Ohla is one of the newest hotels in Barcelona, billing itself as an exclusive 5-star designer boutique hotel. The location is ideal: it is two blocks from Plaza Catalunya, the center of Barcelona, and only a few steps away from the enchanting Palau de la Musica Catalana, a UNESCO Heritage site. Although it is on [...]
If you are going to Barcelona and want to stay in a chic and cozy place, look into the Hotel Murmuri, a new boutique hotel whose interiors were designed by Kelly Hoppen. Located in the Eixample district, one block from the Passeig de Gracia, it is within walking distance from the Ramblas and Sagrada Familia. In [...]
Axel Hotels is a unique concept in the world of boutique hotels: they target a primarily gay clientele, although the hotels are very hetero-friendly, too. Axel Hotels has three locations: Barcelona, Berlin and Buenos Aires. The design of the hotels can be described as stylish, urban chic with lots of comfortable lounges for guests and [...]
If you want to combine five-star accommodations with the gastronomic delights of a two-star Michelin restaurant in Barcelona, there’s no other place to stay but the ABaC Restaurant and Hotel. The hotel is located in a 19th century building which was once the US consulate, but it has been renovated to meet the high standards [...]
Hotel Neri is an intimate luxury boutique hotel tucked away in Barcelona’s Barrio Gotico on the most hidden and atmospheric tiny square in the city, the Plaça Saint Felip Neri. You can wander around the dark, narrow alleys of this ancient quarter with eerie twists and turns and find yourself standing before a designer boutique [...]
The Mandarin Oriental is opening a 98-room hotel on the Passeig de Gracia, one of the main boulevards of Barcelona, close to Gaudi’s Casa Batllo. The hotel is taking reservations for dates beginning 15 December 2009. Passeig de Gracia is ideal for people who love shopping as it is home to luxury designer brands such [...]
Hotel 1898 is named after the year in which Spain lost the Philippines and Cuba, which is not surprising given that it’s housed in the former headquarters of Compania General de Tabacos Filipinas. The company was founded in 1881 and still operates as a tobacco dealer out of Barcelona. I’m Filipina so I am interested [...]
If you were in Barcelona ten years ago and came back for a visit, you’d never recognize the Raval district. Once populated by squatters, prostitutes and drug dealers, it’s now a trendy, up-and-coming area, and like the neighboring El Born, it is attracting designer boutiques, wine bars, expats buying expensive apartments and that sure sign [...]
You can stay in Barcelona for months and never run out of places to eat. The city has such a variety of restaurants, cafes, tapas bars, Basque pincho bars (where I took the photo above) and food stands (in local markets like the Boqueria) that you’ll wonder if the residents ever cook their own meals. [...]
It is that time of the year when people make travel plans for the summer. Because of the recession, many are wondering whether they should abandon their holiday plans altogether. Yet, this year more than any other in recent memory, has seen airlines, railway companies and hotels slash prices dramatically. There are so many bargains [...]