Barcelona has a wide range of hotels, from historical landmarks to flashy beachfront resorts.- I'm a Barcelona-based
travel writer and think these are the 10 best hotels for all travelers.
I've lived in Barcelona since 2017 and have welcomed friends and family here from all over the world. When I recommend places for them to stay, I take into account several factors: budget, proximity to attractions, style preferences, and whether they are traveling alone, as a couple, or with a family.
But most of the time, I draw on my experience as a local travel writer since I've stayed in many of the city's best hotels. I'm personally familiar with most hotel rooms, restaurants, and rooftops.
Here's where I send loved ones, including my own secret tips about each place, where I'm most likely to book a staycation, plus what you should know about the neighborhoods housing the majority of the city's best hotels.
Seventy Barcelona
Seventy Barcelona has what I think is one of the city's best locations. Walk one block and you're surrounded by the grand architecture and swanky shopping of the Eixample's Passeig de Gràcia; cross the street and you're in Gràcia, a charming bohemian neighborhood dotted with lovely plazas.
Fittingly, the hotel's design bridges these worlds. The impressive lobby has a double-height ceiling, towering bookshelves, and an upscale bar. But tucked behind is a tranquil courtyard patio with tables on a geometric-tiled floor among olive trees, fragrant bushes, and bubbling fountains; it's one of my favorite secret spots to relax with a glass of wine.
Chic, minimalist rooms are around 300 square feet; my favorite is the quiet Patio room overlooking the inner courtyard. Duplex Suites are about twice as large and have freestanding tubs. Do note that all rooms only allow two people max, so it's not ideal for groups or families.
There's also a seventh-floor outdoor pool and bar, a separate terrace that's great for sunsets, and a ground-level spa with a pool, sauna, steam room, and organic treatments.
W Barcelona
This glassy, sail-shaped icon — the city's only beachfront hotel — is all about sea views. Drinking and dining in one of the W Barcelona's multiple restaurants and bars, lounging beside the outdoor pools, relaxing in the spa, working out at the gym … just about everywhere within this self-contained resort places the Mediterranean in plain sight.
Open-plan rooms are contemporary with floor-to-ceiling windows offering unimpeded views of the city, marina, or the Mediterranean. For the ultimate splurge, I recommend the high-floor Cool Corner suites where you can gaze out over Barceloneta Beach from the living room and wake up to a front-row sea view from the King-sized bed.
The only drawback is that rates can be rather pricey, though you can save by booking a lower-level Cozy room. Guests should also be prepared for a lively party scene, especially in summer, with DJs spinning poolside on the Wet Deck. Year-round, long lines form for the elevator up to the 26th-floor Eclipse bar, a throbbing late-night spot for cocktails and (very) loud music.
Yurbban Trafalgar
A great budget-friendly option with easy access to all the bars, restaurants, and nightlife of the trendy El Born district, Yurbban Trafalgar offers simply decorated rooms that are perfect for solo travelers or couples. This was one of the first hotels I stayed in when reporting on Barcelona back in 2015, and it's one I still highly recommend. I just suggest a room with a private terrace for a bit more space.
Though it's a three-star property, there are plenty of perks that will elevate your stay. Foremost is the rooftop with 360-degree views from the sea to the mountains. It's open to the public, but few know about it, so the scene is much chiller than other rooftop bars with DJs and overpriced cocktails. There's also a guest-only pool area.
Breakfast is included and features a nice spread of Catalan favorites like sausages and pan con tomate, and staying here also comes with free use of bikes, portable Wi-Fi devices, and self-service laundry.
Praktik Bakery
Part of the trendy, well-priced Praktik Hotels mini-chain, the Praktik Bakery has what I consider the city's best bakery, Baluard, right downstairs so you can grab a freshly-baked buttery croissant or fluffy brioche to start your day.
All 74 rooms at the three-star property are small and minimalist with white walls, white ceramic tiles, and industrial-style lighting. And other than the bakery, there are no amenities. But friends who have stayed here appreciate its fantastic central location in Eixample, just a block from the famous shopping avenue Passeig de Gràcia and Gaudí's La Pedrera (aka Casa Mila).
Casa Bonay
Set on the Eixample's Gran Via, in an 1869 neoclassical mansion once owned by the wealthy Bonay family, this boutique property feels more like a grand house than a hotel. And that's intentional, with public areas designed as loungelike spaces where both locals and hotel guests mingle.
At Casa Bonay's heart is the cavernous, ground-level Libertine, outfitted with low-slung sofas, patterned rugs, and artful lighting. It functions as a buzzy co-working spot by day and morphs into a hip bar and lounge come evening. On the roof, the seasonal Chiringuito, a beach shack-style restaurant, is one of my favorite summer hangouts for a glass of wine and grilled tapas. I'm looking forward to trying the hotel's newest addition, Bodega Bonay, a low-key natural wine bar with a menu of elevated tapas made with local ingredients.
Rooms were beautifully restored to maintain the home's original details, including intricate mosaic-tiled floors, balconies, and wonderfully high ceilings. The best is the Courtyard room, overlooking neighboring landscaped patios; many feature private terraces and outdoor showers to cool off after soaking up the Mediterranean sun.
El Palace Barcelona
This five-star grande dame El Palace Barcelona has been a fixture on Barcelona's Gran Via since 1919 and remains one of the city's most luxurious stays with mirrored, gilded halls, loads of marble, and period furnishings. In spite of all the opulence, it's not at all stuffy: there's lively piano music every evening and jazz bands on weekends in the Bluesman Bar. I've attended all sorts of events on the roof terrace, from movie nights to pop-up shopping events; there's always something fun going on year-round.
Large rooms are classically decorated and several hide a wonderful surprise: an original Roman-style bath with mosaic tiles. Suites are enormous and have all sorts of perks, like the Ronnie Wood Suite, which features artwork by the Rolling Stone bassist and an old-school jukebox that plays actual 45s.
The hotel's biggest news is Amar Barcelona, the forthcoming restaurant from Rafa Zafra, the former head chef of El Bulli, arguably
Kimpton Vividora Barcelona
Opened in mid-2020 in the medieval Gothic Quarter, Kimpton's first hotel in Spain stands out for stylish rooms that come with leather headboards, eclectic patterns, and statement lighting that enliven petite but pretty rooms. Upper-floor suites resemble apartments with vintage-style seating, furnished balconies, and light pouring through tall French windows.
A big draw is the rooftop terrace and pool with panoramic views of the city. I've come here for weekend brunch featuring DJs, bottomless mimosas, and Bloody Marys. It gets crowded, so be sure to reserve a table in advance.
Hotel guests are also treated to Kimpton's famous social hours with complimentary drinks, plus free use of bikes and longboards. It's also an ideal location near the Cathedral, Las Ramblas, restaurants and bars, and trendy shopping along the pedestrian Portal de l'Àngel.
Meliá Barcelona Sky
This skyscraper rises 29 stories above Avenue Diagonal in Poblenou, a less-touristed district to the east of the city center. Unlike the crowded medieval old town or the bustling thoroughfares of Eixample, Poblenou feels wonderfully calm with wide, tree-shaded sidewalks, parks and playgrounds, and less-congested beaches.
For all these reasons, I recommend it to families, and that they stay at Meliá Barcelona Sky. The hotel has a variety of accommodations, including connecting rooms and upper-floor suites that come with access to a private lounge with free snacks. These spacious rooms, with sea or city views, have a King-sized bed plus a sofa bed, and kids under 11 stay free.
Also nice is the outdoor pool; it's more spacious than most and because it's on a lower level, lacks the hard-partying scene present at many Barcelona hotels. You're also well-connected from here with the Poblenou Metro a five-minute walk away, putting you in the Gothic Quarter in under 10 minutes.
ME Barcelona
Mere steps from Plaça de Catalunya is this brand-new hotel from the upscale Spanish ME chain. The interior design and furnishings at ME Barcelona are contemporary in style, from the lobby's low-slung seating and bookshelves filled with art tomes to sleek, bright, minimalist rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. Whether you choose a standard room with a shower separated by a glass panel from the sleeping area, or a larger junior suite with a freestanding tub next to the bed, note that the open-plan layout is best suited to couples.
The hotel's second level is devoted to drinking and dining, with three Mediterranean-style restaurants plus a buzzy cocktail bar. Best is the sprawling courtyard terrace, measuring around 10,000 square feet and dotted with fruit trees, flowers, and fragrant herbs. Though the space just opened, it's sure to be a top spot for summer, especially on weekends when there will be DJs spinning.
For now, the roof terrace and its outdoor pool are only open to guests (and there's no bar, so you'll need to BYOB). The views from eight stories up are fantastic, overlooking the bustling Plaça de Catalunya on one side and on the other, the towers of the Sagrada Familia in the distance.
The Hoxton Poblenou
Although it won't open until the end of April, I'm putting this hotel on my list as it's the most anticipated newcomer for 2022. The trendy boutique brand's first foray into Spain is located in Barcelona's hippest district, Poblenou, and next door is the Disseny Hub, Barcelona's design museum, and the iconic bullet-shaped Torre Glòries, a 38-story tower designed by Jean Nouvel, which is scheduled to open an observatory deck this summer.
The hotel's interiors will be Mediterranean in feel, with terracotta floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and local artwork. Five categories of rooms will include a new Homey category, ideal for families and longer-staying guests, with kitchens, large living areas, and two double beds.
Dining options will include a Detroit-style pizza restaurant, bar, and terrace called Four Corners, and a rooftop taqueria, Tope, which originates from Portland, Oregon. The hotel is currently offering special pre-opening rates and restaurant credits with bookings.
How to choose where to stay in Barcelona
The majority of Barcelona hotels are clustered in the city center, in the architecturally rich Eixample, and in the medieval Ciutat Vella. These hotels are convenient to public transport and within walking distance of Barcelona's top attractions.
The medieval districts of the Gothic Quarter and El Born are largely home to boutique hotels, and though the rooms generally skew smaller, their size is more than made up for by the location next to hundreds of bars and restaurants, and top sites like the Barcelona Cathedral.
Eixample is where you'll find the city's classic luxury properties, along with several new high-end hotels. They offer lots of on-site amenities like multiple restaurants, rooftop pools, and spas, and rooms here tend to be more spacious, but rates can be quite high.
Keep in mind that hotels in the Catalan capital are among the most expensive in Spain, especially during the high season between Easter and early fall. If you want a better combination of price and value, it's worth branching out to other districts; in particular, Poblenou, to the east of the city center, which has seen an explosion of modern skyscraper hotels with far friendlier rates.