Hotel Casa Elliot

Pros: Great location, stylish

Cons: Rooms are pretty small

Tip: Get a terrace room for a more spacious feel

Hotel Casa Elliot has undergone a renovation and name-change since my last stay, but there’s still plenty to recommend it.

The location is a gem ­– Sant Antoni is a little slice of Eixample wedged between the bustle of El Raval and Poble Sec, and is home to numerous bars and restaurants, as well as the renovated Sant Antoni Market. 

While there aren’t a lot of areas in Barcelona that feel devoid of tourists, Sant Antoni retains a ‘local’ atmosphere that is really rather charming. You’re still only one Metro stop from the middle of Passage de Gracia. 

The 38 rooms have mainly been tidied up a bit in the renovation, but that’s no bad thing. They’re compact, but functional enough, stylish, and feature decent-sized bathrooms. All have views either over the main street or the rear ‘courtyard’, and some even have small terraces. Nice

Book it here. 

What’s Nearby

Metro (Universitat) – 200m

Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona (CCCB) – 450m

Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) – 500m

Sant Antoni Market – 700m

Plaza Catalunya – 750m

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Murmuri Hotel Barcelona

Pros: Superb location, stylish, great value for this location

Cons: Basic rooms are compact, can feel enclosed

Of all Eixample’s streets, Rambla de Catalunya is one of my favorites. Partly this is because of the pedestrianized strip down the middle (and the relatively light traffic because of that). Partly it’s because unlike the fancier Passage de Gracia which runs parallel a block away, there are more local stores here too.

So Murmuri is in a a great location.

It is also a hotel that does design well, from the smart entrance and lobby bar to the glass cube lift, things look good. And there are only 53 rooms, so it never feels overwhelmingly large.

Rooms are comfortable too. The basic ones are fairly compact, but still livable.

But the real draw for me is the value – for this location and the smart design, Murmuri is stellar value.

Book it here.

What’s Nearby

Metro Provença–Diagonal – 230m

Passeig de Gracia – 220m

Casa Milà/La Pedrera – 270m

Casa Batlló – 650m

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W Barcelona

The W Barcelona stands alone, literally, like a giant sail at the edge of the sea.

The W has all the design flair you expect of the W brand, and with its location at at the end of Barcelona’s main beach offers views over the water and beach. The F&B outlets are highly recommended too.

Needless to say, if you’re a fan of the W design, then this one is for you.

This is another hotel that looks expensive at first glance, though the standard rooms at 39sqm are twice the size of some.

Be aware that the W is adjacent to a nudist beach. It was a bit of a shock to open my curtain in the morning, only to see a naked bloke walking around. Where does he keep his keys? So many questions one doesn’t wish to contemplate before the day’s first coffee…or ever.

If you like walking that’s a good thing, because the W is a bit away from things. But you can stroll along the beachfront and past the marina to get to the attractions. Give yourself half an hour to get into the old town.

If the W style does it for you, there’s not much else that comes close.

Book it here.

What’s Nearby

Metro – 1.7km

Beach – 50m

Marina Port Vell – 1km

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