Pros

  • Sarria-St. Gervasi location within walking distance of Passeig de Gracia
  • Rooms have flat-screen TVs and minibars; Superior units have terraces
  • Small restaurant serving Mediterranean and international cuisine
  • Small fitness center with three cardio machines and natural light
  • Zen-inspired spa with a massage room and a sauna
  • Rooftop terrace with loungers and city views
  • Five meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment
  • On-site underground parking (for a fee)
  • Free, strong Wi-Fi throughout
See More Pros

Cons

  • Interior-facing rooms have views of a wall
  • Lower floors get vibration from the metro
  • No coffeemakers in Standard Rooms
  • Air-conditioning only available seasonally
  • Complaints of poor soundproofing
See More Cons

Bottom Line

The 103-room Balmoral is a mid-range business hotel located within a 10- to 15-minute walk of attractions along Passeig de Gracia such as La Pedrera and Casa Batllo. Clean, generic rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and safes, but air-conditioning is seasonal, and some lower-floor rooms may get street noise or vibrations from the metro. The restaurant serves a varied breakfast buffet complete with gluten-free options, as well as lunch and dinner. The spa is small but relaxing, with Zen-inspired decor, an array of body treatments, a sauna, and a tiny fitness center with three cardio machines. While the location is convenient for business travelers, but those looking to stay closer to the Gothic Quarter may want to compare rates with Hotel Arc La Rambla.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Balmoral

Scene

Business hotel with straghtforward modern style and a rooftop terrace with city views

From the outside, the Balmoral has a business, impersonal vibe that feels a little bit out of place among the neighboring traditional-style apartment blocks. Interiors, however, are stylish and cozy, with an earth tone palette throughout, off-white floors in common spaces, and warm lighting. Rugs, comfortable armchairs, and dark shelves decorated with coffee table books give the lobby a homey feel, while long rectangular hanging lamps are contemporary counterpoints to more classic wooden details.

Other common spaces have a similarly elegant but somewhat more generic style, especially the breakfast room, which features white floors, and Parsons-style chairs in brown and burnt orange hues. Hidden away past the tiny fitness and wellness center, the rooftop terrace is a nice spot for a quiet break. It offers city views, as well as a few loungers and a couple of tables with chairs. There is no bar service up here, but guests are allowed to bring drinks from outside.

See More Scene

Location

In Sarria-St. Gervasi, a short walk from attractions along Passeig de Gracia

Hotel Balmoral is in the heart of the financial and commercial district of Barcelona. There are a lot of shops and restaurants in the area, and the Diagonal Metro stop two blocks from the hotel makes sightseeing in other parts of town easy and cheap. While most historic attractions are a 15- to 20-minute metro ride away, Barcelona’s most recognizable modernist buildings, including La Pedrera (aka Casa Mila) and Casa Batllo -- both designed by famous Antoni Gaudi -- can be found within a 10-minute walk of the Balmoral. Other major attractions such as Sagrada Familia basilica and Las Ramblas are about a 20-minute walk from the hotel. The Gothic Quarter, El Born, and El Raval neighborhoods can all be reached in about 20 minutes by public transport, and the beach is a 40-minute bus ride away. The airport is a half-hour drive from the hotel, or an hour by public transit. 

See More Location

Rooms

Generic contemporary rooms with free Wi-Fi and minibars; some have terraces

Like the rest of the hotel, rooms at the Balmoral were renovated in 2015-16. Dark laminate floors, clean lines, and textured walls in smoky gray hues give units a subdued contemporary feel. Caramel padded headboards, dark bed runners, and simple wooden furniture make them a tad generic, though. Most have big windows overlooking the street -- and Superior Rooms have terraces furnished with a table and two chairs -- but a few have unappealing views of an air shaft or a wall. Each room is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen, a safe, and a minibar stocked with water, beer, sodas, and snacks. All but Standard units have Nespresso machines as well, but air-conditioning is only available seasonally in all rooms. Bathrooms are clean but average, with green and white marble finishes, shower/tub combos with glass screens, and an array of hotel-brand toiletries. Light sleepers may want to request an interior-facing room on a higher floor, as units on the lower levels get street noise and/or vibrations from the metro.

See More Rooms

Features

Restaurant, spa, fitness center, rooftop terrace, meeting rooms, and on-site parking

A full breakfast buffet with fresh fruit juices and a couple of gluten-free options is available for an extra fee every morning. The restaurant serves Mediterranean and international cuisine for lunch and dinner, and has a small bar with an array of drinks and cocktails. Located on the top floor, the small spa offers a sauna, an array of facials and body treatments, and a tiny fitness center that includes three cardio machines -- it's not much, but is a fine option for a basic workout. The hotel also offers guests discounted rates at a nearby local gym for those seeking a wider range of equipment. The fitness room is connected to the quiet rooftop terrace, which features a handful of loungers and a couple of tables but no bar service. Five meeting rooms can hold up to 180 people, and the spaces can accommodate boardroom meetings, conferences, or cocktail receptions. Underground parking is available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the property.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Balmoral

Scene

Business hotel with straghtforward modern style and a rooftop terrace with city views

From the outside, the Balmoral has a business, impersonal vibe that feels a little bit out of place among the neighboring traditional-style apartment blocks. Interiors, however, are stylish and cozy, with an earth tone palette throughout, off-white floors in common spaces, and warm lighting. Rugs, comfortable armchairs, and dark shelves decorated with coffee table books give the lobby a homey feel, while long rectangular hanging lamps are contemporary counterpoints to more classic wooden details.

Other common spaces have a similarly elegant but somewhat more generic style, especially the breakfast room, which features white floors, and Parsons-style chairs in brown and burnt orange hues. Hidden away past the tiny fitness and wellness center, the rooftop terrace is a nice spot for a quiet break. It offers city views, as well as a few loungers and a couple of tables with chairs. There is no bar service up here, but guests are allowed to bring drinks from outside.

See More Scene

Location

In Sarria-St. Gervasi, a short walk from attractions along Passeig de Gracia

Hotel Balmoral is in the heart of the financial and commercial district of Barcelona. There are a lot of shops and restaurants in the area, and the Diagonal Metro stop two blocks from the hotel makes sightseeing in other parts of town easy and cheap. While most historic attractions are a 15- to 20-minute metro ride away, Barcelona’s most recognizable modernist buildings, including La Pedrera (aka Casa Mila) and Casa Batllo -- both designed by famous Antoni Gaudi -- can be found within a 10-minute walk of the Balmoral. Other major attractions such as Sagrada Familia basilica and Las Ramblas are about a 20-minute walk from the hotel. The Gothic Quarter, El Born, and El Raval neighborhoods can all be reached in about 20 minutes by public transport, and the beach is a 40-minute bus ride away. The airport is a half-hour drive from the hotel, or an hour by public transit. 

See More Location

Rooms

Generic contemporary rooms with free Wi-Fi and minibars; some have terraces

Like the rest of the hotel, rooms at the Balmoral were renovated in 2015-16. Dark laminate floors, clean lines, and textured walls in smoky gray hues give units a subdued contemporary feel. Caramel padded headboards, dark bed runners, and simple wooden furniture make them a tad generic, though. Most have big windows overlooking the street -- and Superior Rooms have terraces furnished with a table and two chairs -- but a few have unappealing views of an air shaft or a wall. Each room is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen, a safe, and a minibar stocked with water, beer, sodas, and snacks. All but Standard units have Nespresso machines as well, but air-conditioning is only available seasonally in all rooms. Bathrooms are clean but average, with green and white marble finishes, shower/tub combos with glass screens, and an array of hotel-brand toiletries. Light sleepers may want to request an interior-facing room on a higher floor, as units on the lower levels get street noise and/or vibrations from the metro.

See More Rooms

Features

Restaurant, spa, fitness center, rooftop terrace, meeting rooms, and on-site parking

A full breakfast buffet with fresh fruit juices and a couple of gluten-free options is available for an extra fee every morning. The restaurant serves Mediterranean and international cuisine for lunch and dinner, and has a small bar with an array of drinks and cocktails. Located on the top floor, the small spa offers a sauna, an array of facials and body treatments, and a tiny fitness center that includes three cardio machines -- it's not much, but is a fine option for a basic workout. The hotel also offers guests discounted rates at a nearby local gym for those seeking a wider range of equipment. The fitness room is connected to the quiet rooftop terrace, which features a handful of loungers and a couple of tables but no bar service. Five meeting rooms can hold up to 180 people, and the spaces can accommodate boardroom meetings, conferences, or cocktail receptions. Underground parking is available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the property.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.