As far as storied Barcelona addresses go, Hotel El Palace is right up there, having welcomed everybody from royals to rock and roll musicians through its grand Baroque-style entrance. It is home to a wonderful spa and a leafy rooftop pool, restaurant and outdoor cinema
Location
Situated in the Eixample District, it is nearby – on foot or via metro – to Gaudí’s La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, as well as the Catalonian capital’s famous market: La Boquería. It’s a picturesque 25-minute stroll to the Sagrada Familia. Plus, you can hop on a metro and get to the beach in under half an hour. If shopping is your priority, high-end boutiques and high street stores sit just over 10 minutes away on Passeig de Gràcia. Plus, if you want to go slightly further afield to the picturesque El Born or Gothic neighbourhoods, taxis stop conveniently right outside the hotel’s doors.
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The vibe
Prior to its rebrand in 2005, Hotel El Palace, which first opened its doors in 1919, used to be The Ritz, Barcelona – and the hotel still bursts with the brand’s classic opulence and glamour. Top-hatted doormen greet guests at the grand entrance, which is decorated with dark red scarlet curtains. The key to each room isn’t a digitalised card but a weighty old-style key – complete with a large tassel – that you can leave at reception with the welcoming concierge when you head out to explore.
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Furnishings are unashamedly grand, with humongous chandeliers hanging in the ‘hall’, which serves as a walkway through the building and a luxurious bar. This is not to say El Palace is stuffy – this is the place where Dalí famously once had a horse sent up to his room. Royals and rock and roll musicians have spent the night here and, as such, the hotel has remained true to its affluent roots as well as moving with modern times.
Service
Nothing, absolutely nothing, is too much trouble for the staff at El Palace. They will print your boarding passes, get you tickets for shows, bring you yoga mats to work out in your room at 7am, and – if you’re in a suite that comes complete with an actual coat and tails-wearing butler – unpack your…
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