5-Star Hotels in Catalonia, Spain

Our trip just ended, and I can confidently say: this was the worst hotel we've ever booked! I had a bit of a cold on check-in day, so I asked the front desk for a higher, quieter floor to rest and recover. Instead, we were given a room with a window overlooking the parking lot, a strange smell in the bathroom, and the head of the bed facing the toilet. I was really surprised, especially since this was a 'deluxe room' we booked well in advance. What was even more frustrating was that the next morning, while washing up, the drainpipe fell off, and the water flooded the floor. I, feeling feverish, went to the front desk to request a room change, only to be told it couldn't happen until a maintenance person assessed it... they completely ignored our suggestion! The pipe was reinstalled but fell off again the very next day. My family told me, 'You're sick, just focus on resting! Don't argue, don't get angry.' So, they found a way to use a trash can to prop up the constantly falling drainpipe. But we still spent a few days lying in a smelly room (with the window open in freezing weather) until my fever broke and we checked out! And this was during Christmas! Facilities: Poor Service: Bureaucratic, process-driven, pretentious, and a waste of time.

First off, I'd like to commend Ms. Anna at the front desk for her excellent service during check-in. As a Gold member, she went above and beyond to upgrade me to a sea-view room and was very patient in explaining why the hotel's logo wasn't very prominent. However, I must point out the biggest issue with the room: the smell of fresh renovation. The moment I opened the door, there was a noticeable paint smell. After spending an afternoon in the room, my throat started feeling a bit uncomfortable. I reported this to the front desk that evening and asked if they had an air purifier. The front desk sent up a simple scent diffuser, and the room service attendant told us it could only be used for an hour before we had to return it. It was quite frustrating, as the renovation smell was still present after an hour. We ended up having to drink water frequently to soothe our throats. Additionally, since parts of the hotel are currently being renovated, breakfast is served in a temporary area with a rather basic setup, and we had to queue for a table. On a positive note, the sea view in Barcelona is indeed beautiful, and the design aesthetic of the Ritz, along with the bedding and toiletries, are, as always, top-notch.

We have not received our deposit back. We checked in late at night after several flights, and the process was quite slow and exhausting. At check-in, we paid an additional €110, which included breakfast for two people and a deposit. However, the deposit has still not been returned. Moreover, the hotel now claims that the payment was only for breakfast, and they have informed us via email that they will not refund the deposit. This contradicts what we were told at reception, where we were assured that the deposit would be returned shortly after check-out. We did not expect such an issue from a hotel of this standard. Unfortunately, as this was the first stop of our journey, it left us with a rather negative impression. The hotel is quite remote. We were told the view would be of the city, but in reality it was of the highway. The pool was closed. The breakfast was good, but it ended up costing us 110 euros (if the don't return a deposit)—which is too expensive.

The most satisfying hotel from my Barcelona trip! Considering its quality and location, it's probably the best value for money among all the hotels I compared. It's right in front of the cathedral square, and the subway is super convenient. The breakfast offers a wide variety, and it's much more cost-effective if included in the room rate than buying it separately. The shampoo and lotion are from Bulgari. The front desk asked us beforehand if we preferred a street-view room or a quieter one facing inwards. Street-view rooms can be a bit noisy but come with a balcony that offers a view (my room type was a bit to the side). The hotel room also has a free capsule coffee machine. The rooftop bar is very popular because of its great views, but you have to make a purchase to stay. Housekeeping is very clean. The only downside is that laundry costs extra and isn't cheap. The elevator is quite small, fitting a maximum of 3-4 people. I had originally planned to stay a night in a nearby town and pick up my luggage the next day, but the front desk said they couldn't store overnight luggage, which is understandable.

Facilities: The shower design is truly something else. When I walked in, I noticed the wooden floor was already warped. Sure enough, after a shower, water flooded everywhere. Everything overflowed. It would have been a disaster if I had left my luggage nearby. Also, previous reviews mentioned the hotel provided slippers and disposable toothbrushes. We stayed in February 2026 and only found slippers. We asked the front desk, and they said toothbrushes weren't provided. However, on our third day, they suddenly left disposable toothbrushes for us, so I'm a bit confused about whether they actually offer them or not. On a positive note, the hotel offers two free bottles of mineral water daily, which is a rare and welcome perk in European hotels. Location: The hotel is very close to Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, both within walking distance. Sagrada Família isn't far either. While the hotel's proximity to the metro is convenient, we often felt vibrations, which was a minor inconvenience. Our room didn't have any pillars, but it was street-facing, and you could see into the room from the street at night. Housekeeping efficiency was a bit inconsistent; we requested cleaning before heading to Casa Milà in the morning, but by 3 PM, our room still hadn't been cleaned. The next day, it seemed back to normal. Overall, though, the experience was quite good. The staff were friendly and enthusiastic, and there's a parking garage nearby.

From the moment I stepped into the hotel, from the greeter at the door, front desk staff, and lobby manager to the restaurant and bar, and room service, every single staff member greeted me with a smile and offered warm, attentive service. This truly showcased the quality of an established five-star hotel. While the furniture, bathroom facilities, and amenities in the room were indeed a bit dated, which is common in many older European hotels, the professional, warm, and thoughtful service completely made up for these shortcomings. The breakfast, once rated as the best in Europe, certainly lived up to its reputation. The rooftop bar offers a fantastic view of the Sagrada Familia. The hotel's location is superb, right in the middle of Passeig de Gràcia, surrounded by various restaurants, bars, and convenience stores. The room was spacious, and the bedding was comfortable. Facing away from the main street, it was incredibly quiet, and it even had a universal adapter. This is definitely one of the best choices for a trip to Barcelona.

A short stay for of 2 days was booked with Triip.com for one adult and 2 children under 10, to join us who were booked in a day earlier for three days. Our three day booking was direct with the hotel, half board. The hotel is marked 'adults recommended' and they sure discourage children, by seeking to charge per occupancy rather than simply on a cost per room. The Trip site quite fairly offered the room at the rate for two adults, with children under 12 free, so this is what was paid. Half board was added but at the rate for two adults, which would be greater than the actual hotel rate for one adult and two children, but I was happy to have reserved restaurant secured. Things got messy at check in, the hotel insisting that the room was occupied by three 'persons' as they put it and should therefore be 50% extra, though the room was the same type as the twin we had for two adults. The Hotel also insisted that only breakfast was provided, and tried to argue that the B2B rate from the third party (Trip) was insufficient. I politely pointed out that the discounts provided to third party agents was no concern of the customer, and referred to my booking voucher which clearly stated I had booked a twin room, into which was going 1 adult, two very small children, and that breakfast and dinner was paid for, with the rate for 1 adult being greater than twice the local charge for a child. They were impossible to deal with, and I left the reception angry and upset. I contacted the Trip representative and by that evening it was sorted. Full marks to Trip, zero to the hotel. As for our stay, the hotel is excellent, but with room to improve. Dinner in the Buffet only commences at 8.00, resulting in quite the bunfight if the restaurant is busy. It was on that Thursday, a national holiday, and it was impossible to order wine and beverages after we seated, with a single service person taking orders. We ate our food dry, and finally placed an order for wine and water while eating dessert, some 40 minutes after seating. The same bottleneck occurred the next morning at breakfast, with the four snail paced Nespresso machines totally incapable of dealing with the coffee demands. Worse, all 4 machines overheated and went into 'service mode'. Worse again, these obviously unsuitable barista machines were the only source of hot water for Tea or infusions, but with no seperate hot water dispenser faucet. You had to stand for almost 2 minutes while the machine slowly dispensed through the coffee outlet, a single mug of hot water, to the frustration of the queue behind. This needs sorting, it took ages to get a breakfast beverage every morning, and on the second day I had to return 4 floors to my room and fill my cup from the in room Nespresso maker. I'd advise to bring a travel kettle with you. Otherwise, a fine hotel, but the restaurant problems and discriminatory pricing for children are an issue, so not a hotel for children.

1. Asian guests were placed on lower floors. Despite communicating with the staff, they wouldn't adjust the room layout, and even tried to sell me the most expensive ”Red Suite,” as if I were a fool with too much money. 2. When I checked in, the beds weren't even made. Mine was a twinbed; one bed had a mattress, the other didn't. 3. There's a shuttle bus to the city center. You book it at the front desk, but this guy didn't even ask what time you wanted and just put me on the earliest bus. He only showed me the timetable when I asked, and when I said it was too early, he joked that I could get up earlier, blah blah blah. What the f!

This hotel came highly recommended on Xiaohongshu, and my stay was excellent! The room was spacious with a very stylish layout; the long bar counter was quite practical. It was spotlessly clean, the bedding was super comfortable, and the hairdryer had decent power. The breakfast was delicious, with a wide variety of fresh options, including freshly sliced ham. I ate so much each morning that I didn't need a second meal until 3 or 4 in the afternoon! I'd say it's on par with a top-tier Atour hotel in China.

Had a wonderful stay at this hotel. The location is excellent, the environment is great, and the service was outstanding. A special thanks to a handsome Spanish staff member at the front desk who has visited Guangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai, and Beijing before. He was very patient and friendly, communication was smooth, and he kindly recommended many great places to visit in Barcelona. His help made our trip even more enjoyable. Highly recommended! 👍👍👍