Top 10 best luxury hotels in Barcelona

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today: Top 10 best luxury hotels in Barcelona

Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and famous for Gaudí and other Art Nouveau architecture, Barcelona is one of the world’s greatest, trendiest and most visited cities. The Catalan capital draws tourists to its famous sights, like the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. Sun-drenched beaches also make a fine backdrop to a walk along the modern seafront, a drink on a rooftop terrace, a lazzy afternoon in spacious parks such as Parc de Montjüic or Ciutadella, and exploration of the  Olympic village. A hub for new trends in the world of culture, fashion, sports, and cuisine, Barcelona combines the charm and slower pace of its old town with the avant-garde vibe and fast pace of more modern neighborhoods. On top of that, the city is also home to a wide range of fabulous luxury hotels and here’s my selection of the best properties in town.

There is more information (with reviews and YouTube videos) below the slide show. What is your favorite hotel in Barcelona? Leave a comment

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10. NOBU HOTEL BARCELONA

With panoramic views of the urban landscape and the Mediterranean Sea, this stylish hip hotel offers 259 sleek and spacious guest rooms and suites, thoughtfully tailored meeting and event spaces, the world-class Nobu Restaurant, and Kozara –  a Japanese inspired tapas bar in the lobby – along. Within the accommodations, naturally organic materials blend with refined Japanese nuances, while comfortable beds, soundproof windows and modern amenities ensure a good night’s sleep. Secluded from the busy streets of Barcelona, the luxury hotel is located close to the charming neighborhood of Eixample giving guests a genuinely Catalan feel of the city. Most points of interest in the city can be reached within 10 minutes by car or public transport.

• Hotel website: Nobu Hotel Barcelona

9. THE BARCELONA EDITION

Located in the city center, The Barcelona EDITION features 100 stylish rooms and suites with custom-made Le Labo bathroom amenities, a selection of rooms with stunning views over the iconic architectural masterpiece Santa Caterina Market roof, multiple connecting rooms for family travel and exclusive penthouse suites with private panoramic terraces and extended space. The evolving local and dynamic restaurants & bars experience includes the signature restaurant Bar Veraz with an outdoor sitting area, the renowned bespoke cocktail bar Punch Room, the clandestine supper club Cabaret and the iconic The Roof, a panoramic Mediterranean rooftop terrace for al-fresco all day dinning, offering stunning views of Barcelona and an outdoor plunge pool.

• Hotel website: The Barcelona EDITION

8. THE ONE BARCELONA

The One Barcelona is a five-star luxury hotel within walking distance of renowned attractions, local restaurants, and premier shopping. Thanks to its elegant interior design, undertaken in collaboration with award-winning designer Jaime Beriestain, The One Barcelona exudes inspiration, comfort and personality in every space. The hotel offers 88  elegant, tech-savvy rooms. Art is showcased in every room with works designed exclusively for the hotel by the Chilean artist Fernando Prats, who transforms the beauty of a bird’s flight into a collection that conveys elegance and majesty. Facilities include a Mediterranean restaurant with a cocktail and wine bar, a relaxing spa, and a sparkling plunge pool and solarium on a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views.

• Hotel website: The One Barcelona

7. HOTEL EL PALACE BARCELONA

Central to the hustle and bustle of downtown, El Palace Barcelona is a quiet haven and opulent palace hotel just steps away from the exclusive Paseo de Gracia, the mythic Las Ramblas, and the historic Gothic District. Feel the pull of 1919 in your spacious neoclassical room with a marble bathroom and original fireplace, combined with state-of-the art facilities and amenities. Travel from rhythm and blues to Cuban notes on Fridays at the unique Bluesman Cocktail Bar, or watch the sun set over far-off cupolas at the 360-degree rooftop terrace. The enormous tasseled room keys are a delightful touch of nostalgia that will surely make you want to return soon.

• Hotel website: Hotel El Palace Barcelona
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, USD $100 food credit and $50 USD spa credit).

6. MAJESTIC HOTEL & SPA

An icon in the heart of modernist Barcelona, Majestic Hotel & Spa is an exclusive 272-room hotel that sits across from Gaudí’s famed buildings at Paseo de Gracia. Known as the hotel of the arts, it displays more than 1,000 notable artworks by renowned painters and sculptors.  Michelin-starred chef Nandu Jubany oversees the sophisticated buffet breakfast and hotel gastronomy. Try the farm-to-table SOLC restaurant and enjoy after-dinner drinks at La Dolce Vitae. On the top floor of the hotel, guests will find an oasis of relaxation and well-being in the Majestic Spa, which features the latest aesthetic products and treatment. The exclusive Majestic Royal Penthouse, the biggest suite in Barcelona, is a unique place to be, satisfying the most demanding luxury travelers.

• Hotel website: Majestic Hotel & Spa
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and USD $100 food hotel credit).

5. W BARCELONA, SPAIN

Rising like a sail from the Mediterranean’s brown sands, the W Barcelona is as much a work of modern art as it is a luxury hotel. Located in the stunning waterfront area of Spain’s most dynamic and stylish city, W Barcelona boasts unparalleled views of both the Mediterranean Sea and the city from most of its 473 fabulous guest rooms and suites. The hotel features exciting dining, nightlife and entertainment options for which the W brand is known for, including a roof top bar, large spa, several food and beverage concepts, an indoor and outdoor pool, and a private beach club, lending this property the ambience of a hip beach resort rather than a city hotel.

• Hotel website: W Barcelona
• Other accolades: W Barcelona features in my top 10 list of my favorite W Hotels in the world.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and USD $100 food or spa credit).
• Review: read my review of the W Barcelona here.

4. HOTEL ARTS BARCELONA, A RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL

Iconic design, incredible culinary experiences and the sparkling Mediterranean are what draw visitors to Barcelona, Spain. These elements are also what attract luxury travelers to Hotel Arts Barcelona  (operated by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company). Housed in a 44 story skyscraper of blue glass and steel, the hotel features beautifully designed accommodations, including 28 duplex penthouses. The penthouses are located on the top floors of the hotel and offer butler service and use of a MINI Cooper. The hotel is home to a famous two Michelin-star restaurant and features great public spaces, including a rooftop spa and two outdoor pools.

• Hotel website: Hotel Arts Barcelona
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 food & beverage credit).
• Review: read my review of Hotel Arts Barcelona here.

3. COTTON HOUSE HOTEL

Cotton House is in the former headquarters of the Association of Cotton House Manufacturers. The iconic building is in every way representative of the XIX century, a period which has marked the spirit and culture of Barcelona. The hotel has 83 elegant rooms, including five suites. The entrance of the emblematic building is a beautiful vestibule covered in mirrors, followed by a hall with two magnificent stairways: a grand marble staircase, and the other, a spiral staircase built in the 50’s. The old noble areas of the building contain an elegant library, several great rooms and lounges where the bar and restaurant are located, a luminous glass conservatory and a terrace with lush vegetation. On the sixth floor there is a serene exterior pool, a small gym and a massage room.

• Hotel website: Cotton House

2. SERRAS BARCELONA

Stories of Pablo Picasso swirl around the rooftop pool bar at The Serras, a 2019 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List winner for Best Urban Hotels in Spain and a 2018 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice winner for Best Luxury Hotel in Spain. The master’s former studio turned boutique stay – located in the historic city center, Barrio Gótico – is now a canvas of contemporary luxury, its ambience trendy yet unpretentious. The 28 rooms are comfortably chic, their natural color palette accented by bold geometric patterns with touches of wood and iron; balconies overlook the old city or yacht-filled Port Vell and the Mediterranean Sea. Look for Michelin-starred chef Marc Gascons behind the open kitchen at Informal restaurant, busily adding his own twist to seasonal Catalan favorites.

• Hotel website: Serras
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 hotel credit).

1. MANDARIN ORIENTAL BARCELONA

Ideally located near all the city’s major attractions, the 5-star Mandarin Oriental Barcelona offers an atmospheric setting on Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s most upscale avenue. With contemporary interiors by designer Patricia Urquiola, the 120 rooms and suites (some with private terraces) are among the most luxurious in Barcelona. Carme Ruscalleda (one of the most awarded chefs in the world) is the leader of the two-Michelin-starred Moments Restaurant, casual Blanc, and Banker’s Bar. Terrat rooftop bar serves chef Gastón Acurio’s Peruvian delights. The luxurious spa is designed as a haven of serenity, making Mandarin Oriental the perfect base to explore the Catalan capital.

• Hotel website: Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
• Other accolades: Mandarin Oriental Barcelona also features in my top 10 list of the world’s most spectacular hotel rooftops.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, early check in, late check out, daily breakfast, and a tapas assortment including drinks for two at Banker’s Bar, once during stay).
• Review: read my review of Mandarin Oriental Barcelona here.

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