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 Via Laetana, one of the busiest streets in the city, the rooms are surprisingly quiet. The building has been thoroughly renovated with all the latest in modern technology and apparently, sound-proofing is one of them. Among the 74 rooms, Ohla has five different types that blend white and black textures with the warmth of oak wood. To add a personalized touch, the hotel lets you pick your own bed sheets, pillows, the scent of your bed linen, music, bath salt, and even your choice of personal hygiene articles.  The rooms include a plasma-screen TV, free Wi-Fi and an iPod dock.  Some of the rooms also have great views of the historic Gothic Quarter.

To satisfy your appetite head to the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Saüc which features traditional Catalan cuisine reinterpreted by talented chef, Xavier Franco. They serve an eclectic mix of dishes like turbot roasted in spice; pickled artichokes with smoked sardines, pomegranates and cheese; and baba au rhum with Chantilly cream. If you prefer something lighter, the hotel’s Gastronomic Bar has salads, seafood dishes, sandwiches and other tempting delicious small plates.

One of the highlights of this hotel is the rooftop terrace which offers stunning views of Barcelona. You can relax at the pool during the day or enjoy cocktails at night. If beauty treatments and exercise are important to you, check out the gym, sauna, solarium, and massage center.

Ohla Hotel
Via Laietana 49
08003 Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 415 050

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Check out all of Mapplr’s Barcelona articles including other recommended hotels and restaurants.

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 fact, it is only a few meters from Casa Battlo, one of Gaudí’s major works, and one block from Vinçon, my favorite furniture and home decor boutique.

The rooms are sophisticated and contemporary, but they are also cozy and welcoming. Hoppen uses neutral colors with a lot of warm fabrics to make guests feel at home. Some of the rooms have balconies with views over the Passeig de Gracia. There are iPod docking stations, flat screen TVs, cable Internet and Wi-Fi (although the latter two are not free).

For those who want to stay longer, Murmuri Residence has five apartments in a building attached to Hotel Murmuri. It’s like having your own flat in Barcelona but with all the amenities and services of the hotel.

If you don’t feel like venturing out for lunch or dinner, Murmuri Restaurant offers a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, with dishes such as monkfish wrapped in pandan leaves with sesame soya; salmon tartar on tartlets with peanuts, ginger and Palma sugar or veal steak with green curry, apple aubergine and lime.

Bar Marfil at Hotel Murmuri Barcelona

There is a very cool bar called Marfil which offers sushi and innovative cocktails on a terrace off the Rambla Catalunya. There are two main areas separated by original folding screens made of rings of black oak designed by Kelly Hoppen for Century. Neutral colours blend perfectly with the light shade of aquamarine of the sofas, stools and some Rococo armchairs.

The hotel has many special offers and packages. Rates start at around 160 EUR per night for a double room.

Hotel Murmuri
Rambla de Catalunya, 104
08008 Barcelona, Spain
+34 935 500 600
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.
Room Reservations: +34 93 492 22 44
Restaurant Reservations: +34 935 500 606

Axel Hotel Buenos Aires

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 their friends to hang out. All three have a skybar on the terrace, as well as a pool or Jacuzzi with views of the city. Each hotel also has a ground level bar that is completely open to the public, and is the place to see and be seen with its trendy design, music, and cocktails. Furthermore, these bars can be rented out along with other meeting rooms offered for special events.

Axel Hotel Barcelona

Each hotel holds special events according to the time of the year. For example, Axel Hotel Berlin has a catwalk and their 5th Avenue Fashion show every last Sunday of the month. After all the festivities, you can then relax at the wellness club where you can rejuvenate body and mind.  Whether you are looking for a fun place to stay with your partner or are on the prowl to meet new people, these hotels are great places to hang out.

More information:

The Axel Berlin is located in the Schönberg district. The address is Lietzenburger Straße, 13/15, 10789, Schöneberg, Berlin | Tel. (+49) 30 2100 28 93. Schönberg has been the center of gay Berlin since the 1920s. The hotel is only one block from the amazing KaDeWe department store (make sure you check out the fabulous food hall of the store).

The Axel Barcelona is located in the Eixample district of Barcelona with its stately avenues and grand buildings. It is close to many cool designer boutiques, design shops and excellent restaurants. Plaza Catalunya is just a few minutes walk. This hotel reopened in late spring 2010 after an extensive renovation. The address is Aribau 33, 08011 Barcelona, Spain; Tel. (+34) 93 323 93 93.

The Axel Buenos Aires is located in the trendy San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, a lively area filled with boutiques, restaurants and cafes. The address is Venezuela 649, C1095AAM, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Tel. (+54) 11 4136 93 93.

ABaC Hotel Barcelona (photo by Marco Pastori)

There are only 15 rooms and suites, all designed in a sophisticated contemporary style, with Bang & Olufsen televisions and sound systems, and Hermes body products. The suites even come equipped with iPads. The hotel has a full-service spa, complete with a thermal pool and a separate cold-water pool. In the basement, there is a white-on-white bar and lounge where you can enjoy cocktails or a nightcap.

The two-star Michelin restaurant is headed by Jordi Cruz, who replaced Xavier Pellicer in May 2010. Cruz received one star from Michelin at the L’Angle restaurant and before that, he received his first Michelin star at the age of 25 (the youngest in Spain) at the L’Estany Clar. Located in the newly constructed pavilion that leads out into the garden, the restaurant has large windows and an interior of calm white tones.

ABaC Restaurant Barcelona (photo by Marco Pastori)

The hotel’s location at the base of Mount Tibidabo, away from the tourist hordes that plague the Ciutat Vella (Old City) and Barceloneta, is a relief for those who prefer calm surroundings. You can still reach the city centre within minutes either by taxi or metro. The metro stop for the underground Line 7 is right across the hotel on Plaça John F. Kennedy. It takes you all the way to Plaça Catalunya with stops along the way including on Passeig de Gracia.

ABaC Hotel

Av. Tibidabo 1

08022 Barcelona

+34 933 196 600

www.abacbarcelona.com/eng/

Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.

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 selling expensive women’s clothes or a workshop restoring antique furniture. The Cathedral is a few metres away; La Rambla and Plaça Catalunya are very close.

The hotel is located in a renovated 13th century mansion which combines modern design and history. Original materials were preserved and they harmonize perfectly with the contemporary and avant garde touches of the rooms and common areas. There is a library and on the top floor, a small outdoor terrace overlooking the rooftops of the Barrio Gotico. The hotel’s restaurant serves wonderful Mediterranean cuisine and is highly regarded by locals as well as visitors. There are three types of rooms: Neri, Deluxe and Junior Suite. Prices start at 290 EUR.

Hotel Neri

Carrer Sant Sever, 5

08002 Barcelona

Spain

+34 933 040 655

www.hotelneri.com

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 as Max Mara, but also to trendy chains like Zara and Mango. There are several metro stops along the boulevard making it very convenient for visits to Barceloneta, Tibidabo or El Born.

The hotel will have two main restaurants: the signature restaurant called Moments led by Michelin star chef Carme Ruscalleda and a more informal one called Blanc. According to the hotel’s press release, “both restaurants will feature original, natural and creative cuisine, delighting customers with a healthy and varied choice. From light salads and Asian inspired dishes at Blanc, to the authentic and traditional Catalan flavours and creations at Moments.” In case you were wondering what sort of Asian food they will be serving, it’s phad thai, dim sum, yakitori and bento boxes.

Of course there’s a bar, oddly enough called the Banker’s Bar (note: Mandarin Oriental has gone out on a limb here given that “banker” is a dirty word these days). But it’s because the building originally housed one of the city’s largest banks. Is this the destiny of banks – to end up as hotels? Will they hire unemployed bankers to serve drinks?

More from the press release:

The design will incorporate the original safes from the bank’s vault as part of the décor, creating an interesting and evocative atmosphere in which to enjoy classic cocktails.

Too bad the wallpaper won’t be made out of recycled worthless CDOs.

Finally, the hotel has a 660 square-metre terrace designed by Patricia Urquiola (who designed the hotel’s interiors) and landscape designer Beth Figueras so you can relax and enjoy the view from the top.

I am sure the hotel will be a fabulous place to stay in Barcelona.

Mandarin Oriental
Passeig de Gracia 18
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 151 88 88
www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona

You must read about my favorite restaurants in Barcelona and check out the other articles about Barcelona.

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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 in Spanish and Philippine history, which dates back to the 1500s when the Philippines became a colony. Indeed, after four centuries of Spanish rule, the Philippines is more “latin” than Asian and I feel much more at home in Spain than in Asia.

Hotel 1898 radiates elegant Old World colonial chic with its imposing grand hall and classical architechture. Thank heavens the rooms are sound-proofed (it is located on the busy La Rambla). The colonial suite has a private rooftop swimming pool where you can hang out and gaze over the city enjoying drinks at sunset. But if you are not staying in the colonial suite, you can still enjoy the hotel’s spa and indoor heated pool located in the former storage rooms of the tobacco company. There’s free Wi-Fi, fabulous Etro bath products and all the luxurious amenities you would expect from a hotel of this caliber right in the center of Barcelona.

Hotel 1898
La Rambla 109
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 552 95 52
www.hotel1898.com
Follow on Twitter: @hotel1898

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Mapplr’s favorite budget-friendly hotels in Barcelona

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All Barcelona articles on Mapplr

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 of gentrification – the estate agent.

But because the Raval had always been the home of  Barcelona’s “alternative scene”, it retains a gritty, bohemian character. That’s why it is surprising to find a new 186-room design hotel called Hotel Barcelo Raval in the neighborhood that locals and visitors once shunned. As one of my Barcelona friends observed, it looks like a spaceship that has been dropped into the neighborhood. The building has an elliptical shape and its glass windows are encased in what looks like a net of iron. This allows the light to enter the rooms but does not allow people in nearby buildings to look in. Many people in the area hate the architecture of the building and feel that it does not belong here, but I love it. I think it looks fabulous and gives the Raval a needed facelift.

The lobby is absolutely stunning with large white tubular units hanging down like stalactites, funky designer chairs, lamps and sofas, backlit walls and cozy corners.

The rooms have mood lighting, glass-encased bathrooms with powerful showers, iPod docking stations, flat screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Each room is stocked with local magazines like Time Out Barcelona so that you can find out where to eat out and shop in the city, as well as check the local event and concert schedule.

The location is perfect: it is on a lively tree-lined square within walking distance from El Born, which has a lot of good restaurants, tapas bars and wine bars, especially around the Plaza Santa Maria del Mar. The Raval itself has a lot of good cafes and bars, especially on the Rambla del Raval.The hotel is close to the Plaza Catalunya (15 min walk) and the Boqueria market (5-10 min walk, which one must not miss). The highlight of the building is the 11th floor rooftop terrace where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. There is also a tiny swimming pool and a bar which opens at 7:00 pm.

Hotel Barcelo Raval
Rambla del Raval, 17
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 320 1491
www.barceloraval.com

NOTE: Although the date of this post is 5 July 2010, I updated it on 3 October 2010 to reflect our experiences during our stay from 14-17 September 2010.

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Mapplr’s favorite restaurants in Barcelona

Mapplr’s favorite hotels in Barcelona

Recent Barcelona favorites: wine bars, tapas and out of town finds

Atmospheric Barcelona Internet cafe: Bornet

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. Here are my favorites in the city.

Kaiku
Plaça del Mar 1- 4
Barcelona, Spain
+34 932 219 082
Seafood

Dos Palillos
Elisabets 9
Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 040 513
www.dospalillos.com
Asian

Noti
Roger de Lluria, 35-37
Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 426 673
www.noti-universal.com

Gresca
Provença 230
Barcelona, Spain
+34 934 516 193
www.gresca.net
Modern bistro

Restaurant Embat
Mallorca 304
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 458 0855
www.restaurantembat.es
Bistro

Cuines De Santa Caterina
Avinguda Francesc Cambó 16
Barcelona, Spain
+34 932 689 918‎
www.cuinessantacaterina.com

Quimet y Quimet
Poeta Cabanyes, 25
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 442 3142

Inopia
Tamarit 104
Barcelona, Spain
+34 934 245 231
www.barinopia.com
Bar-restaurant

Fonda Gaig
Còrsega 200
Barcelona, Spain
+34 934 532 020
www.fondagaig.com
New Catalan cuisine: affordable brasserie in the Eixample district

El Quim de la Boqueria
586-606 Mercat de la Boqueria
La Rambla 101
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 301 98 10
Tapas bar inside the Boqueria market off La Rambla

Lluçanès
Plaça de la Font 1
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 224 25 25
www.restaurantllucanes.com

Els Fogons de la Barceloneta
Plaça de la Font
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 224 2626
www.restaurantllucanes.com/fogons/

El Vaso de Oro
Balboa 6
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 319 3098
Tapas bar at Barceloneta

La Cova Fumada
Baluard 56
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 221 40 61
Lunch-only tavern whose specialities are grilled squid and sardines

Tapaç 24
Diputacio 269
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 488 0977
www.comerc.com
Eixample neighborhood off Passeig de Gracia; owned by Carles Abellan (formerly of El Bulli)  who started Comerç 24

Click here to see a Google map of my favorite restaurants in Barcelona.

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Related articles:

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Favorite boutique hotels in Barcelona

To encourage people to visit one of my favorite cities, Barcelona, I’ve decided to post a short list of budget hotels, including some very stylish hostels. Barcelona is simply magical: exploring the narrow alleys of El Born and the Barri Gotic, slipping into the intimate cafes near Santa Maria del Mar, sampling the delicious food at the Boqueria market and walking along the beach as the sun goes down, are experiences one never forgets. So check out the list below, make reservations, and head to Barcelona this summer.

B Hotel
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 389
+34 933 938 128
www.nnhotels.com
(near Plaza Espanya)

Granados 83
Avenida Diagonal
Enrique Granados 83
Barcelona, Spain
+34 934 929 670
http://granados.barcelonahotels.it

Chic & Basic
Princesa, 50
Barcelona, Spain
+ 34 93 295 46 52
www.chicandbasic.com/eng/hotel_born_barcelona/
(in the El Born neighborhood)

Gat Rooms – low cost stylish hostels with two locations

Hostal gat xino
Carrer Hospital, 155 – 1º
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 324 88 33

Hostal gat raval
Carrer Joaquin Costa, 44- 1
Barcelona, Spain
+ 34 93 481 66 70
www.gatrooms.es

If you have more money to spare, check out my list of boutique hotels. They’re pricier but in this recession, they are offering a lot of discounts.

See the Google map of all my favorite hotels in Barcelona.

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If you have plans to visit Ibiza, make sure you check out our favorite hotels and restaurants:

Favorite hotels in Ibiza

Favorite restaurants in Ibiza