I recently spent a few days in Barcelona as part of a Barcelona Tourism and Catalonia Tourism FAM trip. We toured the city and the region, visiting hotels in Barcelona as well as Catalonia, and tasting wine, chocolate, and olive oil, and learning about the history of this rich region as it relates to our clients coming to this incredible city. For some of us on the trip, Barcelona, Spain is one of our favourite cities. Coming back here, for me, after 13 years it was amazing to see how the city has changed.
The Modernist City is beautiful, there is no doubt about that. It is a world class destination for design, architecture, gastronomy, and viniculture. Cruises begin and end here, which means you can stay a day or two on either side of the trip. And, with really easy access from the US on all major carriers and Norwegian Airlines, its a great kick off point for a multi city European trip. Today’s post is all about the hotels in Barcelona though, and I’ll post some about the city’s food and design later.
Hotels in Barcelona
There is no shortage of amazing hotels in Barcelona. Not only are there excellent five star properties with a rich history intertwined with that of both Spain and catalonia, there are exceptional four stars too. The value for money is great here, as Barcelona is definitely one of the more affordable European cities. A great four star can be as exceptional or better than a five star in another place.
Most of the great hotels are within a few block radius of the Passeig de Gràcia, or Paseo de Gràcia (Catalan vs Spanish). There is excellent food and wine at all of these hotels as well as in this city centre area. The Gothic Quarter is a few blocks away, maybe a twenty minute walk, and the Gracia district is also nearby.
Hotel El Palace
The Hotel El Palace is also known as the Ritz, since that was its original name. Most locals still refer to it as The Ritz, as they do with the same hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. It is located at the corner of Gran Via de les Cortes Catalanes and Carrer de Roger de Lluria. El Palace was the first luxury hotel in Barcelona, opening its doors in 1919. With its wide hallways, high ceilings, and original artwork, interiors, and more, it’s truly exquisite.
The hotel boasts three dining venues: the Winter Garden, the rooftop terrace, and the Bluesman Bar, which hosts jazz nights on weekends.
Rooms at El Palace
There are six floors to the hotel, each with a signature suite. With Riccardo, the general manager, we viewed two: the Josephine Baker suite and the Ronnie Wood suite. Each suite was designed by or for its namesake and has a very distinct style. El Palace is very connected to the local artistic community and hosts music events four nights a week. Salvador Dali even lived here for several years! The remaining 114 rooms and suites are spacious and tranquil, with a king size bed, large modern bathroom, and unique features like a television in the mirror. Most rooms also have a French balcony, either over the front intersection or rear courtyards. It is a great hotel for families, as it has plenty of connecting options.
The El Palace was the first hotel we stayed at, and so therefore my first introduction to the luxury sector in Barcelona. As its an old hotel, of course there are quirky things, like a lack of power outlets and no USB ports. The common spaces are grand, a definite reminder of the glamour that is Barcelona.
Mandarin Oriental
On our first evening we walked the three blocks to the Mandarin Oriental for dinner and a site tour with Victoria, the sales manager. Mandarins are known for their contemporary style and this one is no different. It is located on the Passeig de Gracia, about two blocks from Plaza de Catalunya. The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona was designed by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola.
Despite its central location, the entry to the hotel is off the main road by way of a long wide gently upward sloping corridor. This feature means that within second of getting out of your cab or private car, you’re whisked into the tranquility of the Mandarin. The long, skinny reception space opens on to three of the restaurants in the hotel. The first is the dark, moody Bankers Bar, a homage to the original function of the building. The second is the lower Blanc restaurant, where breakfast is served and where we had dinner. Finally, there is also the two-Michelin-starred Moments Restaurant which is only open for dinner. Head chef Carme Ruscelleda has seven Michelin stars and oversees all of the restaurants on property. There is also a rooftop terrace bar – Terrat – with a splash pool. The kitchen up here serves Peruvian cuisine.
rooms at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
All of the 120 rooms at the Mandarin are modern and sleek. Views are either of the Passeig or of the interior gardens. The suites feature private balconies which have views of several Modernist buildings on the Passeig, including Casa Batllo. All suites are accessed by a separate elevator bank because they are in a separate building, which only opened in 2014. It is connected to the hotel on the ground floor, but not by any other floor.
Monument Hotel
The Monument Hotel enjoys yet another enviable location in Barcelona. This 84-room boutique hotel is not Virtuoso. It was built in the 19th century and originally belonged to the Batllo family. The current owners of the building intend on preserving it as part of the heritage of Barcelona.
Monument Hotel is only two years old, and is rightly considered a juxtaposition of old and new Barcelona. While the exterior remains original, the renovated interiors are sleek, chic, and crisp. A rooftop terrace recently opened, where the hotel serves breakfast. Monument Hotel has five restaurants: Lasarte, Oria, Glasss, Hall0 Cocktail Bar, and Verbena, all under the direction of eight-Michelin-star chef Martín Berasategui.
Hotel Arts
Hotel Arts, the Ritz-Carlton property in Barcelona, lies along the shore near the former Olympic Village. You’ve maybe seen pictures of Frank Gehry’s giant fish? That’s in front of the Hotel Arts. It’s location is not ideal for those wishing to walk around the Gothic Quarter or spend their days at the Passeig de Gracia. It does have exceptional views of both city and sea, fabulous restaurants, and a resort feel unlike that of The W.
We were whisked to the top by Joan, the sales manager, because the property was full. We saw just two rooms: a standard entry level room with sea views, and one of the penthouses where we enjoyed cocktails and tapas. There are 490 rooms and suites at Hotel Arts, all modern and sleek, to go along with the very modern exterior. Joan also showed us through the Club, a Ritz-Carlton exclusive experience for certain, privileged guests on the Club Floor.
There are six bars and restaurants onsite, each with a distinct flavour and style. Whether you’re in need of a coffee, a cocktail, or a glass of Catalan wine, they’ve got you covered. Hotel Arts also boats over 10,000 square feet of outdoor space, with infinity pools, gardens, terraces, and even a beach club. There’s even an adult-only pool!
The W
I’ll admit, I didn’t know what to make of The W Hotel when I first saw it. The W lies on a reclaimed spit of land, past Barceloneta and the marina. It only opened in 2009, long after my first visit to the city. It seems so far from the city, and yet there’s a new path that connects the resort with the old city. And yes, The W is far more resorty than any other hotel we visited. Its ideal for those who have been to Barcelona before and prefer to relax rather than explore the city. However, it’s still within walking distance to the Gothic Quarter!
There are three restaurants on property, including Bravo which has a one-Michelin-starred chef. It has three pools, one of which is indoors at the Bliss Spa. The W has direct access to the beach and there are several kiosks nearby that rent paddleboards and other water gear. Access to the spa and sauna is complimentary for guests; treatments of course are additional.
rooms at The W
The W has 406 rooms and 67 suites. They have just four categories of room, from Cozy up to Fabulous. Rooms either look out over the water or over the city – both views are exceptional because of the hotel’s location. The style here is modern and artistic (we saw one room with a round bed in the centre of it!). The W Barcelona pays homage to various local persons, from Dali to Saint Eulalia and Gaudi with signature accent pillows. Guests can purchase these if they like them.
The Majestic
We ended our time in Barcelona at The Majestic Hotel, another grande dame in the city. The Majestic is located at the corner of Passeig de Gracia and Carrer de Valencia. The lobby is spacious, with large windows and creamy marble features. A lot is original, despite restoration on the hotel. There is a cocktail bar on the ground floor complete with a piano player every evening. Hotel Majestic now takes up two different buildings, so there are two elevator banks to reach different rooms.
The Majestic just opened – a mere month ago – their new farm-to-table restaurant Solc. Located on the first floor, in the same space where the breakfast is served, Solc’s menu changes daily. Many of their food is sourced from local markets or local producers, highlighting the best of Barcelona. The breakfast is of the same caliber, displayed in a La Boqueria-style market setting.
rooms at Hotel Majestic
There are 272 rooms and suites across nine floors at The Majestic. The tenth floor houses the spa and roof terrace. La Dolce Vita, a popular cocktail bar, serves tapas and cocktails all day; they do not take reservations. The ninth floor is accessible only to the guests staying there, and only from one elevator. Here, hidden from view, are the penthouses. There are seven across this floor, which can be sold as one unit or separately. The Royal Penthouse has a gorgeous living room, which can be sold as a separate entity as well.
If you need alternatives to this stunning five star palace, you can find them within the Majestic group. There are several in Barcelona, one in Sitges, and one in Ibiza. Hotel Majestic also offers two-bedroom apartments across the street from the hotel. While these are perfect for families, they do not offer any of the Virtuoso amenities and are unserviced. For those of you wanting a true five star hotel experience, the hotel itself is preferable.
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As I noted at the beginning of this post, there is no shortage of great hotels in Barcelona. We saw but a tiny sample of the properties. The Serras became a Virtuoso hotel on June 1. Sadly, I did not get the chance to visit it. However, their reservations manager emailed me with details, including the Virtuoso amenities. The Serras is located on the water’s edge of the Gothic Quarter, within walking distance of bars, restaurants, clubs, and shops.
While most hotels in Barcelona are within the four block radius of the Plaza de Catalunya, there are so many more. Hotels like the Hotel Neri and Mercer Hotel are in the Gothic Quarter, great for exploring on foot but hard to access with a car. We walked past both of these but did not visit. There are also great – exceptional – 4* hotels in Barcelona. From the H10 brand to Small Luxury Hotels, there’s something truly for everyone.
Have you been to Barcelona? Where did you stay? Thinking of visiting the Modernist City? Let’s chat about how a Virtuoso travel advisor can add value to your trip! Email me now! And don’t forget to pin this >>> for future reference!
