Half a hostel, half a hotel, located in Gracia, three blocks from the Verdaguer metro station
Lively, uber-hip vibe and colorful design and decor
Cocktail bar, coffee shop, and tapas bar
Reading and game room with photo booth, stereos, and board games
Communal TV lounge
Outdoor terrace
Regular social events with DJs, art exhibitions, and fashion shows
Free Wi-Fi in common areas
Fee for continental breakfast
Fee for towels
Not a typical bare-bones basic hostel, the fun and funky Generator Barcelona pulls out all the stops with thoughtful touches and exuberant and colorful decor and design. The features list is big for this type of accommodation, and includes a tapas bar, cocktail bar, continental breakfast (for a fee), TV lounge, reading and game room, and social events with DJs, and art exhibitions. The hostel is actually a combination hotel and hostel, with the hotel wing having its own elevator. The hostel section has both shared dorm rooms and private rooms, while the hotel has private singles and doubles. The five-floor Generator is located in the Gracia District of Barcelona, not far from the Casa Mila, and about a 15-minute walk from the Sagrada Familia. It's an excellent value for budget travelers who want a little extra pizzazz from their hostel -- or hotel.
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Scene
A peppy and colorful scene with fun public spaces
Located in the vibrant Gracia District, the Generator's contemporary glass exterior emblazoned with a large and bold "Generator" sign gives a hint of the design delights inside. The lobby includes a mix of eclectic art and sculpture, a front desk with a neon "Hola" sign, a mounted motorcycle and a large wooden alcove in the center with beanbag-style chairs and hanging chairs. A winding staircase leads to a colorful reading room with a photo booth, boom box stereos, board games, a large flat-panel TV, pool and foosball tables. It's a terrific spot to mix and mingle with the other international guests. Striking yellow, orange, and white paper lanterns hang from the ceiling of the bar and coffee shop. Both hotel and hostel rooms are clean and basic, but the Generator really amps up the style quotient throughout, so guests feel as if they're getting something above and beyond the typical budget hotel-hostel experience.
Location
In the hip Gracia, near Gaudi, shopping and dining
Located on the Carrer de Corsega one block north of the Avinguda Diagonal, the Generator Barcelona is in the bustling Gracia District, an energetic neighborhood with hip bars and restaurants. The metro station at Verdaguer is three blocks east for access to points beyond. Passeig de Gracia shopping is three blocks southwest, while Gaudi attractions such as Casa Mila (4.5 blocks south), Casa Batllo (eight blocks south), and Sagrada Familia (nine blocks, about a 15-minute walk) are also nearby. The Placa de Catalunya and north end of La Rambla are about a 25-minute walk south. If you're driving from the airport, the hotel is about 20 minutes northeast.
Rooms
No-frills rooms with a dash of style
The 114 rooms at the Generator are divided between a hostel side and a hotel side. Hostel accommodations include private rooms, and dorm rooms (some female only with hair dryers, dressing tables, and fashion magazines) with six or eight bunk beds with privacy boards, lock-up storage, and LED bed lights with mood setting. The rooms are clean, basic, and minimalist in their look, but many have dashes of color and style in their walls and artwork. Hotel rooms are singles or doubles, with some rooms featuring a terrace with city views and plastic furniture. There's a fee for towels. Rooms range from 172 to 215 square feet. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, but dorm rooms have shared bathrooms. A private power shower is located on each floor in case there's a long wait for the en-suite shower. The rooms offer an affordable option for travelers who want a dash of style.
Features
Cooler-than-cool game room, outdoor terrace, tapas bar
The Generator rolls out an impressive array of amenities for a hostel-hotel. Guests can start the day with a continental breakfast (for a fee), and also get that Spanish staple, tapas, later in the day in the tapas bar. There's also a cocktail bar and snack machine. The ultra-colorful reading and game room packs a wow factor, with a huge flat-panel TV, pool and foosball tables, boom boxes, board games, and even a fun photo booth. Guests can enjoy a quiet respite on a white egg-shaped chair on the mod-styled terrace. Another spot to mix and mingle is at the Generator's regular social events, which include DJs, art exhibitions, and fashion shows. Wi-Fi is free in public spaces, and the Generator also has 24-hour front desk and 24-hour coin-op laundry.
