Clean, welcoming hostel in heart of Eixample neighborhood
Four-minute walk to metro; nine-minute walk to Sagrada Familia
Homey common areas with guitars and computers for guest use
Clean, private rooms and dorms with nice shared bathrooms
Communal kitchen with stove, microwave, cookware, and more
Free weekly dinners and other events
Free coffee/tea throughout the day
Laundry service available
Free Wi-Fi throughout property
Rooms have few amenities (no TVs, AC, etc.)
All rooms have shared bathrooms
No breakfast offered
Few extra property features (no restaurant or bar)
The Primavera Hostel is a budget property well-located in the heart of the Eixample in walking distance to Gaudi's masterpieces like Sagrada Familia and a four-minute walk from the metro. While there's not a ton of extra features here, there's a nice communal kitchen and chill common spaces foster a social (though not necessarily "party") atmosphere. The property has seven guest rooms -- simple but tasteful and roomy affairs which include doubles, triples, quads, and six- and eight-bed dorms. All make use of shared bathrooms. Staff are helpful, and guests rave about the level of cleanliness in both rooms and bathrooms. Still, it doesn't hurt to comparison shop the city's many hostels; Generator Barcelona is a popular choice in the area -- a bigger property with a bar and more of a hip, party vibe.
Scene
Cheery, chill hostel with private rooms and shared dorms
Primavera Hostel is on the fourth floor of an early 20th-century building sporting the Modernista style the Eixample neighborhood is known for. The property was renovated in early 2012, but still retains charming original architectural features like molded trim, mosaic tiled floors, and scalloped exposed-brick ceilings. Decor is simple, homey, and gently playful; artwork and hand-painted flourishes decorate the walls. Common areas are connected by open doorways and feature a nice thrift-shop array of tables, slipcovered armchairs, and couches. Bookshelves are filled with reading material; a wood table has laptop computers for guest use; and guitars sit out ready to be strummed, encouraging a social atmosphere. The hotel is geared toward budget-minded tourists and skews toward the young. Room sizes primarily attract solo travelers, couples, and friend groups, though families occasionally stay too.
Location
In the heart of the Eixample near Modernist masterpieces
The Primavera Hostel is in the heart of the Eixample neighborhood, in walking distance to the fashionable Passeig de Gracia (eight-minute walk) and Gaudi's iconic landmarks, including Sagrada Familia (nine-minute walk), Casa Mila (nine-minute walk), and Casa Batllo (12-minute walk). Surrounding streets are chockablock with bars and restaurants, but the area is still fairly quiet. For points farther out, Verdaguer Metro station is a four-minute walk, and several bus stops are also in easy walking distance. The north end of the La Rambla is about a 22-minute walk, or as little as 15 minutes via public transit. Barcelona–El Prat Airport is about 50 minutes away via public transit.
Rooms
Clean, private rooms and dorms with nice shared bathrooms
Rooms are tidy and spacious, with a style that's simple but charming, mostly due to original architectural features like mosaic tiled floors and exposed brick ceilings. Bedding and walls are white, but rooms often have bright accents like a dresser or bedside table painted blue or pink. Some rooms have extras like inset shelves or even a small walkout balcony. Dorms have simple white bunks and individual lockers. There are few amenities -- no TVs, AC, or coffee/tea service (though tea and coffee are available in the kitchen all day). Guests are given bedding and towels and Wi-Fi is free. Rooms, even private rooms, do not have en-suite bathrooms. The shared bathrooms are kept quite clean and feature a row of sinks, separate toilet stalls with sinks, and separate little shower rooms with full closing doors and space for changing outside of the shower. Room categories include doubles, triples, quads, and single beds in six- and eight-bed dorms. Guests occasionally note that noise can be a small nuisance with the windows open.
Features
Chill common areas and a communal kitchen, but few other amenities
The hostel has limited property features. There are some laid-back common spaces that foster a social atmosphere: Shelves are stashed with books, guitars sit ready to play, computers are available for guest use, and Wi-Fi is free. There's also a small communal kitchen with a sink, stove, microwave, toaster, and lots of dish and cookware. Guests are also free to use the communal coffeemaker, electric kettle, and related supplies, and coffee and tea are free all day. While the hostel doesn't offer breakfast, it does host events like free weekly dinners and other affairs. Laundry service is available as well.