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Barcelona’s hotel trade may be centuries removed from Miguel de Cervantes's 17th-century description of it as a fountain of courtesy and a shelter for strangers, but in the 400 years or so since Don Quixote was written, the city continues to pamper and impress visitors.
Barcelona's pre-Olympics hotel surge in the early 1990s was matched only by its post-Olympics hotel surge in the early 2000s. The city is the premier tourist destination in Spain, and the major cruise port in the Mediterranean. Architects like Ricardo Bofill and Rafael Moneo have changed the skyline with skyscraper hotels of eye-popping luxury; the real heroes of this story, however, are the architect-designer teams that take one after another of the city’s historic properties and restore them with an astonishing tour de force of taste. Hotel restaurants, too—from the Arts' Enoteca to the Mandarin’s Moments—are among the superstar attractions in the city's gastronomic scene.
Hotels in the Barri Gòtic and along La Rambla now compete with the newer lodgings in the Eixample, or west along Diagonal; waterfront monoliths like the W Barcelona, removed from the bustle of midtown, set the standard for upscale hospitality. Many Eixample hotels occupy restored late 19th- or early 20th-century town houses. The Claris, the Majestic Hotel & Spa, the Monument, the Hotel Neri, and the Colón mix style and luxury with a sense of place.
Small hotels in the Ciutat Vella, such as the Sant Agustí, Hotel Market, or Hotel Chic & Basic Born are considerably less expensive and—in the accommodations you'll find listed here—at no substantial sacrifice of comfort and convenience. Wherever you choose to stay, you'll never be far from anything you'll want to see and do in this hospitable city.
Part of Hilton’s upscale Curio Collection, the real draw about the Hotel Alexandra are the surprisingly affordable suites with private terraces and Moderniste suites with turn-of-the century Catalan floor tiles. Set in a 19th-century building, the interior design is sleek, with minimalist guest rooms and Priya bath products. The on-site restaurant, Solomillo, serves some of the best steak in town.
Occupying a prime position on Barcelona’s Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, a stone’s throw from Gaudí’s modernist buildings on Passeig de Gràcia, this is a boutique-style hotel wrapped up in supreme luxury. Two 18th and 20th century buildings house refined and polished interiors, oozing gilded Art Deco opulence with a sleek contemporary aesthetic curated by local interior design studio Jaime Beriestain. Rooms are bathed in natural light, fully soundproofed and equipped with the latest technology, including a smartphone and tablet that guests can take with them to aid them in exploring the city, and for making complimentary international calls. Marble bathrooms with gold taps and walk-in rain showers add a level of exclusivity; some rooms have large deep soak tubs.
The Terrace Suite is worth the extra splurge for its additional living room, and its private wood-decked terrace with seating area, outdoor heater and fabulous views.
Downstairs is a spa as well as the high-ceilinged Virens restaurant, which specializes in plant-based cuisine and also serves a range of home-made fermented and sparkling drinks, as an introduction to "green" mixology. Upstairs, there's a huge rooftop terrace with sweeping bird’s-eye views of the city and the perennial La Sagrada Família beyond. A private area for guests features a wading pool and sun loungers.
The Perez family converted their apartment building on a leafy side street in the quiet, upscale, residential neighborhood of Tres Torres and opened it as an exquisitely designed, homey boutique hotel. (Primero primera refers to the flat on the first floor, where grandma still lives.) Nuria Perez and her designer-architect colleagues were responsible for the makeover, keeping essential features like the spiral central stairwell, and creating a retro-modern ambience, with lounges appointed like a posh members' club that invite you to sink into one of the leather armchairs and relax. Rooms have twin- or king-size beds and ample wardrobes; bathrooms have black-slate floors, stretch-out tubs, and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. Ask for No. 42, with a balcony and view of the street, or A-6 on the top floor, with access to the rooftop terrace. A spacious meeting room and a chill-out oasis in back, with a small wading pool—perfect for kids—add to the appeal.
You couldn't ask for a more convenient location from which to explore Barcelona's Barri Gòtic—or for a lodging more elegant. The Arai is filled with exquisite pieces of art, sculpture, and tapestry, which perfectly complement this 18th-century former palace. All rooms include an equipped kitchen.
Perfect for large families and groups, this apartment-hotel features sprawling four- and five-bedroom luxury apartments, plus a more affordable one-bedroom penthouse, in a stunning 1929 domed building right on Avenida Diagonal. Outfitted with sleek designer furnishings, the accommodations all have a full kitchen, dining area, and laundry facilities, making them ideal for longer stays.
Peace, privacy, and a stunning panoramic view set this luxurious mountaintop retreat apart. Built high above the city in 1925 by the pharmaceutical magnate Dr. Salvador Andreu as a retreat for Barcelona's well-to-do, it became a hotel in 2003 after a complete renovation. Guest rooms are done in soothing tones of beige, white, and brown, with the original hardwood plank floors, and king-size beds; suites are huge, with decor and touches by design celebrities like Philippe Starck and Rebeca Horn. Bathrooms have double vanities, soaker tubs, and showers the size of walk-in closets. Lie back and savor the view from the sprawling garden terrace, with access to the L-shaped indoor-outdoor pool. Be aware: unless you've come by car, plan on settling in. It's a pricey 20-minute taxi ride into Barcelona, and the hotel's own free shuttle service to the top of Passeig de Grácia runs only four times a day, with the last return at 4:30 pm. There is nothing anywhere nearby the hotel itself except for the Tibidabo amusement park (great if you have youngsters in tow, but a bit of a distraction if you've come for a romantic weekend).
A chic postmodern addition to Barcelona's lodging options is hidden behind this traditional facade, a 15-minute walk from the top of La Rambla; public spaces have a nightclub feel, with leather chairs, pillar candles, and backlit neon-green Plexiglas panels at reception and the bar. Rooms are more subdued, decorated in deep browns, grays, and off-white, with a touch of Modernist-inspired artwork; some have private balconies. Some Superior rooms, facing the interior courtyard, can connect with next-door standard doubles to accommodate families. Spa treatments are available at the Despacio Spa Centre. The rooftop terrace has a bar (open only in summer) and a small plunge pool.
What it lacks in bells and whistles, this family-friendly little hotel makes up for in its unparalleled location—on a side street just steps from Plaça Catalunya—and its relaxed contemporary feel. The cozy library/lounge has comfortable sofa suites, subdued lighting, and antique maps of the world on the walls. The El Patio breakfast room is an open, airy space with an exposed brick feature wall and an excellent buffet. Extensively renovated for the hotel's 100th anniversary, the ample standard rooms have double sets of tall, narrow French windows (a legacy, protected, from the original 1917 historic property), hardwood floors, and minimalist decor. The Regina is a sister-property of the Hotel Pulitzer next door.
The upscale Le Méridien is popular with businesspeople and tourists alike for its central location and stylish, contemporary rooms and suites. Some suites overlook the La Rambla while others feature sprawling terraces.
This glassy 29-story skyscraper hotel rises high above Avenida Diagonal in the less-touristy Poblenou district. It's actually two hotels in one, with four-star accommodations on the lower floors, while the five-star "The Level" (floors 14–29) offers a private check-in area and lounge with free drinks and snacks. All rooms are designed in a contemporary style, with a neutral palette, and those on the upper floors have fantastic views—of the sea to one side, or the skyline and mountains to the other.
British designer Kelly Hoppen took this 19th-century townhouse on Rambla de Catalunya and transformed it into a chic, intimate urban retreat, with room decor in velvety brown, beige, and black, with big mirrors, dramatic bed lighting, and arresting photography. Bathrooms have both cascade and standard showerheads, towel warmers, and full amenities (robes and slippers, on request, are complimentary for standard doubles). Superior doubles, with king-size beds, look out on Rambla de Catalunya; Privilege doubles (worth the splurge) have private terraces. The cozy little bar on the ground floor, with sink-in sofas and armchairs, is a perfect place to unwind at the end of the day, as is the rooftop terrace, open year-round exclusively for guests. The Murmuri also offers excellent accommodations in its spacious one- and two-bed apartments, situated in nearby Passeig de la Concepción or Passatge Mercader, complete with fully equipped kitchens, en-suite master bedrooms, and private terraces, perfect for families.
This highly rated H10 hotel chain property with smart, elegant interiors (courtesy of Barcelona-based design studio, Jaime Beriestain) occupies a prime position one block from Gaudí’s Casa Milà. For a city that isn’t usually known for its spacious hotel rooms, even the “cosy” rooms are generous on space. Huge windows allow in plenty of light, Egyptian-cotton linens dress expansive beds, and marble bathrooms are completed with walk-in rain showers and products by Barcelona brand Natural Bissé. The Despacio Spa offers an oasis of calm, while the lobby area gives way to the Somni Restaurant, which serves fresh Mediterranean cuisine, and also features a cocktail and wine bar. Like so many luxury Barcelona hotels, the jewel in the hotel’s crown is the impressive rooftop terrace, where you can enjoy wine and tapas while taking in the panoramic views of the city that stretch from the sea up to Tibidado.
In a leafy square just off La Rambla, the Sant Agustí bills itself as the oldest billet in Barcelona—it was built in the 1720s for the library of the adjacent convent and reborn as a hotel in 1840. The lobby is a pleasant space, with sculpted ceilings, art deco chandeliers, brick and stone arches of the original building, and big picture windows looking out on the Plaça Sant Agustí. There are four floors of guest rooms; the rooms on 4F are lofts, with skylights and steeply angled exposed roof beams, painted black. Renovated in 2016, rooms in general are small but pleasantly appointed, with very basic amenities, dramatic wood headboards and hardwood floors, exposed beams, and original stone walls; some rooms have an additional sofa bed. Ask for a "Design Room," with a small private terrace.
This charming little boutique B&B in the heart of the city has been expanded into a complex of nine spacious guest rooms and three suites, with two full residential apartments next door. It's also just a five-minute walk from Plaça Catalunya. Rooms have a residential, loft-apartment feel, tastefully decorated in muted browns with exposed brick feature walls, flower arrangements and books, tall French doors, and hardwood floors; some have leather arm chairs and Oriental throw rugs. Bathrooms have double-length vanities and large shower stalls. The ample lounge spaces and communal breakfast provide an opportunity to meet fellow guests.
