A surprisingly serene hotel, given its location in buzzy El Born, Borneta is a gorgeous hotel with a member’s club vibe and an unbeatable rooftop pool.
Borneta is perfectly placed to explore El Born’s fabulous food and drink scene, and venturing out to the nearby wine and cocktail bars – of which there are many – is a highlight of any stay here. My top tip is the unassuming but dead popular tapas spot, Bar Joan
Annabel Nugent
Location
Situated in the interlocking, puzzle-like streets of leafy El Born, the hotel is well placed for exploring Barcelona’s sites, including Ciutadella Park, the Picasso Museum, the Moco Museum and the Foto Colectania Foundation, and is a surprisingly serene spot given its buzzy location. Barceloneta beach is only a 20-minute walk away, as are many great restaurants, including Super, a trendy new spot to enjoy market cuisine and natural wines. Only a couple of doors down from Borneta is the Spanish outpost of Aire: a luxurious, candle-lit spa which also has sites in London and New York.
Read more: The best hotels in Barcelona

The vibe
Designed by London-based studio, Thurstan, the interiors bear the same clean lines and muted colour palette you’d find in London’s trendy hotels – but there is a distinct Spanish feel thanks to rattan rugs and Catalan art throughout. Also dotted around are treasures picked up from the city’s famous flea markets. The local feel is no doubt bolstered by the hotel’s grand entrance, through the 19th-century arches of Passeig de Picasso.
The ground-floor lounge is expansive with several plush sofas and a marble bar situated beneath a sweeping skylight. Tucked into one corner is The Library, a maroon den awash in low lighting and velvet upholstery. More frequently used by guests, however, is the large communal table in the lounge where digital nomads can be found firing off emails before hitting the beach. The vibe at Borneta is not dissimilar to that of a member’s club – without the snooty clientele. Coffee table books are there to be flicked through and sofas are made for sinking into.
Read more: The best beach hotels in Barcelona
The service
Staff are friendly and the service is relaxed. In busy periods, a few more…
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