Top 5 hotels in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city that can be done on a budget. If needs be you can find hostels for 20 euros a night, cheap eat restaurants and bars with beers for 2 euros and cocktails for 5. If on the other hand you are lucky enough to come to Barcelona with a lot of money you have endless possibilities for fun. You can take helicopter rides over the city, you can hire a yacht and take it out on the Mediterranean, and you can eat at some of the finest restaurants in the world. But before you get here will want to plan your accommodation.
The option of hiring an apartment on Airbnb is available, or you can stay in 5 star luxury in one of the most prestigious hotels in Europe. But as always picking the right one is important, especially if you are planning to drop some serious dough on a bed for an evening or two. So to you ballers coming to Barcelona for a few nights here is a rundown of the top 5 hotels to stay in the city.
Hotel Arts
Carrer de la Marina, 19-21, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
The Hotel Arts is located in the Port Olimpic. When the Olympics came to Barcelona in 1992 many of the athletes were put up here. It contains stunning views of the beach and sea and then also into the city. Try to book a room facing south because then you will get the best of both worlds. The hotel itself is very modern looking. The architecture is planned so that the skeleton of the building is on the outside making the interior far more spacious. A good-sized swimming pool sits alongside Frank Gehry’s huge, shimmering ‘Fish’ sculpture, perfect to cool down in during the hot summer days! Next to the pool is a generous garden with small children’s pool, and there is a well-equipped gym and spa. The staff are highly trained and immaculately presented and are always on hand to help you out with any needs you may have.
Rooms start from 360 euros per night
Cotton House Hotel
Gran Via de les Corte Catalans, 670, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
This beautiful boutique hotel is housed in the city’s old cotton guild and it has very much honoured its origins. As well as original features and beautiful antique furniture, you’ll encounter rooms with names like ‘Taffeta’ and ‘Damask’. The decoration is inspired on cotton through a well worked combination of the white, black and sepia of the cotton plant, all put together with delicacy of the highest quality. Interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán has worked his magic over the Cotton House, combining the grace of the original building with modern artworks and bold colours. The loveliest place to have a drink is in the library which is still stacked high with original books. The hotel has 83 luxurious and spacious rooms with 5 VIP suites and is located right in the heart of Barcelona city centre in the upmarket Gracia neighbourhood. On your doorstep there are stores by the likes of Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss and Louis Vuitton. If you are looking for a beautifully laid out and original hotel in the heart of Barcelona this is the one for you.
Rooms start from 370 euros per night
Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
Passeig de Gracia, 38-40, 08007, Barcelona, Spain
If five star opulence is what you are after, look no further than the Mandarin Oriental. For any Gaudí fans from the hotel garden you look directly at one of his most celebrated works, the stunning Casa Batlló. It is also ideally situated for keen shoppers (with deep pockets) right on the celebrated Passeig de Gràcia neighbourhood with some of the best designer shops in the world located right on your doorstep. But the real highlight of this luxurious hotel is in the communal areas. Guests can relax in the lovely Mimosa garden, or up on the rooftop, where they can work up an appetite in the pool before relaxing over lunch. The hotel’s restaurant, Moments, is run by the son of triple-starred chef Carme Ruscalleda. Little expense is spared on the bedroom extras, from good quality aromatherapy toiletries to leatherbound notebooks and a box of chocolates on arrival.
Rooms start at 638 euros per night
W Hotel
Placa de la Rosa Dels Vents, 1 Final, Passeig de Joan
When on Barceloneta beach the W Hotel is hard to miss. The beautifully modern looking moon shaped building arcs up to your right cleverly masking the port and airport from the beach. Designed by world-renowned architect Ricardo Bofill, W Barcelona sets the scene for a spectacular stay. It is one of the biggest hotels in the city with 473 rooms and suites available. It is also the one hotel in the city to boast its own nightclub on the 26th floor giving fabulous views of the city’s night time lights whilst enjoying a dance. This stunning spot, along with the Arts Hotel, has the best views of the sea and city available. The hotel’s restaurant Bravo 24 is run by highly decorated chef Carlos Abellán where you can dine on some of the finest Mediterranean cuisine in the city.
Anyone who knows the Derby Group hotels knows the unique level of luxury that they are renowned for and Claris GL is the mothership of them all. The fairly unique style of the Claris is defined by an eclectic approach to design and, above all, the precious artworks, archaeological pieces and ancient rugs found in each room and the common areas. Owner Jordi Clos is a well-known Egyptologist, and a part of his collection forms a small museum on the first floor. Bedrooms and common areas make generous use of Brazilian rosewood panelling, leather, silk, and there’s the odd Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair for any design fans out there. Mediterranean cuisine is served in the first-floor East 47 restaurant in the winter months but in the hot Barcelona summer head upstairs to the rooftop restaurant for some of the finest dining the city has to offer. There is also a rooftop pool with fabulous views where you can enjoy a cold cocktail whilst laying in the sun.
Rooms start from 215 euros per night
So to all those with deep pockets who are coming to Barcelona pick your favourite hotel of the bunch and enjoy the luxury of some of the best 5 star accommodation in Europe.