Barcelona Hotels and Accommodations Reviews: Luxury, Midrange, Budget Hotels in Barcelona

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Barcelona

Hotels

As one of Europe's most visited cities, Barcelona offers a full variety of lodging options, running the gamut of all tastes and budgets. From luxury spots to family-run hostales and quirky hotels, the city doesn't skimp on overnight choices. The most affordable rooms get snatched up fast though, so if you're aiming to save on your hotel, you'll need to book well in advance.

With the advent of Catalan cool came an immense hotel boom. Now sprouting like mushrooms are five-star properties like the Ritz-Carlton-owned Hotel Arts (Carrer de la Marina 19-21; 093/221-1000; www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/barcelona) in the 44-floor tower overlooking the Port Olímpic and Hesperia Tower (Gran Via 144; 093/413-5000; www.hesperia-tower.com), a self-enclosed skyscraper oasis of luxury in an industrial park away from the city center. Offbeat accommodations range from the 25-room Casa Camper (C/Elisabets 11; 093/342-6280; www.casacamper.com) in El Raval, owned by the eponymous shoe company, to The5 rooms (C/Pau Claris 72; 093/342-7880; www.thefiverooms.com), a chic and friendly B&B in L'Eixample. You'll feel like royalty at the Hotel Neri, a boutique hotel hidden in an 18th-century palace in Barri Gòtic. (C/Sant Sever 5; 093/304-0655; www.hotelneri.com). Design enthusiasts appreciate the swank Hotel 1898 (La Rambla 119; 093/552-9552; www.barcelonahotel1898.com) inside the former Philippines Tobacco Company headquarters on La Rambla.

Tried-and-true luxury hotels abound, particularly in L'Eixample; for classic elegance, check in at Hotel Palace (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 668; 093/510-1130; www.hotelpalacebarcelona.com), formerly known as The Ritz and still a grand dame of Barcelona hotels, where service is top-notch and plush perks abound. The four-star Hotel Claris (C/Pau Claris 150; 093/487-6262; www.derbyhotels.es) sports a rooftop pool, eclectic rooms, and a private collection of ancient Egyptian and medieval art. If you want to mingle with the cool crowd, your spot is Hotel Omm (C/Rosselló 265; 093/445-4000; www.hotelomm.es) where Feng Shui decor blends with movie-themed interiors; the roof's plunge pool affords views of Casa Milà and the top-rated restaurant serves creative Catalan cooking (see Where to Eat). Architecture buffs should consider Casa Fuster (Passeig de Gràcia 132; 093/255-3000; www.hotelcasafuster.com), a five-star property housed in a landmark Modernist building with sleek rooms, an elegant Viennese café, and a rooftop terrace and gym.

In the midrange category, the best option is Hotel Banys Orientals (C/Argenteria 37; 093/268-8460; www.hotelbanysorientals.com) at the heart of hip El Born. 43 cozy rooms are set inside an antique building with a stylish minimalist décor. Slightly pricier is L'Eixample's sophisticated Hotel Constanza (C/Bruc 33; 093/270-1910; www.hotelconstanza.com) with a Japanese-inspired lobby and rooms with dark-wood furniture and heaps of toiletries in the en-suite bathrooms. Also in this area is the well-priced Hotel Balmes (C/Mallorca 216; 093/451-1914; www.derbyhotels.com), whose airy units feature colorful accents; the verdant patio has a pool and the lobby showcases African art. In El Raval, a stone's throw from La Rambla, Sant Augustí (Plaça Sant Agustí 3; 093/318-1658; www.hotelsa.com) is Barcelona's oldest hotel. Housed in a former convent, the rooms here come equipped with three-star perks like air conditioning and televisions.

If you're traveling on a budget, Barcelona offers several options easy on your wallet. Our favorites are the two Gat properties in El Raval: Hostal Gat Raval (C/Joaquín Costa 44; 093/481-6670; www.gataccommodation.com) where many of the funky rooms have balconies overlooking the MACBA, and the slightly pricier Hostal Gat Xino (C/Hospital 149-155; 093/324-8833; www.gataccommodation.com) where units are all en-suite and a buffet breakfast comes at no extra cost. In L'Eixample, we recommend the Market Hotel (Passatge Sant Antoni Abat 10; 093/325-1205; www.markethotel.com.es) and, not far from here, the cheaper Hostal Girona (C/Girona 24; 093/265-0259; www.hostalgirona.com), where a rustic feel and antique furniture provide plenty of ambience. For rock-bottom rates, book the Hostal Rembrandt (C/Puertaferrisa 23; 093/318-1011; www.hostalrembrandt.com) near La Rambla; it has charm to spare for the price, perfectly pleasant rooms, and a nice interior courtyard.