The 34 Best Hotels in Barcelona
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When it comes to the best hotels in Barcelona, the Catalan capital has something for everyone. Between the buzzy hotspots for those who want to see and be seen, and the intimate hideaways where you go when you don’t want to be spotted, you’ll find everyone from foodies to fashionistas and families. And then there are the ritzy grand dames that are always a good idea, and the boutique boltholes sporting avant-garde design and thoughtfully curated programs to connect visitors with the fascinating local culture. No matter what your style of travel is, this city has a key card with your name on it. These are our local experts' picks for the best of the best.
Read our full Barcelona travel guide here, which includes:
- The Best Things to Do in Barcelona
- The Best Restaurants in Barcelona
- The Best Wine Bars in Barcelona
- The Best Day Trips From Barcelona
Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Sivan AskayohotelAlmanac Barcelona
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Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024Almanac remains one Barcelona’s hottest hotels, and, even though its seventh birthday is just around the corner (where does the time go?), it still looks brand spanking new: Everything is shiny and modern, from the tech-forward rooms to the sauna and rooftop dipping pool. Book a Terrace Suite with a separate living room and a sun-drenched wraparound terrace overlooking Gran Via, one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares—don’t worry, the soundproofing here is solid. It’s clear that tech is a big deal at Almanac. Lighting, temperature and curtains are all controlled from the in-room touch panels (which can be confusing until you get the hang of them), and there are gadgets a-plenty, including our personal favorite: the in-room popcorn machine, complete with popcorn kernels, just begging you to Chromecast a movie of your choosing onto the giant flat screen TV.
Courtesy Hotel Arts BarcelonahotelHotel Arts Barcelona
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024The culinary scene at Hotel Arts is top-notch: Two-Michelin-starred Enoteca restaurant, helmed by local celebrity chef Paco Pérez, is a culinary destination in its own right. People come here from all over to try Chef Pérez’s elegant tasting menus that showcase his love of the most Catalan of umami flavors, “mar i muntanya,” which translates as sea and mountain (or surf ‘n’ turf). But we are talking about far more epicurean combinations, like scallops cooked in chicken stock or cuttlefish served with truffle. Plus, if you're looking for a blissfully relaxing stay right next to the Mediterranean—with views to die for and plenty of outdoor space—combined with discreet, thoughtful service that is second to none, this is the place to get it.
Will Pryce/Sofitel Barcelona SkipperhotelSofitel Barcelona Skipper
$$French luxury brand Sofitel brings its joie de vivre to the Barcelona beachfront—at a more affordable price point than many of its neighbors. If you imagined the Mediterranean mecca of Barcelona to be brimming with luxury beachfront hotels, think again. At present, there are only three, if you want to stay within easy striking distance of the city center. Next door to the ultra-luxe Hotel Arts, in Barcelona’s Port Olímpic (Olympic Port) district, Sofitel Barcelona Skipper strikes the perfect balance between luxury and affordability. Slightly less flashy than Hotel Arts or W Barcelona—but considerably more accessible—this is the ideal stay for families and couples who want a comfortable base close to the beach without breaking the bank. The rooftop terrace is the hotel’s crowning glory—or pièce de resistance, if you will—with its panoramic Mediterranean views, plentiful sunbeds, and refreshing swimming pool.
Courtesy Kimpton Vividora Hotel, an IHG HotelhotelKimpton Vividora Hotel, an IHG Hotel
$A sultry hideaway among the bustle that is the Gothic Quarter, the Kimpton Vividora is five minutes’ walk from the city’s main Gothic cathedral (not to be confused with la Sagrada Família) in one direction, and the thronging Las Ramblas in the other; among the winding historic alleys and buzzy boulevards of downtown Barcelona. This urban sanctuary doesn’t scrimp on rooftop chill-out scene, inviting you to taste the buzz of the city without ever leaving. Accommodation is divided into Guestrooms and Suites, and what sets them apart is the outside space you get. The upper tiers of the Guestroom category offer small Juliet-style balconies, but the Suites go big on terraces—and it’s worth it. My Executive Suite had a wraparound corner terrace that ticked off views of the W hotel, the cathedral, Torre Agbar and the top of La Sagrada Familia. But you also get a fascinating snapshot of raw Barcelona life, stealing glances into people’s terraces and the pretty—and gritty—reality of that.
El Palace BarcelonahotelEl Palace Barcelona
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Gold List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022El Palace is all Baroque opulence. Like a small-scale version of Versailles in the center of Barcelona, this property used to be the Ritz, and it shows in everything from the fancy doormen in top hats to the old-school room keys to the lavish fabrics and furnishings. It is a stately grande dame hotel that has been one of Barcelona's leaders in luxury ever since it first opened in 1919. If budget isn’t an issue, then El Palace’s Art Suites are among the prettiest money can buy. Each one is inspired by a former prominent guest—from Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, to artist Salvador Dalí, and French-American singer, dancer and actor Josephine Baker—and their particular artistic preferences. There’s also a Roman-style mosaic bath for those Insta-worthy tub moments.
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Cristina Garcia/Grand Hyatt BarcelonahotelGrand Hyatt Barcelona
$Rooms at the Grand Hyatt Barcelona come in two styles. Lower floors are distinctly businesslike with their muted, gray and white color palette and restricted views. The higher you get, the better the experience, with the 12th floor and up offering eye-popping panoramas of Barcelona stretching all the way down to the Mediterranean. Set on the 15th floor and up, the spacious 430-square-foot Junior Suites are worth the splurge, with their massive bathrooms featuring free-standing tubs and walk-in showers big enough for two or more. You might be surprised to learn that this is the area most Barcelona locals would prefer to live in. While you’ll find fewer tourist sites around here, there is plenty to do, with shopping at El Corte Inglés and L’Illa, the Catalan Congress Center, and FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium all mere minutes away.
Courtesy of W BarcelonahotelW Barcelona
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018It’s not hard to see how the “Fabulous” rooms at the W got their name: Floor-to-ceiling windows yield to jaw-dropping views of the city, the beach, and the Mediterranean beyond—some of Barcelona’s best. The rooms are where the W really blows you away. The “Fabulous” rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, offering jaw-dropping views of the city, the beach, and the Mediterranean beyond. The room is kitted out with innovative lighting that can transform the mood with a couple flicks, plus an oversize work desk and a chaise longue for daydreaming and gazing. Guests have been known to stay inside this room for the entire duration of their stay. Maybe it’s the comfy W signature bed, or the switch that allows you to control the window blinds without ever getting out of it, but, either way, there is something magical about waking up here.
Nobu Hotel BarcelonahotelNobu Hotel Barcelona
$$Nobu caused a stir when it opened next to Barcelona’s unfashionable Sants railway station in 2019. Since then both the hotel and the area have had a glow-up. Nobody will ever know which caused what but, frankly, who cares since Nobu Barcelona is just a couple blocks away from some of the city's hottest local restaurants and wine bars, and you can reach central Barcelona in a matter of minutes by cab, train or metro. Inside it’s a zen fantasy: a beautiful abstract tapestry highlights the impressive double height of the lobby. The painting behind the reception desk–inspired by the Japanese ink art of sumi-e–is a motif that is carried across the hotel, as is the warm wood paneling, a running theme throughout the common areas and guest rooms.
Courtesy Mandarin Oriental, BarcelonahotelMandarin Oriental, Barcelona
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2021, 2023There is a reason why Mandarin Oriental Barcelona figures year after year not only on lists of the best hotels in Barcelona, Spain, but in the world. Every detail is absolutely flawless, from the friendly doormen to the impeccable lobby. Michelin-starred cuisine, light-filled rooms and suites, a luxurious spa and gym, and a lovely rooftop plunge pool all round out the experience at this totally-worth-the-splurge grande dame. Rooms at Mandarin Oriental have a new look following a pandemic-era glowup. Bright and colorful, the new palette blends all the hues of the Mediterranean, from the elegant teal headboards to the snug terracotta armchairs. The Deluxe Garden room is the most affordable in the house, which—given that this is the Mandarin Oriental—means $600 and up. Despite being on the smaller side (starting from 345 square feet), the room is flooded with light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows.
Courtesy InterContinental Barcelona, an IHG HotelhotelInterContinental Barcelona, an IHG Hotel
$$The only luxury hotel in the Poble Sec/Plaça d'Espanya area, new InterContinental Barcelona offers great-value, yet elegant stays for travelers who don’t mind not being smack bang in tourist central. The building may look a bit underwhelming from the outside, but the chic and airy interior common areas, with their high ceilings and statement art pieces, are those of a modern lifestyle hotel. This is an ideal base for outdoor activities in Montjuïc, the Joan Miró museum, and Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, as well as for the Fira Barcelona Convention Center, so expect a heady mix of relaxed holiday-makers, art enthusiasts, and suits. The most popular rooms are the classic rooms with access to the Club InterContinental lounge. At 450 square feet, they are some of the largest in the city at this price point, while the added advantage of the lounge includes privileges such as private airport pick-up and transfer and, better still, complimentary drinks and snacks from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Davide PellegrinihotelME Barcelona
$$In a city with as much going on as Barcelona, you cannot overstate the value of a truly great location. And nowhere competes with shiny new ME Barcelona in the convenience stakes. Part of leading Spanish hotel group Meliá, ME Barcelona belongs to stylish ME by Meliá lifestyle brand “that seeks to fuse innovative style with local tastes.” At ME Barcelona, this translates into a contemporary city hotel with plenty of social spaces to attract both visitors and the local community, and a real focus on personalized service, where the guest’s individual interests—be it in music, art or popular culture—are a priority. You will never be more than a 10-minute walk from El Born, the Barri Gòtic or the Gaudí masterpieces that line Passeig de Gràcia. Even la Sagrada Familía can be reached on foot in only 30 minutes.
Courtesy Yurbban PassagehotelYurbban Passage Hotel & Spa
$Young, trendy city folk come to the new Yurbban Passage for a great deal, yes, but also for the comfortable accommodations, rooftop bar and plunge pool, magnificent views, and peaceful spa, complete with massage jets and two luxe treatment rooms. The in-house restaurant serves local cuisine made from Catalan produce, while Plat Únic restaurant in the Yurbban Trafalgar sister hotel next door offers a fun and different concept involving unlimited beef ribs and free-flowing wine. Yurbban Passage is located in a converted textile factory, so it follows that it, like so many of Barcelona’s other upscale hotels, sources its bed linens from Bassols, a posh local brand. The best rooms in the house are the two premium rooms on the top floor, each with a terrace. The view from these private decks is jaw-dropping. Favorite features here are probably the spa and roof terrace, which set the hotel a cut above other four-stars in this price range.
Courtesy Cotton House HotelhotelCotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection
$$ | Gold List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2021Smart hotels in this city often hew to a certain mod-minimal, design-agency template. The Cotton House in Eixample, though, is very different—a riot of neoclassical joy in a 19th-century cotton guild, which makes me smile every time. Interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán is well known for his designs across Barcelona, including the Edition—but it’s hard to think he’s ever had more fun than with the Belle Epoque features here, from its old parquet floors to the wood-paneled ceilings and grand spiraling staircases. The cotton theme runs through the orb-shaped chandeliers, like cotton flowers; the 300-thread Egyptian-cotton sheets in the more minimal rooms; and the fact that guests can order candy-colored, hand-stitched shirts from the very sharp concierge desk, which is known as the Gossypium (the Latin name for the genus of plants that produce cotton). The style is grown-up, but a chintzy wink is never far away.
Roger MéndezhotelThe One Barcelona
$$A bright, welcoming lobby combines cream and teal shades with warm fabrics and strikes just the right balance between contemporary and classic. Find genuine service, great food, and surprisingly spacious quarters at this centrally located five-star gem. Tech is a priority here: Chromecast is installed on the flat-screen TVs, and bedside controls to open and close the blinds and activate the do-not-disturb sign. And all rooms include access to the swanky Despacio spa, where you can slow down and relax after a day of urban exploration. You'd think a room labeled Cosy would be cramped, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sense of space. The One’s smallest room class is unconventionally expansive, with a large bathroom and king-size bed, to boot. The Cosy room probably has the best price-quality ratio of any five-star hotel room, anywhere in Barcelona.
Courtesy Hotel Casa SagnierhotelHotel Casa Sagnier
$$There is more to Barcelona architecture than Antoni Gaudí. The works of Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia can be found throughout the city and beyond, from the Garriga house at Carrer Diputació 250, with its impressive sculptures and stained glass to the Juncadella house at Rambla de Catalunya 26. The most personal of all is Sagnier’s home at Rambla de Catalunya 104, the building that now houses Hotel Casa Sagnier. Constructed in 1892 as a family home and studio, the Gothic-inspired building with its wrought-iron balconies and decorative sculptures was known as ‘Casa Dolors Vidal de Sagnier’, in honor of Enric Sagnier’s wife. In its current iteration, Casa Sagnier has 51 rooms, including six suites, the most spectacular of which is set in the famous architect’s former study, while the space that was once his library has been given a new lease on life as the popular Cafè de l'Arquitecte restaurant.
Courtesy Hotel SeventyhotelSeventy Barcelona
$Hotel Seventy is a visual wow. Built to blur the line between place-for-tourists and place-for-locals, colossal windows thaw the barrier with local life outside. Once those doors close behind you, however, you will gasp. The ceilings stretch higher than a supermodel’s legs, walls are made entirely of books, its tropical plants could rival Jack’s beanstalk for size, and, oh my gosh, all that light. This four-star’s impact goes to a galaxy way above. Perks await on the upper and lower levels. The seventh-floor pool terrace offers satiation in the form of cooling dips and waiter service—for your pressing cava-and-olive needs—between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Downstairs, a vegan spa boasts another pool, a sauna and a steam room. Maximum vacation glow comes via the Seventy Lifting Facial, where organic cosmetics by local brand Scens are massaged in using skin-perking Kobido techniques.
Hotel Antiga Casa BuenavistahotelAntiga Casa Buenavista
$$This cozy newcomer in gritty downtown Barcelona reminds us what a real boutique hotel is meant to feel like. Ronda Sant Antoni sits on the border of the trendy Sant Antoni neighborhood, the considerably scruffier Raval district and the queer-friendly part of the Eixample, known as the Gaixample. The rooms get plenty of natural light from the large, street-facing windows, while the top-floor suites are well worth splashing out on for their private terraces and open-air bathtubs. The rooms have an overall snug feel, with textured walls and warm fabrics, as well as plenty of details that hark back to the Catalan art nouveau, or modernist movement, from the vaulted ceilings, to the geometric hydraulic floor tiles, and French-style balconies. Bathroom amenities are by Natura Bissé. This is an ideal base for young people with an interest in nightlife and trendy bars and restaurants.
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Courtesy BrummellhotelHotel Brummell
$One of only a few hotels set in one of the city’s bustling residential neighborhoods, there’s a distinctly authentic feel about Hotel Brummell. From the urban design of the lobby to the locals sipping café con leche on the window bench, Hotel Brummell is Barcelona through and through. While the Poolside Standard is an excellent option for budget travelers, we can’t resist the Brummell Penthouse. There are two of these, situated at the very top of the hotel, each featuring its own private outdoor bathtub and terrace, and a spectacular bedside view across the city. For all things food, Brummell works with Istanbul-born Seyma Ozkaya Erpul, the woman behind local favorites Funky Bakery and Funky Eatery. Ozkaya has set up her own in-hotel bakery from where she distributes sweet and savory danishes, babkas, boreks, and the highly addictive and ultra-cheesy Basque cheesecake.
Grand Hotel CentralhotelGrand Hotel Central
$$The smart lobby of the Grand Hotel Central looks like what you’d expect a city-center five-star hotel, but with an exciting new twist. The hotel reopened in mid-2024 under new management following a major refurb, and we’re obsessed with the new look. The redesign has given the rooms a cool, colorful, and decidedly Mediterranean vibe (to replace the rather corporate—dare we say, slightly soulless—former look). Natural materials like wood, stone and polished concrete, combined with a soft color palette of warm terracotta, muted blues, and blush pinks, create a relaxed, homey feel. All the furniture is bespoke and inspired by the Catalan Noucentisme movement–from the lighting to coffee tables and headboards, designed to emphasize clean lines, color reduction and harmony. Bathroom amenities and a house scent from the Barcelona-based Carner perfumiers fill the space with a deliciously sensual aroma.
Photo by Nicole FranzenhotelCasa Bonay
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022Snag, if you can, one of the five Courtyard Large Terrace rooms at this renovated modernist mansion downtown—you can treat yourself to a private terrace, outdoor shower, hammock, and lots of direct sunlight for an affordable rate. Though the service at Casa Bonay can be spotty at times, the excellent bars are still worth a visit for stiff drinks and friendly locals. The best rooms in the house are the Courtyard Large Terrace rooms. There are five in total, each with private terraces, outdoor showers, hammocks, and plenty of that beautiful Spanish sunlight. The only drawback is that the rest of the hotel overlooks you, so the terrace isn't very secluded. Perfectionists will spot small signs of wear and tear creeping into that new-hotel gloss, but original hydraulic floor tiles (with wild geometric patterns) and statement sliding doors keep design buffs focusing on the wows.
Courtesy Monument HotelhotelMonument Hotel
$$Set in a 19th-century mansion just off the Passeig de Gràcia, Monument is a chic hotel in a glitzy location. The entrance is large and impressive, and the design is on point. It would be easy to find a hotel this impeccable somewhat intimidating, but Monument’s courteous staff will put you at ease from the moment you step through the door. When you learn that Spain’s most Michelin-starred chef Martín Berasategui has been put in charge of gastronomy at Monument, you will not be surprised that the culinary offering here is a cut above the rest. From Lasarte, one of only two three-Michelin-starred restaurants in central Barcelona, to the modest, but by no means underwhelming one-star Oria, to the generous à la carte breakfast and fabulous weekend brunch, both served on Monument’s splendid Verbena rooftop terrace, this is the place to impress even the pickiest of gourmands.
Courtesy 1898hotelHotel 1898
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018Hotel 1898 manages to stay calm and comfortable despite the steady ruckus outside on Las Ramblas, the city's touristy center. Business and pleasure travelers come to this four-star favorite for dependable rooms, excellent tapas, gin and tonics, and a heated rooftop pool with 360-degree views, stretching from the old port all the way to the top of Montjuïc. The Deluxe rooms are fairly standard. But they're spacious and, most importantly, some have a private terrace. The view of the rooftops and streets toward the back of the hotel is peaceful, unlike the buzz of tourists and street vendors on the other side. The room is respectable, but besides the terrace, nothing much to write home about—a good, solid hotel room. The 1898 combines exceptional public spaces with solid rooms, all slap-bang in the middle of Las Ramblas.
Dani RovirahotelThe Serras Hotel Barcelona
$$You’ll feel right at home from the moment you walk in this meticulously restored modernist building, in an unbeatable Gothic Quarter location a stone’s throw from the marina. The vibe is laid-back and casual, but the accommodations are seriously comfortable—the Hypnos beds are the same sort favored by the British royal family, so expect to wake up feeling like a prince or princess. Lauded chef Marc Gascons serves Catalonian specialties made from locally sourced products at the hotel's Informal restaurant. Don’t miss the soft gnocchi with truffle in winter, or the shrimp carpaccio in summer. Make time to head up to the Rooftop de Informal terrace, where you can gaze out at the marina from your spot in the pool, cocktail in hand.
hotelAlma Barcelona
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017The doorman at Alma Barcelona takes his job seriously. Should you dare to make eye contact with the door handle, you sense that he’s poised to throw himself at it in order to save your hand from the indignity of touching its weighty, polished surface. Once inside—not by your own doing, naturally—the atmosphere is more art gallery than hotel. Brushed concrete walls and floors could be stark; but here they're elegant, softened by leather chairs, beautiful lighting, a single painting of a polar bear, and, most notably, sincere service. The elegant Passeig de Gràcia is next door, placing Gaudí’s Casa Batlló a five-minute walk from your breakfast, and putting you within credit-card-tapping distance of the city’s best designer shopping. In a city with a loud, look-at-me hotel scene, the Alma is like your friend who wears a simple T-shirt and jeans and still manages to turn every head.
Marc EscuadéhotelThe Wittmore
$$$Leave the kids at home—the Wittmore is an adults-only oasis that feels more like a swanky private club than a hotel. The common spaces will make you want to check in and never leave, whether it's by the roaring fire in the red velvet library in winter, or the sunny rooftop plunge pool come summer. The plush furnishings and red velvet curtains and armchairs are present throughout the hotel, as well as in the guest rooms, which come in sizes ranging from small to medium, plus one gorgeous suite. Unlike many upscale hotels, the Wittmore’s rooms don’t offer views of Barcelona’s distinctive architecture or the port—instead they all face the inner courtyard and vertical garden, doubling down on the exclusive, private- club vibe.
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Salva LopezhotelMargot House
$Margot House tends to be popular with hipster, Wes Anderson types—which makes sense, since was named after a character from The Royal Tenenbaums. Designer furniture, sexy bathrooms, and the feeling that you’re in someone’s decked-out private apartment rather than a hotel, all up the coolness factor. Plus, this is one of the best deals around for those wishing to stay on the emblematic Passeig de Gràcia. When you check in to Margot House, you're encouraged to treat it like your home. Every hotel will tell you that, but here it’s true. The Margot Room is a living room, library, and work space all in one. There’s an “honesty bar” (pour yourself a drink and leave the money in the jar), and you can help yourself to snacks, 24/7.
Courtesy Mercer Hotel BarcelonahotelMercer Hotel Barcelona
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018How often do you get to walk down an ancient cobblestoned alley to reach your hotel? Needless to say, the architecture is a rare treat for history buffs, and the location oozes charm. The narrow, winding path to the Mercer, through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, is partially built into the city’s ancient Roman wall, which dates back to the fourth century AD. Rooms at the Mercer are bright, spacious, and impeccably laid out; some have even been built into an ancient Roman defense tower, which means walls of gorgeous, centuries-old brickwork. The food here is superior, without being stuffy—you’ll find foie gras and caviar, yes, but also patatas bravas and beer. It's pricey here, but worth it. If you want an intimate, secluded, five-star boutique hotel—and you’re willing to splash the cash—there’s no better spot in Barcelona than the Mercer.
hotelCasa Camper Barcelona
$Barcelona’s original hipster hotel, Casa Camper, is situated in the Raval neighborhood. This has always been one of the city’s seedier areas, which these days also means it's rather hip. The lobby is black and white and red all over, with sultry mood lighting. The same palette dominates in the modern, minimalist bedrooms, most of which come with a lounge area either incorporated into the room itself or located in a separate space across the hall. Many rooms have views of the interior vertical garden, while others have balconies facing the street. Some offer both. Apart from 24/7 complimentary snacks on the ground floor, there is also an honesty bar on the roof terrace. Casa Camper shares its premises with Dos Palillos, a Michelin-starred Japanese “tapas” bar by chef Albert Raurich.
Courtesy NerihotelHotel Neri
$$If you like the idea of staying in a restored medieval castle hidden down a tiny, quiet alley, off one of the prettiest squares in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, Hotel Neri checks all your boxes. The comfy rooms are to a certain extent customizable to your own preferences, including a menu of different bed linens and pillows. The best room in the house is definitely the Junior Suite, with its views of the charming Sant Felipe Neri Square below. This spacious room is all done up in sophisticated neutral tones and delicate fabrics. And do not leave without booking a table at A Restaurant for top-notch Catalonian cuisine with global influences. Staying in an actual medieval castle is the kind of thing you probably dreamed about as a small child, and now's your chance to make it come true.
Courtesy The Barcelona EDITIONhotelThe Barcelona EDITION
$$On first glance you might mistake one of Barcelona's hottest openings in recent years for a 1970s office block, but don't be fooled. Step inside and you'll find an airy, chic lobby lounge, with elegant walnut-paneled walls, oak floors, high ceilings, timeless cream décor offset by striking modern artworks, including the signature bright-white staircase. This is definitely an Edition hotel. The Barcelona Edition is right on the border of the city's enchanting, medieval Old Town and the Modernist Eixample neighborhood. The location is within easy stumbling distance of the city’s buzzing bar and restaurant scene, and close enough to the historic squares and narrow, winding alleyways of El Borne and the Gothic Quarter to allow you to check them out before the crowds descend.
Nadine Rupp/Courtesy Motel One Barcelona-CiutadellahotelMotel One Barcelona-Ciutadella
$In a city of phone-battery-leeching architecture, you could easily walk past Motel One’s boxy modern façade without noticing it. Inside, however, is a riotous party with geometric textiles, high-as-a-human plants, and imaginative chandeliers—plus a huge bar that could get you swinging from them. Each of Motel One’s 71 European hotels adheres to the same philosophy: that a budget price point shouldn’t mean dreary, bland, shoebox-sized spaces in lieu of interesting design. While every bedroom has the same dimensions (so if you’ve stayed in one Motel One, you’ll know exactly what you’ll get in another). A completely average and nondescript hotel in Barcelona can easily set you back 200 euros a night in peak season. Motel One not only undercuts this, it does so with design panache—and a damn good bar.
Courtesy Majestic Hotel & SpahotelMajestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019The Majestic is over a century old, and, while the seniority shows a little in the fancy staircases and posh doormen, the hotel still manages to feel distinctly modern not tacky or tired. The 430-square-foot Junior Suite Passeig de Gràcia is spacious and offers killer views of the iconic boulevard below. The color scheme is understated (muted creams and beiges) and the ceilings are very high. The Majestic itself may be more than a century old, but the room is stocked with all the requisite contemporary luxuries, from a Nespresso machine to complimentary Wi-Fi. It’s the kind of room that’s so gorgeous and comfy, you may want to cancel your dinner plans and ordering room service. The international guests, with their matching luggage sets and four-figure shoes, come to this grande dame on the Passeig de Gràcia for the spacious suites, tricked-out marble bathrooms, old-school staff in top hats, and luxurious spa.
hotelTorre Melina, a Gran Meliá Hotel
$With more of a countryside retreat than urban bolthole vibe, Torre Melina is a relaxing oasis just 20 minutes from central Barcelona. Every guest room at Torre Melina is bright and spacious and almost all (at least from the fifth floor and up) have impressive views of either the city or the mountains.The smallest Deluxe rooms are generously sized at 320-square-feet, with either one King or two Twin beds, a desk, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find what Meliá calls its RedLevel rooms, referring to those that come with a host of perks included: from unlimited complimentary access to the Beso pool club (other hotel guests have to pay an additional fee that is redeemable against food and beverage orders), all-day snacks in the RedLevel lounge, one-way transfer between the hotel and Plaza Catalunya, and even complimentary 24-hour rental of an electric Audi.
James McDonald/BornetahotelBorneta
$$Beautifully renovated and ever-so cozy, with a location in the most charming neighborhood in Barcelona, Borneta has that genuine home-away-from-home vibe that most hotels aspire to but few achieve. Rooms range from The Classic, to The Superior, The Signature, The Corner and The Terrace, all the way up to the Borneta suite. Many have small balconies, some have private terraces, overlooking sights like Passeig de Picasso, or Park Ciutadella—you can even spot the Sagrada Família from the top-floor suites that come with exclusive rooftop access, a well-stocked complimentary minibar full of locally-inspired treats, and spacious terraces. Less famous than Gaudí’s Park Güell, Ciutadella Park is often (and sadly) overlooked by visitors. Set right across the road from Borneta, there’s no excuse not to check it out. Don’t miss the recently restored iron greenhouse, built for the 1888 Universal Exposition.
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