Globalista

The Catalan capital is one of the great European cities, a hub of art, design, fashion and food. This artistic haven – where Gaudí, Dalí, Miró and Picasso all once lived – is a beautiful place of wide boulevards and extraordinary architecture. The Mediterranean climate, wonderful restaurants (many consider them the best in Europe) and proximity to the Catalan countryside and the beaches of the Costa Brava make it a perfect weekend destination, vibrating with sunshine and rumba. 

You can preview the Best Hotels featured in our Globalista Report below. Or buy the full Globalista Report for this destination, available at the bottom of the page.

One of the most popular hotels in the city, Hotel Arts Barcelona is renowned for its style, service and art collection featuring over 1,000 works by Spanish artists. It was designed for the 1992 Olympic Games, and although its location on the seafront may be a little too far out for some (it’s about 2½ miles from the old centre), it’s still an excellent choice. There are 483 rooms (and an exclusive club floor), a pool and wonderful views over the Mediterranean. The Six Senses spa and the hotel’s fine restaurants (including one from Michelin-starred chef Sergi Arola) have sealed its reputation as the place to stay. For extra attention, stay on the Club floor which comes with its own concierge team.

With a wonderful setting on Montjuïc Mountain, the Hotel Miramar is a renovated art deco palace dating back to 1929. There are 75 rooms spread over six floors, some (ask for the ‘deluxe vista’) with wonderful views over the port, and fabulous design features such as a fibre-optic chandelier inspired by Gaudí and Philippe Starck half-egg baths. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and the wonderful La Forestier restaurant. Many guests prefer the more intimate atmosphere of this smaller hotel.

In the Eixample district, Hotel Omm is the first hotel from the Tragaluz group, which made a name for itself with fashionable restaurants including El Tragaluz and El Japones. The contemporary design (lime-green Eames chairs, fires with flames that float over white pebbles, Perspex bedside tables lit from the inside and corridors lined with black rubber) may not suit everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly impressive in a funky, modern way. The Roca brothers of the famous Cellar de Can Roca in Girona own the hotel’s serene Moo restaurant on the ground floor.

Our final choice is also set high on a hill overlooking the city. Gran Hotel La Florida on Tibidabo may not have a city centre location (it takes 20-30 minutes by cab to reach the action of the city), but that’s our only criticism. Indeed, if you are staying for longer than a weekend it works extremely well to stay out of the bustle of town and just dip in when you need to. Fashionable yet comfortable, slick yet classic, this is an impeccable hotel with outstanding views. It has been famous since the 1950s, but has recently been renovated and is even better than before. The 70 rooms are beautifully designed, the eight ‘design suites’ being quite spectacular. Make sure to dine in L’Orangerie restaurant and spend time in the spa.

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Globalista's Pick of the Press

03 May 2009 - The New York Times - Europe on Two Borrowed Wheels
29 April 2009 - The Telegraph - Catalonia: On The Snail Trail to Lleida
26th April 2009 - The New York Times - 36 Hours in Barcelona
03 February 2009 - The Telegraph - An insider's guide to Barcelona and the east coast
09 January 2009 - The Telegraph - Barcelona, my kind of town

See the full archive of travel press articles for Barcelona.