HCC Lugano

The HCC Lugano is housed in a modern mid-rise building, and the lobby, with long mirrors and stone-accent walls, has a chic, modern vibe, while comfortable brown sofas and clusters of striking black-and-white chairs stand out against gleaming white tile floors. The St. Moritz, the tiny lobby bar with stools, serves coffee and drinks all day, and wine and tapas in the evening, and is fine for a quick pick-me-up. The breakfast room, situated off the back of the lobby, is attractive, with lots of natural light and a small courtyard terrace. The HCC Lugano draws primarily tourists, including couples, though its proximity to Fira de Barcelona attracts business travelers too.

On busy Aviguda del Paral-lel, straddling the border between the Eixample and Poble Sec neighborhoods, the hotel is close to many major sights, including the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Caixaforum art space, and the Joan Miro Park and museum in Montjuic. The famous Las Ramblas and Barri Gotic are about a 15-minute metro ride. Poble Sec is one of Barcelona’s trendiest districts, filled with bohemian shops and nightlife, while the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, and Fira de Barcelona trade center -- of particular interest to business travelers -- are both within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. Poble Sec metro station is a five-minute walk from the hotel’s front door, and trips to the Sagrada Familia, or Barceloneta, with its beach and fishing-village charm, take 25 minutes. The Aerobus from Plaza Espanya takes 30 minutes to reach Barcelona El Prat International Airport, while a taxi can make the same trip in less than 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Guest rooms are simple and clean, though they lack the sleek, contemporary edge of the hotel’s common areas, and look spartan in comparison. The word "neutral" describes every aspect of the rooms, from the subtle, off-white checkerboard wallpaper to the light gray carpets and generic dark furniture. Dark wood headboards on the twin or double beds do the job, but the chintzy-looking comforters are strictly motel-style. All rooms come with individually controlled heat and air-conditioning, minibars, electric safes, desks, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, which take up most of the space on the desks. Bathrooms come tiled in neutral tones, with bathtub/shower combos, large vanities, hairdryers, and a full line of toiletries. Single Rooms can be extremely small, and guests looking for more space might want to book Double Rooms for single use. The hotel also has accessible rooms, with walk-in showers and sliding doors, some of which have private outdoor terraces.

The hotel makes a great first impression with a welcome drink, and a helpful front-desk staff ready to offer plenty of tips about Barcelona and concierge services upon request. The breakfast buffet, included in some room packages, includes hot and cold items, but guests complain that it frequently runs out of select items. St. Moritz bar, in the hotel’s lobby, offers a wine and tapas selection in the early evening, and coffee and drinks are available throughout the day. The hotel has two on-site meeting rooms with a business center, but use of the computers comes with a fee. Sala Parallel, with plenty of natural light and access to the courtyard terrace, is the more attractive meeting room, and can be booked as an event space. Room service is available, and the hotel provides laundry services too. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and on-site parking is available for a fee.