Spain Editor Picks

Housed in one of the city’s tallest buildings, the Hotel Arts has the best views in all of Barcelona. The Ritz-Carlton–owned property recently refurbished its 483 rooms (even though it’s only 17 years old, built for the 1992 Olympics). Rooms are sleek, with modular, dark-wood furnishings and large pink marble bathrooms. Floors 42 and 43 host a Six Senses Spa, and downstairs, Adrià-trained chef Sergi Arola’s eponymous restaurant serves up inventive tapas. And the big fi sh sculpture outside? A Frank Gehry original.

Located in the trendy yet still inexpensive El Born neighborhood, this hotel has all the standard boutique design elements: fl oor-to-ceiling sheer curtains, minimalist four-poster bed frames, and plush velvet armchairs. Familiar? Yes, but still stylish and comfortable. The 43 rooms in the main building tend to be a bit small; to really stretch out, book one of the nearby suites (some are duplexes, where the upper fl oor can turn into an additional bedroom) with massive windows overlooking an interior patio.

A stone’s throw from central Puerta del Sol, the modern rooms in this well-maintained historic building are packed with amenities such as free minibars and a/c; some even have balconies.

Occupying a palatial former pied-à-terre of Marquis of Santo Mauro, this French-inspired hideaway houses 51 sleek rooms, a walled garden, an indoor pool, and a gourmet restaurant in its library.

This trendy hotel is just outside the city center and is a quick ride on the Glorias metro or the tram, which passes in front of the hotel. There are just over 200 rooms in the hotel with a fresh minimal and understated design: platform beds in the middle of rooms and sleek Parsons tables facing floor-to-ceiling windows. Most rooms are standard, with amenities like satellite TV, WiFi internet access, blackout blinds that ensure a good night’s sleep, and all-glass bathrooms. Superior rooms have balconies, junior suites have a separate lounge, and suites have excellent views of the Agbar Tower, designed by architect Jean Nouvel. The rooftop deck has a small pool, an excellent solarium, and restaurant – the perfect spot to spend the afternoon recovering from the morning’s sight-seeing.

This sparkling Richard Meier-designed structure has a magnificent atrium, winding ramps, and glass-floored galleries that display late-20th-century masterworks.

Meander through this airy building that showcases paintings, drawings, and tapestries by the Catalan artist famous for his use of primary colors and organic shapes; don’t miss the sculpture garden and the vistas off the rooftop terrace.

Roam through surreally landscaped acres of Gaudí’s fantastical hilltop retreat built between 1900 and 1914 in the style of Modernism, the Catalan version of Art Nouveau. The park features gingerbread gatehouses, wavy benches covered in ceramic tiles, meandering paths, a mosaic-covered dragon, and the Casa-Museu Gaudí where the architect spent the last 20 years of his life.

This cool and elegant spot in upscale L’Eixample churns out contemporary Catalan fare such...more

Rumor has it this beachfront old-timer serves the best paella in town – and most locals...more