Affordable contemporary hotel near Barcelona attractions
Airy rooms -- some with balconies -- and modern bathrooms
In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, safes, and ample toiletries
24-hour reception area with luggage storage
Free Wi-Fi and use of a lobby computer
Basic breakfast for a fee
Accessible rooms available
Limited features: no restaurant, bar, or business center
Some nighttime noise complaints
Some complaints of maintenance issues in bathrooms
Decor is basic throughout
The Hotel Barcelona House is a contemporary three-pearl property located within a five-minute walk of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Its 57 rooms are sparsely decorated with neutral shades, though some have limited views. On the downside, noisy rooms and clogged bathroom drains have been reported by past guests. The property, renovated in 2010, offers free Wi-Fi, use of a computer in the lobby, and a simple breakfast for a fee. But there's no full restaurant or bar. Travelers should compare rates with Hotel Barcelona Princess, which has a restaurant plus two bars/coffee shops.
Scene
Simple mid-range tourist hotel with a quiet atmosphere
The Hotel Barcelona House is a small, simple hotel housed in a rough-stone building with wrought-iron balconies and automatic doors. The interiors were remodeled in 2010 to include a mural painting of one large leaf that wraps around the main wall of the lobby. Decor overall is urban and moody, a black front desk is lit with blue lights, and there are two mid-century-style ball chairs, but there's not much else in terms of seating. A photo mural on another wall leading to the elevators displays Barcelona at night. Breakfast is served in a simple room off the lobby with white walls, small, colorful prints, and dark wood furniture. Most visitors are tourists in search of somewhere cheap and practically located, and those looking for a buzzy atmosphere would be better off going outside the property. Note that the hotel is wheelchair accessible.
Location
Ideally located within walking distance of many Barcelona sights
The Hotel Barcelona House is ideally situated within walking distance of many Barcelona attractions. It's a two-minute walk to Plaza Real and three minutes on foot to Las Ramblas. The heart of the Gothic Quarter is a four-minute walk, as is the Drassanes Metro stop. It takes six minutes on foot to reach the edge of the sprawling La Boqueria Market, while it's an eight-minute walk to the grand Barcelona Cathedral and an 11-minute walk to the Picasso Museum. The Museu d'Historia de Catalunya is 13 minutes away on foot and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar is a 14-minute walk. Gaudi's Sagrada Familia is 16 minutes by car or 26 minutes on public transportation. It's 41 minutes on public transportation or 16 minutes by car to Barcelona Airport.
Rooms
Plain rooms with simple decor, but some complaints of plumbing issues in bathrooms
Rooms at the Hotel Barcelona House are plain and sparse and tend toward a neutral, unfussy color palette, with light-wood floors and white walls. A few rooms have city views and balconies, but many face a narrow street so views are limited. Beds are on platforms and have putty-colored tufted headboard and wall-mounted reading lights. Some rooms have armchairs or sofas and tall shelving units, and a few have funky colored lighting in shades of blue or pink by the beds. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and safes, and irons/ironing boards are available on request. The bathrooms have stylish black tiles and modern fittings and fixtures -- including walk-in rainfall showers -- and ample toiletries (including shaving kits) are provided. However, some guests complain that the showers can leak water out into the rooms. There have also been reports of leaky faucets, clogged drains, and bathroom doors that don't quite shut. Note that accessible rooms are available with advanced request.
Features
Free Wi-Fi, limited breakfast menu, and 24-hour reception desk
For a mid-range property, Hotel Barcelona House has very limited features -- there's no restaurant, bar, or business center. The hotel provides free property-wide Wi-Fi and there's a computer in the lobby for guest use. Fax service is also available. The front desk is staffed 24 hours and provides basic concierge services, wake up calls, and luggage storage. Newspapers and magazines are available in the lobby free of charge, while a limited breakfast with little more than cereal and coffee is available for a fee. Guests who book directly through the hotel's website can sometimes get perks such as vouchers for free drinks and tapas at a nearby restaurant.