Gran Hotel La Florida
Situated a thousand feet above Barcelona on Tibidabo mountain, the 5-star Grand Luxe Gran Hotel La Florida offers spectacular views of the city and Mediterranean sea. The iconic 70 room hotel offers an oasis of calm above the city, while being only 15 to 20 minutes from the center by taxi or shuttle bus. Originally established in 1925, the glamorous history of guests includes Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Stewart. The 37-meter indoor and outdoor stainless steel swimming pool forms an impressive part of the extensive hotel spa.
Grand Hotel Central
The striking neoclassical building occupied by the 5 star Grand Hotel Central was constructed in 1926 by the renowned architect Adolf Florensa, who drew inspiration from Chicago architecture of the period. Veteran hotelier Pau Guardans, creator of other luxury urban hotels including Hotel Único (Madrid) and the Hotel Miró (Bilbao) transformed the former office building to recreate the elegance of 1920’s Barcelona in a hotel.
Beautiful original features such as moulding, stairs and doors remain, mixed and modernized with contemporary, timeless and warm decor. Sitting between the Gothic Quarter and El Born, the hotel offers 147 bright rooms and suites.
A miriad of attractions including the Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona Cathedral, Picasso Museum and not least the wonderful beaches of Barceloneta are within walking distance of the hotel.
Hotel Casa Fuster
The historic five star Casa Fuster hotel was originally built in 1908 by Spanish Catalan modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
The ‘casa’ was originally a gift from Mariano Fuster i Fuster, a high standing member of Mallorcan society, to his wife, Consuelo Fabra i Puig.The Hoteles Center chain acquired the building in 2000 for renovation and the hotel opened it’s doors in 2004.
The hotel’s famous Café Vienés has a history as an important meeting place for the intellectual and high society of Barcelona, including Catalan poet Salvador Espriu. On Thursdays the café features live Jazz and has Woody Allen is said to have played there on a number of occasions.
Casa Fuster has a total of 105 rooms, meeting and event rooms, a fitnesss center and an exterior swimming pool.
Mercer Hotel
The 28 room Mercer Hotel Barcelona is situated within a restored a heritage building, whose origins go back to the 1st century AD, with a section of the Roman wall of ancient Barcino within the hotel itself. The architectural restoration project was led by Rafael Moneo, who skillfully intertwined original features and new construction.
ABaC Barcelona
ABaC Lounge. Photo by Marco Pastori.
Famous for both it’s hotel and restaurant, the exclusive ABaC Barcelona is set on Avinguda Tibidabo in the affluent Sant Gervasi neighborhood. The smallest on our list of Barcelona luxury hotels, ABaC offers 15 modern luxury rooms along with its 2-star Michelin restaurant, run by renowned chef Jordi Cruz.
Hotel Omm
Suite Paseo de Gracia
The newest hotel on our list, Hotel Omm was opened in 2003. Owned by Grupo Tragaluz, the 5-star luxury hotel is located off Paseo de Gracia in one of the city’s most chic neighborhoods.
Rooms are modern and minimalistitic featuring natural oiled oak parquet flooring, hand-woven rugs and 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and linen bedspreads. The practical design of the rooms provides optimal light and temperature comfort.
Overseen by El Celler de Can Roca and managed by chef Juan Pretel, restaurant Roca Moo was awarded with one Michelin star. Hotel Omm also has a spa, nightclub and terrace with a swimming pool overlooking Gaudí’s Casa Milà.
Majestic Hotel and Spa
Majestic Hotel and Spa Barcelona is situated in a beautiful neoclassical building mid-way up Passeig de Gràcia, a short walk from two iconic Gaudí buildings, Casa Mila and Casa Batlló.
The 5 Star Grand Luxe hotel features a spa, rooftop swimming pool, fitness centre and a terrace with panoramic views of the city.
Hotel Arts Barcelona
The massive and luxurious Hotel Arts Barcelona offers a total of 483 rooms including apartments and executive suites, making it a touch larger than the shiny beachfront W Hotel Barcelona (popularly known as Hotel Vela) with 473 rooms.
Hotel Arts Barcelona, completed in 1994, was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, led by Colombian architect Bruce Graham.
Blue glass and exposed steel characterize the 44-floor hotel building, which has become a model of high-tech architecture. The hotel underwent a complete renovation in 2006 to modernize rooms and bathrooms to the highest standards of luxury.
W Hotel Barcelona
The iconic 5 star W Barcelona, also known as Hotel Vela (sail), was designed by the Barcelona-born Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. Opened in 2009, the hotel offers 473 rooms, 67 suites and is staffed by 400 employees.
Located in the Barceloneta district of Barcelona the building stands on 7 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea in the construction of the new entrance to the harbour.
Hotel Vela offers abundant natural light and spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea and city of Barcelona.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Barcelona
The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is centrally located on Passeig de Gràcia, famous for it’s stylish boutiques and a short walk from Plaça de Catalunya. Nearby attractions include Gaudi’s Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.
Cotton House Hotel
The Cotton House Hotel recalls the wealth and grandeur generated by the Barcelona’s textile industry in the late 19th century. Elements such as a regal marble staircase and ceiling frescoes have been carefully conserved in what was originally a privately owned mansion and later turned into headquarters of the Catalan Association of Cotton Manufacturers.
Hotel Ohla
Ohla Hotel is located on the site of the former palace of the first Count of Barcelona. The 74-room boutique hotel features a terrace with a glazed swimming pool overlooking some of the most emblematic architecture of the city. Chef Xavier Franco reinterprets traditional Catalan cuisine at the Michelin-starred Saüc restaurant, named after the elderberry plant for it’s healing properties.