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Haute Hospitality
Hotel
Hotel Arts Barcelona 19-21 Marina; 34/93-221-1000; ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $625
Overview
Housed in a glittering skyscraper—with views of the city, water, and Frank Gehry’s Fish sculpture—Hotel Arts has impeccable Ritz-Carlton service and an impressive art collection.
Pros
Think Hollywood on the Mediterranean: anyone from Woody Allen to Penélope Cruz might put in an appearance here.
Cons
A sometimes excessively cosmopolitan atmosphere that can feel detached from the rest of Barcelona.
Room to Book
Corner rooms ending in 01 and 16 on floors below the 18th are larger and have panoramic views of the beach, the sea, and the Olympic arena.
Nouveau Niche
Hotel
Hotel Casa Fuster 132 Passeig de Gràcia; 34/93-255-3000; hotelcasafuster.com; doubles from $665
Overview
One of the last structures built by famed architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner—and Barcelona’s only Art Nouveau hotel still in operation.
Pros
This centrally located property’s Gothic and classically themed interiors mix surprisingly well with its otherwise Modernist décor.
Cons
In-room amenities—though handsome—are impractical at times, like shower taps that can’t be turned on without a thorough soaking.
Room to Book
East-facing rooms look down Passeig de Gràcia and let in ample morning sun.
Classic Catalonia
Hotel
Hotel Claris 150 Pau Claris; 34/90-233-7294; derbyhotels.es; doubles from $665
Overview
A timeless hotel housed in the 19th-century Palacio Vedruna, with welcome modern additions, such as a rooftop pool and futuristic glass elevators.
Pros
With ancient Egyptian artifacts in the lobby and Andy Warhol portraits in the East 47 restaurant, the hotel is full of novel touches.
Cons
The hotel is a block from bustling Passeig de Gràcia, so late-night traffic noise can be a problem.
Room to Book
For more natural light and less street noise, choose one on the fifth or sixth floor.
Glamorous Living
Hotel
Hotel Omm 265 Rosselló; 34/93-445-4000; hotelomm.es; doubles from $225
Overview
Barcelona’s hippest property has some of the city’s most stylish public spaces (from the oak-floor lobby to the orange-hued hallways) and modern, light-filled rooms.
Pros
No need to go anywhere else on weekend evenings, as Barcelona’s A-listers pile into the hotel bar for the city’s best cocktail party.
Cons
Slightly self-conscious high design, with a clientele to match.
Room to Book
Those on the fifth and sixth floors overlook Gaudí’s Casa Pedrera; sixth-floor southeast corner rooms have views of Passeig de Gràcia.
Old World Hideaway
Hotel
Hotel Neri 5 Sant Sever; 34/93-304-0655; hotelneri.com; doubles from $225
Overview
This converted 18th-century palacete has a storybook setting on a sleepy square in the heart of the Barri Gòtic, surrounded by bell towers and churches.
Pros
A romantic location amid the hush of the largely pedestrian neighborhood; the leafy rooftop terrace is particularly peaceful at breakfast.
Cons
Some amenities leave you in the dark, such as the bedside lights that are a design success but an operational failure.
Room to Book
Rooms 301 and 302 look onto Plaça Sant Felip Neri, while No. 305 has a private terrace.
