15 Best Hotels in Barcelona, Spain

Founded in 1919 by Caesar Ritz, the original Ritz (the grande dame of Barcelona hotels) was renamed in 2005 but kept its lavish, timeless style intact, from the liveried doormen in top hats to the opulent mirrored lobby lounge. Guest rooms follow suit, with Regency furniture and flocked wallpaper and fireplaces; the Classic Deluxe doubles have the step-down Roman-style marble baths, complete with mosaics, from the original 1919 building, or enter the worlds of Ronnie Wood, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Joséphine Baker as you step into one of the six signature Art Suites inspired by former prominent guests. The sumptuous rooftop garden is hung with wisteria and features a pool, restaurant, and stunning panoramic views. Drop in for a drink in the lobby bar or enjoy live performances of blues, jazz, or Afro-Cuban music in the hotel's legendary Bluesman cocktail bar.

Every Kimpton hotel is designed to reflect the character of the city it inhabits and, in the case of Kimpton Vividora, that means Mediterranean blues and earthy terra-cotta hues mixed with bright splashes of color and a lush rooftop terrace with stunning views. An excellent selection of food and drinks are available on the ground floor GOT Coffee & Cocktails, first-floor Fauna restaurant, and at Terraza de Vivi on the rooftop. Rooms come in a variety of sizes and setups, with king, queen, or twin beds and feature sustainable bath products specially designed for Kimpton Vividora. Superior King rooms have balconies while the suites feature terraces with jaw-dropping views. All pets are welcome as long as they fit in the elevator, at no extra cost.

The facade recalls the Moderniste origins of this wonderful building, but the redesigned inside spaces make the Alma one of Barcelona's sleekest mid-Eixample hotels. It's sophisticated and comfortable, with a spectacular ground-to-crown atrium in the lobby that serves as a dramatic art gallery. There's also a wonderful flagstoned, wisteria-hung garden out back where you the superb Jardín del Alma restaurant is located. There are no keys or coded cards: you access your room and the spa with your fingerprint, taken when you check in. Rooms, in neutral soothing tones of gray and brown, are spacious and comfortably furnished, with roomy double-headed walk-in showers. Rooms overlook the garden and have warm wood paneling and parquet floors.

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.

The Condes de Barcelona is perfectly placed for exploring the sights (and shops) of the city's most fashionable quarter, and—for the privileged location—offers great value. Classic rooms are decorated in contemporary neutral tones, with hardwood floors; some have small balconies overlooking an interior garden. Newer Condal rooms have decor in soft grays and teal; bathrooms have double vanities, charcoal slate walls and floors, and Rituals toiletries. The spacious Alaire rooftop terrace has a plunge pool, an excellent bar-restaurant, and great views of the Eixample. Reserve rooms well in advance—demand is high, and early reservations score bargain rates.

Three blocks west of Rambla Catalunya, near the upper middle of the Eixample, this renovated classic property is a treasure for the budget-minded. Guest rooms are bright and spacious, with dark polished hardwood floors, nice lighting, and a choice of twin or double beds. Bathrooms have long single vanities and good-size stall showers with rain heads. There's a rooftop terrace with a small plunge pool, a bar, and panoramic views; the suites on the floor just below have small private terraces of their own, though no particular view. The ornate marble lobby boasts a remarkable collection of drawings by the Catalan artist Ricard Opisso, a pal of Picasso's and one of the original members of the Four Cats salon. The hotel's Astor Restaurant, decorated in Parisian bistro style with Art Nouveau posters, is a very pleasant venue for lunch.

At the edge of Gràcia, a few minutes' walk from the Eixample, this modest practical base hides an unusual feature: true to its name, it's the only hotel in Barcelona with its very own driving range and putting green (at the back of the building) in lieu of a garden. (Loaner clubs and buckets of balls are complementary for guests; coaching sessions are extra.) The rooms—all doubles—are simply furnished, with king-size or twin beds. They feature basic amenities, tile floors, and adequate but not overly generous storage space. The service is cheerful and efficient, and the accommodations are clean and impeccably maintained.

Designed in the style of a New York City loft and seated on a tree-shaded street in the heart of the Eixample, this hotel blends exposed brick, steel, and glass with Greek and Italian marble and Indonesian tamarind wood to achieve downtown cool. Museum-quality pieces of Buddhist and Hindu art from the owner's private collection, mostly dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries, add a sense of Zen tranquility. Rooms have a certain masculine aesthetic, with leather sofas and headboards, exposed brick walls, chrome fixtures, hardwood plank floors, and dark bedding. Interior-facing rooms have private balconies. The luxurious duplexes have private terraces and semiprivate pools. The first-rate Mediterranean restaurant and the rooftop solarium, with views over the center of Barcelona, add the final pampering touches.

Built squarely over the metro's central hub and within walking distance of everything in town, this breezy clubhouse-hotel could not be better situated. The lobby is intimate and relaxing, with white leather sofa suites and huge vases of fresh-cut flowers; the library at the back leads to a pleasant little tree-shaded patio where breakfast is served (weather permitting). Rooms feel both sunny and substantial, with touches of leather, hardwood floors, and interesting artwork. Bathrooms have big picture-frame mirrors, robes, and slippers. The rooftop terrace has live music or a DJ weekend nights from 6 pm to midnight.

Slap-bang next to Poblenou’s stars—Torre Glòries, the design museum and Rambla del Poblenou—this buzzy address goes heavy on the Instagram fodder: from imaginative bedrooms featuring wall tapestries and colorful headboards, to a rooftop terrace with a checkerboard pool and sunset views over La Sagrada Família.

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.

The stylish, comfortable Villa Emilia is a bit removed from the tourist attractions of the Eixample and the Old City, but a mere five minutes' walk to the Fira de Barcelona exposition grounds, Las Arenas shopping center, and the airport shuttle bus stop in Plaça Espanya. Parc de Joan Miró and the museums of Montjuïc are nearby as well.

The city's only true beachfront hotel, this towering sail-shape monolith by architect Ricardo Bofill is more of a self-contained urban resort, with multiple restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor pools, lounge decks, plus a sprawling spa and gym—and just about every space has sea views. Beds in the sleek, open-plan rooms face floor-to-ceiling picture windows with spectacular vistas of the beach, the Mediterranean, or the port.