Grand Hotel, Barcelona

The Grand Hotel, Barcelona is housed in an elegant 1926 building and has the appearance one would expect of a ‘grand’ hotel.

Right in the heart of the city, on Via Laietana, 30, and within easy walking distance of the increasingly fashionable El Born district as well as Plaça Catalunya and Las Ramblas, as soon as you enter the impressive entrance lobby you’ll realise that this is a very prestigious location.

There are 147 rooms in the Grand Hotel, including 50 Executive Rooms and 22 Suites, but, whatever the category, they have large televisions, minibars, hi-speed internet access and some rooms with spectacular views. Some people have commented that the lighting in the rooms is a little dark and subdued – others like the romantic atmosphere it helps to generate!

There are three aspects of the Grand Hotel that deserve special mention. Firstly, the truly impressive infinity swimming pool on the roof deck of the hotel on the eighth floor, is a 10 by 5 metre pool, exclusively used by residents, with great views across the city.

Secondly, there is a well-stocked and impressive library – with free coffee – that has many guide books about the city as well as ‘coffee table’ books about art and design and other fascinating aspects of Barcelona.

The presence of an internationally appreciated restaurant, the Actual Restaurant and Café, also adds to the luxurious aspects of the Grand Hotel. Under the auspices of the famous Catalan chef Ramón Freixa, awarded the title of best Spanish chef in 2001, the food highlights modern elements of Catalan cuisine by using local, fresh ingredients. For those on a tighter budget, the fixed price menu at 35 euros offers exceptional value for food of this quality and there is a lunch menu at 18 euros. Actual is situated one floor below the entrance lobby and offers a modern ambience to such a distinguished classical space.

Of course, being so centrally located, for those wanting to escape the confines of the hotel, there are countless nearby cafés and restaurants – as well as a superb little food market just round the back where you can stock up for picnics!

To sum up, then, the Grand Hotel – which you’ll often see referred to as the Grand Hotel, Central, in guide books – is a blend of classical elegance and chic Barcelona modernity; epitomised by stylish, traditional bedrooms and an ultra- contemporary infinity pool, for example.

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