Avinguda Diagonal
location near shops and metro station
Clean guest rooms, some with small terraces
Breakfast buffet with hot and cold options
Small on-site bar and lounge
Two meeting rooms and a business center on-site
Room service available from off-site caterer
Laundry and dry cleaning
services available
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Walks to the Old City can
take over 30 minutes
Breakfast not included in most rates
Room decor is rather generic
One meeting room lacks windows
The 101-room HCC Covadonga is a clean and simple mid-range hotel at the confluence of three distinct neighborhoods on Avinguda Diagonal, one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares. Landmarks such as Plaza Catalunya and La Rambla can be reached quickly via taxi, though taking the metro or walking to those same sights can take around 30 minutes. Some of the hotel’s street-facing rooms have small terraces overlooking the busy avenue, but overall they look generic and dated. Furthermore, the hotel lacks any truly impressive features beyond a couple of meeting rooms and a business center. The Ayre Hotel Caspe in Barcelona’s bustling Eixample neighborhood offers better value, and has more contemporary rooms along with a fitness center.
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Scene
Decent value hotel with simple but outdated decor
The HCC's early 19th-century facade is much more charming than the bland common areas inside. The lobby has high, arched ceilings and a chandelier, but the neutral walls, mirrored pillars, and speckled granite accents bring the vibe down a notch. A few sagging leather chairs are scattered about the lobby, but they don’t do much to enhance the atmosphere either, and it's not a particularly attractive space for lingering or relaxing. The small lounge/bar off of the lobby is a bit more inviting, with some worn but comfortable taupe chairs, framed art posters, and a large flat-screen TV. In an area of town packed with mid-range and budget options, this hotel draws its fair share of tourists and business travelers and they frequently offer steep discounts on rooms.
Location
On a busy avenue near shopping and metro stop, but removed from the historic center
The hotel sits at the confluence of the Exiample, Les Corts, and Sant Gervais neighborhoods on Avinguda Diagonal. This busy thoroughfare cuts across Barcelona and is lined with plenty of shops and restaurants, though it isn’t one of the city’s most charming streets. Plenty of taxis and buses ply the route and the massive El Corte Ingles department store is just down the road. Plaza Catalunya and Barcelona’s Old City (Ciutat Vella) take upwards of half an hour to reach on foot. Alternatively, the metro stop at Hospital Clinic is about 10 minutes away on foot; from there it takes 15 minutes to reach the Old City. The bohemian Gracia neighborhood -- known for shops, bars, and tapas spots -- is about 10 minutes away by car 20 minutes away on foot. El Prat International Airport takes about 20 minutes to reach by taxi or 45 minutes by bus.
Rooms
Clean and straightforward rooms, some with terraces
Although guest rooms were renovated in 2014, they still look dated, though dark-wood laminate floors do give the spaces a modern touch and contrast nicely with tan-on-tan checkerboard wallpaper and light-brown bedding. Unfortunately, generic wall art feels like an afterthought and oak veneer desks, nightstands, and headboards with pink Formica accents make the rooms feel dated. Single Rooms are considerably smaller than the spacious Standard Rooms. Street-facing rooms with small terraces overlooking Avinguda Diagonal are also available.
All rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air-conditioning. Rooms also come equipped with safes, though some past guests report having to pay an extra fee to use them. Bathrooms are clean and reasonably large, with shower/tub combos, tiled floors, and tan marble vanities. Basic toiletries are provided.
Features
Breakfast buffet every morning and two on-site meeting rooms
An unremarkably decorated breakfast room offers a daily buffet with hot and cold options, but it's not included in most room rates. There's no on-site restaurant for lunch and dinner, but there's an off-site caterer that provides room service for other meals during the day. The hotel also has a small on-site bar and lounge that offers a cozy space to relax with a cocktail or a coffee. Catering and audiovisual services are available for events in the two on-site meeting rooms. While both spaces have the same design scheme -- light tiles and unremarkable framed art -- only one of the spaces has windows for natural light. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Laundry and dry cleaning services can also be arranged.
