Often cited as the catalyst for the transformation of Barcelona’s Sants neighbourhood, Nobu Barcelona sits amongst the vermouth bars and the homes of young, hip Barceloneses, offering a phenomenal restaurant, free yoga classes for guests, a spa and rooftop bar with nightly DJ sessions.
Location
Nobu Hotel, Barcelona is located in the residential area of Sants. While the neighbourhood might only be a 10-minute metro ride from the centre of the city, it wasn’t always what you’d describe as cool. Its large railway station – the main terminus in the Catalonian capital – gave the location the vibe of an airport departure lounge: transient, liminal.
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That is, until Nobu arrived in 2019 and a switch-up ensued. Inarguably sleek, stylish and full of people you swear you recognise from Instagram, the luxury hotel’s arrival coincided with Sants’ glow-up, which is now home to fashionable young Barceloneses, who’ve made the area their home thanks to its vermouth bars, community feel and easy access to transport links. Ideally located for nipping into central to see the main tourist attractions, or jumping on a train to escape the city and explore further afield areas like Sitges or Girona for a day trip, Sants is also home to a lively food market, as well as Parc l’Escorxador – where the Joan Miró sculpture Dona i Ocell looms.
The vibe
The hospitality group behind Nobu’s hotels and restaurants views itself as “place-makers,” actively selecting locations in areas they believe could use revitalisation. As such, the hotel is inside a former 1970s office block. To put it bluntly, it’s ugly from the outside. But the entrance – inspired by a Japanese Shinto Temple gate – offers a zap of zen as soon as you step over the threshold. As you might expect, the hotel’s interior design is heavy on Japanese influence mixed with artwork by Gaudí to give a nod to its host city. Throughout the 23-story building, the views over Barcelona are gorgeous and panoramic, with the city’s highest rooftop pool and lounge perched on the top floor. “Life’s all about balance” is the hotel’s ethos, so rooftop DJ sets take place mere hours after…
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