Five Barcelona Hotels Designed for Romance

by  Donna Heiderstadt | Oct 13, 2010
Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona
Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona / Photo courtesy of the property

Barcelona has long been a hotbed of architectural innovation—ever since the master of Spanish Modernism, Antoni Gaudi, defied 19th-century design genres by creating buildings that fused Gothicism, Art Nouveau and Surrealism. His massive and still-under-construction Sagrada Familia, undulating Casa Mila and whimsical Parc Guell changed the city’s landscape and rank high among tourist must-sees. So when you visit Barcelona with someone special, don’t just stay in any old hotel. Continue the visual fantasy by spending the night in one of these five sexy and stylish options. Several are surprisingly well priced and all offer refreshing design as well as fabulous views of this enticing city:

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona The city’s newest five-star hotel takes avant-garde design to an exceptional level with high-

MandarinBlanc1

impact details that go far beyond Mandarin’s typically impeccable aesthetic. From the futuristic catwalk entryway to the ethereal Blanc restaurant (shown at right—courtesy of Mandarin Oriental), where soaring walls of Matisse-like white cutouts make it feel as if you’re dining inside a snowflake, this one-of-a-kind property will leave you giddy. Saunter into the Banker’s Bar to sip mojitos amid a mosaic of silver security boxes, absorb the serene hush of The Spa or enjoy a soak in the rooftop dipping pool. Reserve a table in Moments well in advance to savor the tasting menus of Carme Ruscalleda, the only female chef to have a total of five Michelin stars. As for the rooms and suites, all 98 of them are amazingly spacious and impressively white; choose a view of the charming interior garden for both style and tranquility, from $410/night.

Miramar

Hotel Miramar Barcelona This four-year-old property, located on the edge of leafy Montjuic overlooking the port, effortlessly fuses old and new—a contemporary resort built on the bones of a 1929 palace. Clean lines, neutral decor and floor-to-ceiling windows give its 75 rooms, (shown at left—courtesy of Hotel Miramar Barcelona), all with private balconies featuring water, city or park views, an airy ambience that transcends its urban locale. For added indulgence, book a room with a Jacuzzi on a private terrace. Also on property: the Forestier restaurant serving Catalan-Mediterranean cuisine, two bars, a small spa, a striking outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool, from $187/night.

Gran Hotel La Florida To enjoy panoramas of Barcelona as it spills down to the blue Mediterranean, stay at this 70-room

LaFlorida

oasis perched 1,600 feet above the city on Montserrat (shown at right—courtesy of Grand Hotel La Florida). Deluxe Rooms to La Florida Suites are done in soothing beiges and taupes with sleek décor and spacious marble bathrooms, while eight Design Suites take the creativity quotient up a notch with one-of-a-kind interiors by an array of artists and architects. Shuttle service to central Barcelona and a full-service Zen Zone Spa round out the amenities. Come sunset, enjoy poolside cocktails with a view at Miramar Bar before dining at L’Orangerie as the city’s lights twinkle below, from $275/night.

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Hotel Omm If your concept of modern romance involves eye-catching décor and a chic bar and food scene, you’ll find nirvana at this 91-room property just off the elegant Paseo de Gracia. The intrigue starts with its edgy exterior (shown at left—courtesy of Hotel Omm) and extends to a rooftop pool and bar, where you can enjoy stellar views of Gaudi’s otherworldly Casa Mila rooftop. Superior Rooms are spacious in size yet spare in design, with wood floors and open-concept bathrooms, while Junior Suites and Suites add a sitting area and soaking tub. Mingle with sophisticated locals in the Lobby Lounge, adjacent to Moo, a gastronomic eatery serving tasting menus of nouveau Catalan cuisine. A lower-level Ommsession nightclub keeps things hopping while the Spaciomm spa indulges with all things natural, from $276/night.

Hotel Arts Barcelona You’ll sleep in high style—literally as this 483-room Ritz-Carlton hotel soars 43 stories above

Hotel Arts

the Olympic Port—and just 300 easy-to-stroll feet from the sand (yes, Barcelona has beaches). Sunny terraces and fragrant gardens, a fabulous pool with up-close views of Frank Gehry’s gleaming bronze “Peix” sculpture (shown at right—courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona), a Zen-like top-floor spa and five restaurants make this the spot for one-stop luxury. Even the plush Deluxe Rooms feature sea or city views, while spacious Executive Suites (located on the corners) provide spectacular panoramas and duplex one-bedroom apartments are like something featured in Architectural Digest, from $348/night.

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