Best Luxury Hotels in Barcelona

One of Barcelona's top-rated hotels, the 28-room Mercer Barcelona offers the intimacy of a boutique hotel and the amenities of a larger property. Add in its location -- tucked away on a charming, cobblestone street in the city's Gothic Quarter, and within walking distance to many top attractions -- and the Mercer can be a win-win for travelers. Leisure travelers are the main customers here, but business travelers will likely appreciate its "business corner," with its library and computer, and small private areas for events and meetings. The hotel also offers several cocktail and dining options, including the Le Bouchon tapas bar and Jean Luc Figueras' Mercer Restaurant JLF, a rooftop lounge and small pool, a hanging garden, and some of the most comfortable beds around.

This is a boutique luxury hotel with just 18 beautiful rooms. Some have extraordinary views, but all have great modern-chic style, Egyptian cotton linens, big windows, and lavish bathrooms; single rooms are a tad small, but upgrading to a double room gets you more space. With a great location just off Las Ramblas on a beautiful historic square, this hotel is within walking distance of the Gothic Quarter's many sights. A spa, rooftop terrace and pool, three brilliant restaurants, and a beautiful lobby round out this luxe property's many amenities.

This exclusive 15-room luxury boutique hotel embodies contemporary style at its best, fitting right in in a city that treasures design. Rooms are avant garde, from the clean, white and beige decor, to the modern under lighting, to the remote-controlled blinds, to the Bang & Olufsen sound system. An amazing spa with Turkish baths shouldn't be missed, and the hotel's Michelin-starred on-site restaurant is a highlight.

A smartly designed luxury boutique hotel, the seven-floor Alma Barcelona has 72 quiet, upscale rooms with flat-panel TVs and free Wi-Fi. Unlike the nearby Claris and Majestic, the pool here is indoors, so weather will never spoil your swim. The rooftop terrace has first-rate views of the Eixample and Sagrada Familia. Style here has a starring role: design elements include fingerprint swiping instead of room keys, and architectural features such as a minimalist light-filled atrium. The Alma is a chic and serene spot for travelers who want Barcelona cool and an Eixample location a half block from Passeig de Gracia shopping.

The Palace oozes elegance and old-world charm. Housed in an early 20th-century building a few blocks from the Gothic Quarter, the hotel is popular among well-heeled families, couples, and business travelers. The property boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, Caelis; car service to the airport and major attractions; and a small but modern fitness center. The exclusive spa features the only Temazcal sauna in Spain, Anne Semonin products, and traditional Maya treatments. Classic, elegant rooms have upholstered walls, plush beds, and modern bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. Some even have Roman bath-style tubs. Updated in-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, DVD players, and free Wi-Fi. But there are no coffeemakers in the rooms, and you should expect to pay a hefty price for breakfast.

The 276-room Majestic Hotel & Spa has a prime location, steps from designer shops and Gaudi monuments. All rooms were renovated in 2011, giving them a fresh, modern feel. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, Nespresso machines, and interesting art. Spacious marble bathrooms have Bulgari toiletries, bathrobes, and rainfall showerheads. For more luxury, the 41 suites offer views over Passeig de Gracia; some have private terraces and 24-hour personalized service. Families might want to choose apartments that also include full kitchens. Other hotel highlights include a small rooftop pooland a rooftop terrace with an atmospheric bar and great city views; a contemporary on-site spa; and a fitness center. The restaurant serves a morning breakfast buffet and evening tapas; the bar offers live piano music; and the business center has free Internet.

The 98-room Mandarin Oriental is one of the most luxurious hotels in Barcelona, and certainly has one of the most recognizable hotel brand names in the city. It has a great location on Passeig de Gracia, and offers all the high-end amenities one would expect from the chain, including a rooftop dipping pool, a beautiful spa, and numerous restaurants (one has a Michelin star). All-white rooms are sleek, and have modern amenities and fabulous bathrooms.

This 58-room boutique hotel in the heart of Barcelona has a relaxed, soothing vibe. The upscale hotel is close to most major attractions, and it's within short walking distance of Old Town and more modern shopping districts. Many rooms have views of the nearby hills. The proximity to the subway system will be convenient for some -- but annoying for others since the train rumblings can be heard from some rooms. 

The 74-room luxury Hotel Catalonia Passeig de Gracia is located in the heart of Barcelona's posh Eixample, just down the block from Passeig de Gracia’s high-end shops and trendy boutiques. The hotel offers classically elegant, spacious rooms with luxury features such as in-room massages, and there's an excellent on-site restaurant, Les Delicies. The outdoor terrace and pool are great after long days of sightseeing, and free snacks in the evening are a nice touch, though breakfast isn't always included. 

With an enviable city center location and superb classical-grandeur-meets-modern-chic styling, the Grand Hotel Central certainly lives up to its name. While rooms are fresh and contemporary with excellent amenities, it's the rooftop terrace with infinity-edge pool and panoramic city vistas that really steals the show. A Michelin-starred chef at the restaurant's helm also means outstanding -- if expensive -- dining, while wellness facilities are also high-end, though pricey.

The stylish and luxurious Ohla hotel is centrally located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. This boutique option offers 74 modern rooms with high-tech amenities and free Wi-Fi. One stand-out feature here is sexy stall showers that are located right in the middle of the rooms. The chic rooftop pool and lounge offers incredible city views along with a space to sunbathe. Dining options include Sauc Restaurant (which has a Michelin star), an inviting tapas bar, and a separate cocktail bar. This is the place for an upscale romantic getaway, and an eco-friendly one at that: Ohla Hotel contains solar panels, LEDs, and natural toiletries.

The Hotel Bagues is a luxury boutique property located on Barcelona's famed pedestrian boulevard Las Ramblas in the Gothic Quarter. This 31-room hotel, housed in a mid-19th century palace, was remodeled in 2010 and has an ultra-modern, darkly cool aesthetic. Home to the centuries-old jewelry shop of Art Nouveau jewelers Bagues-Masriera, the hotel has thoughtfully decorated each room and suite with pieces from the collection. Guest rooms are seductively styled with animal prints and dark leather, and some suites have more opulent touches such as gold-leaf detailing. While the standout  feature of this hotel is its location, it also offers a bar and restaurant, and a lovely rooftop terrace with a small pool overlooking the Gothic Quarter. Wi-Fi is free. Be aware that some rooms are quite noisy, and those facing the interior stairwell don't get much light.

The 280-room Hesperia Tower Hotel is a luxury property located near the airport and the Barcelona Fair Grounds. With a massive convention center, casual and fine dining options, a sleek lobby bar, and free Wi-Fi, the property draws mostly business travelers. The on-site fitness center is part of one of the most famous gym chains in Spain, and features a spa, group classes, personal trainers, tennis courts, and an indoor pool. However, use of the facilities comes with an extra charge, except for suite guests. Stylish rooms have upscale, masculine decor, with a dark brown, eggplant, and gold palette, high-end amenities, and large windows offering panoramic views (in most). Free shuttle service between the hotel, the airport, and the city center is a convenient perk, but guests looking to explore Barcelona’s attractions may want to stay closer to the city center.

The upscale Aparthotel Arai opened in 2012 as a stylish retrofit of an 18th-century mansion in the Gothic Quarter. Filled with impressive artwork and artifacts, original marble floors and staircases, and exposed stonework and beams, the sophisticated decor combines historic features with modern design elements. The 31 rooms at this boutique property come with opulent, black-marble bathrooms and kitchenettes with full-size refrigerators stocked with minibar snacks. There is a rooftop terrace with a small pool offering terrific views, along with a small fitness center and sauna. The hotel does not have an on-site restaurant, but it will deliver a boxed breakfast of baked goods and fruit for a fee. 

The chic, 30-room Hotel The Serras offers modern luxuries in an intimate, boutique setting that’s surrounded by one of the Gothic Quarter’s most popular areas. The rooftop terrace bar and pool have spectacular views of glitzy Port Vell, while the hotel's fine-dining restaurant overlooks the old city’s palm-lined streets. From top the bottom, the entire hotel has a sophisticated, designer touch, and its pristine guest rooms exude a sleek, spa-like serenity. Amenities include 24-hour room service, smart TVs, and Nespresso coffee machines, while bathrooms are especially upscale with large, rainfall showers. There are no spa or parking facilities, however, and rates can be double that of other luxury hotels.