Hotel Balmoral

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.

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. 

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.

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.