The Best Unique Barcelona Hotels for Luxury Stays

Photo courtesy Hotel Praktik Bakery 

Looking for a memorable luxury getaway in Barcelona Spain? Contributor Chris Occhiuzzi shares this list of his favourite unique Barcelona Hotels for luxury stays

In the heart of Catalonia lies a city which is renowned the world over: Barcelona. Vibrant, passionate, and trendy, the city is full of history, creativity, architecture, and flavour.

Barcelona hotels are strong representatives of the city’s characteristics. Bold, inviting, and full of class, these hotels each give their own take on what the city is all about. From Art Noveau inspired interiors to locally sourced cuisine, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Coming for an extended business stay a romantic getaway, or a family trip? There are luxury hotels to suit your needs.

To help make planning your next visit to Barcelona a little easier, here is our list of the top unique Barcelona hotels offering luxury experiences.

The Best Unique Barcelona Hotels for Luxury Accommodations

Mercer Hotel Barcelona

As a 5-star rated boutique hotel, Mercer Hotel Barcelona is one of the best luxury hotels in Barcelona. It’s also easily one of the best Gothic Quarter Barcelona hotels. Those wanting to soak up history in every part of their stay are well-advised to book their room at Mercer Hotel Barcelona.

Built on an ancient Barcino wall from Roman times, the hotel was restored with artistic flair by architect Rafael Moneo, a recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 2012. Preserving pieces of the building’s history was a must, with heritage items including the medieval arches and original 12th-century frescos giving a glimpse into Barcelona’s past.

The restored historical features are evident in virtually every area of the hotel, including its rooms: wooden ceilings dating from the 18th century are evident. Two 14th century arches – the only ones of their kind in Barcelona – watch over the atrium.

When you are done absorbing the hotel’s history, head out to visit the nearby Cathedral and the Picasso Museum.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Book your trip or find out more at Mercer Hotel Barcelona 

Hotel Market Barcelona

The Hotel Market Barcelona is easily among the best hotels in Barcelona city centre, and is situated within walking distance of the city’s best tapas bars, gourmet restaurants, shopping and much more. Hotel Market Barcelona allows you to enjoy all the city has to offer through the day and night, while being able to stay-in for a wonderful meal and cocktails in an elegant environment.

The hotel’s rooms feature strong, solid colours accented by straight and sleek lines and simply scream ‘modern and stylish’. However, the hotel’s Cocktail Bar Rosso is an ode to 1930’s Hong Kong, with plenty of oriental influence in the décor. Rosso translates to ‘red’ in Spanish (and other Latin influenced languages) and is definitely a feature of this bar. The ceiling and liquor cabinet are painted a soft shade of red, enhancing the intimate environment which is perfect for a cozy beverage.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: For more details about what makes Hotel Market one of the best unique Barcelona hotels, visit Hotel Market Barcelona

 Casa Bonay Barcelona  

An emphasis on connecting their guests with the local community makes the independently owned and operated Casa Bonay Barcelona a standout among the many unique Barcelona hotels. From the collaboration of individuals and businesses who designed and decorated the hotel to the locally sourced delicacies on the menu, Casa Bonay is the place to go to immerse oneself in local culture. They even provide local drinks and snacks in each of their rooms.

The Casa Bonay hotel shop features exclusively designed products for the hotel, including handmade backpacks by Ölend, a brand founded in Barcelona by Adriana Dumon, Fran Rios and Antonio Longás in late 2012.

Morning coffee and a delicious breakfast made from market-fresh ingredients alongside freshly baked treats and cold-pressed juices mean daily visits to Satan’s Coffee Corner a must. In the afternoon and evening, take to the rooftop where stunning views of the historic city await. Enjoy refreshments or a full meal at Chiringuito, a beach shack rooftop restaurant, or – for guests only – make use of the sunbeds, outdoor showers, orchard, and full restaurant service.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Learn more about the exquisite  Casa Bonay Barcelona     

Hotel SB Glow

Sprinkle a touch of the Mediterranean with the cosmopolitan flair of urban Barcelona in one of the city’s most up-and-coming tech centres and you get the Hotel SB Glow. Swim day or evening in the rooftop pool, then sit poolside with your favourite cocktail and enjoy the view of the city centre with fantastic lights illuminating the night.

The SB Glow wants you to revitalize yourself, and yest focusses on making its guests feel at home. To that end, the property is pet friendly – your furry family is quite welcome – but also provides luxury stay options like the jacuzzi suite or terrace suite, ensuring a romantic getaway is there for the taking.

A three-minute car ride to Barcelona’s city centre, the hotel is close to must-visit sites like the Torre Agbar (beautiful when it is lit up at night), L’Auditori for live music, and the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. Walk or bike to Els Encants Vells or the Disseny HUB building where the Design Museum is situated. The beach and the sea are not too far,  either, putting SB Glow on the list of best hotels in Barcelona, Spain.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Find out more at Hotel SB Glow

Violeta Boutique Hotel

The Violeta Boutique Hotel is a great place to stay for business trips or fun visits to Barcelona with the whole family. Situated between the Gothic, Born, and Eixample quarters, the Violeta makes staying for a little bit or a long time easy with their various accommodation selections.

Their attic apartments give you the creature comforts of home with fully equipped kitchens and dining tables, a living room with a flat screen satellite television, air conditioning, and WiFi. These apartments are perfect for when you’ve had just about enough of other people cooking your meals: visit a market, get some fresh food to cook, and settle in for a quite evening at ‘home’.

Traveling with your kids is made easy with the appropriately named “family room’ at the ‘Violeta Boutique Hotel. Featuring two bedrooms (one with a double bed and the other with two twin beds) and two bathrooms, you’ll be able to take a break from each other and avoid arguments over who gets to use the facilities first.

They also have smaller room sizes available for couples taking one of those vaunted Barcelona breaks from their daily routine.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Find out more at Violeta Boutique Hotel

Hotel Praktik Bakery

Any hotel which has ‘bakery’ in its name not only must smell good, but automatically deserves a place on our list of the best unique hotels in the Catalonian capital. Incorporating the Baluard Bakery as part of their guests’ experience, Hotel Praktik Bakery is a place like no other. The amazing aroma of fresh bread fills the air in the hotel, especially in the morning as you wake to the super smell of baking bread and pastries.

Then head down for breakfast and sample the baked goodies. Or wait until later in the day and try some fresh baked products while relaxing in the cafeteria. Anna Bellsolà is the owner of the Baluard bakery. The fourth-generation baker proudly shares her knowledge and talents with guests who partake in the freshly-baked bread experience.

Inside a workshop within the bakery, Anna and her team take guests through the process of

traditional bread-making; from kneading to forming, resting to baking. The final step is to take your very own handcrafted bread and slice into it.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Further details are available at Hotel Praktik Bakery

Villa Emilia

While quality accommodations are essential in a quality Barcelona hotel, Villa Emilia is the place to go for wonderful food and drinks. With three boutique style locations on site to visit, you’ll want to soak up the vibes one day at a time.

On that note, the Zinc Bar provides live music daily and is open from 5 pm to 1 am. Sit back and drift away with jazz,  soul, bossa nova, and other sweet-sounding styles. La Terrassa is the place to be for an intimate afternoon beverage and to escape the busy city life in Barcelona. It’s also one of the only places around where they advertise smokers being welcome.

With over 20 premium gins to sample, it’s also the spot to go for a long-held Barcelona tradition: the afternoon vermouth. Think of it as the Catalan version of teatime where friends and family can enjoy a drink together.

The Bistrot at Villa Emilia is where you’ll taste culinary delights made with fresh from the market and in-season ingredients. As they mention: make sure to enjoy it with good company.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Check out the menus and accommodations at Villa Emilia 

Hotel Praktik Vinoteca

Wine lovers looking for a unique Barcelona accommodation experience would do very well to stay at the Hotel Praktik Vinoteca. Much like its sister hotel, the Hotel Praktik Bakery, there is a theme – in this case, it’s all about the wine.

With over 900 bottles on display in the reception area, guests at the Praktik Vinoteca are welcomed with a glass to savour. You can  continue to sample various wines during your stay, while making sure to meet the hotel’s expert sommelier. Catalonia itself is a wine destination – it boasts over 70,000 hectares of vineyards – and with the vibrancy of Barcelona as a back-drop, a wine trip to the Praktik Vinoteca is essential.

While there, make sure to treat yourself to a wine-tasting session with your partner or friends – or both. Guided by the hotel’s master sommelier, appreciate a ‘four-wine tasting’ experience. Choose your preference from white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines, each accompanied by an assortment of cheeses and assorted snacks.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Book your visit and wine tasting experience at Hotel Praktik Vinoteca

Room Mate Emma

If there are any other hotels in Barcelona where appreciation of interior design is at the heart of the building, they would be trying very hard to beat Room Mate Emma. Located in a prime residential area in the city, Room Mate Emma is an ode to Art Noveau architecture and design.

The hotel has 56 rooms, divided into five categories: standard, executive, attic suite, attic deluxe and attic with terrace. Each is an experience of its own thanks to Tomas Alia, a well-respected interior designer who has created a fabulously futuristic atmosphere boasting bold colours, LED lighting and organic forms.

When arriving, you’ll be impressed by the architectural vision of bringing modern style and funky elegance to the façade. Meanwhile, outside the hotel, the streets are awash in art galleries, fine dining establishments, unique shops, and café terrace culture. Plus, a renowned nightlife best fit for the unwed and unencumbered.

Reviews, Rates, Reservations: Learn more about Room Mate Emma at Room Mate Emma

___________________

Contributor Occhiuzzi is a staff writer at Dockside Publishing and founder of Muskoka Unlimited.