Pol & Grace Hotel

The Pol & Grace Hotel is housed in an unassuming building that looks like a cross between a hip tech startup and a sleek coffee shop. A worktable puts the front desk staff in the middle of the lobby so that interactions feel like casual conversations, creating a laid-back, welcoming tone that reverberates throughout the property. Stitched-together felt rugs are strewn across light laminate wood floors, while modern brown sofas and blocky tweed chairs provide places to linger and chat. Curated art installations separate a small self-serve bar and worktables in the back of the lobby; this area doubles as the hotel’s meeting space. The hotel is geared towards young couples and business travelers looking for a hip but unpretentious vibe, though guest rooms with extra beds are a great value for families and groups as well.

The hotel is situated in the posh Sant Gervasi neighborhood, which is saddled between Barcelona’s sprawling Eixample and the Collserola Mountains that sit north of the city’s historic center. The area is home to plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as to two early buildings by Antoni Gaudi: Casa Vicens (a four-minute walk) and Torre Bellesguard (a 20-minute walk). A seven-minute walk leads to Barcelona’s bohemian Gracia neighborhood, which is packed with restaurants and hip shops. Walks to Barcelona’s old city can take up to half an hour; however, the Plaza Molina Metro station is just around the corner from the hotel, and trips to Plaza Catalunya or La Rambla take just eight minutes. A taxi to El Prat International Airport takes 20 minutes from the hotel, while the Aerobus from Plaza Catalunya takes about an hour.

Rooms at the hotel are bright and simple, with retro-style furnishings and thoughtful extras such as free bottled water, Granny Smith apples, and bonsai trees. Rooms are mostly white, with hardwood floors and colorful framed prints. Cut-out-style Barcelona-inspired wall designs hang over the firm but comfortable beds and add life to the spaces. All rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, and minibars. Superior and Triple Rooms have additional seating, and Triple Rooms also have extra twin beds. Bathrooms are less striking than the guest rooms, with tan, marble tiles and vanities, generic toiletries, and shower/tub combos with grout that could use a good scrub.

Guests can stay in touch with hotel staff 24 hours a day from anywhere in Barcelona by using a free messaging app, and the front desk is staffed around the clock. There's free coffee, tea, and bottled water in the lobby along with a self-serve minibar with reasonably priced drinks. The hotel’s breakfast buffet offers an array of Spanish specialties and other continental options, but it is a bit pricey. A large chalkboard wall is frequently updated with suggestions for sightseeing and cultural experiences outside of the traditional tourist circuit. There's also a book exchange and a DVD collection for guests looking to swap out some of their travel reading or just relax in front of a film or documentary. Space for meetings and events is available on site, though -- in keeping with the hotel's start-up vibe -- the area is open to the rest of the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.