hotel offers impeccable service and a superb central location for exploring, with the city's prime art-gallery district just a few blocks away on Consell de Cent. Rooms are open and airy, with contemporary decor in white and beige, parquet floors, and windows with excellent soundproofing; the furniture is a bit boxy and generic, but comfortable. The hotel's best feature is the Gallery Space, a covered arcade along the length of the building, set with tables leading back to the gardens of the Palau Robert (ideal for a drink or a quick bite). Two ample rooftop terraces boast a long narrow pool (open year-round), a bar-restaurant, and DJ or live music sessions on summer weekends. The Gallery is popular with business travelers, but gets a lot of tourist trade as well.