i have to admit, the thought of staying indoors at all while in barcelona feels like a travesty. i do not seek shelter while i’m in this gem of a city, the shining light of catalunya. i seek jamon and flamenco and narrow streets and picasso picasso picasso all in dangerously unbalanced proportions.
however, one must sleep apparently. and let me just say that i was hardly surprised that accommodations in barcelona reflect the city itself. inspiring interiors, artistic approaches, spaces that reflect each dynamic neighborhood, beds and bedrooms made for lovemaking.
so when in barcelona, do seek shelter and realize that it doesn’t have to feel like you’re conceding to sleep. choose accommodations that will fit your trip and feel just as inspiring and moving as exploring. and start here.
The Best Hotels for that Non-Hotel Experience
Hotel Primero Primera
for the urban traveler who desires lodging that is away from the noise, the distraction, and tourists of barcelona’s beating heart, Hotel Primero Primera is a chic and luxurious refuge in the northern neighborhood of Sarria. convenient by train, bus, or taxi to all parts of the city, it’s tucked away among residential streets and schools, high-end stores and markets with a charming array of restaurants. I found myself wandering the streets and pretending that I had achieved some form of success in Barcelona, enough to buy a large home in the Costa Brava but wanting instead to still be part of the energy, the passion, the tangible art and life on every corner. and this would be how i ended up in Sarria, satisfied to still be on the pulse of the city but with enough space and solitude to breathe a bit. Hotel Primero Primera gives you this same feeling, of accomplishment and Catalan inclusion, of discernment and elevated tourist seclusion. the hotel fits right into the neighborhood, with very little distinction but an unassuming metal sign. the interior feels timeless yet hip, and flawlessly scented. yeah, I’m serious, smells great in there. I was coming from a shameless and relentless three day stint in Ibiza, after which I had a hard time remembering my name. to walk in to a room with a king-sized bed and fluffy pillows, a bathroom with a full bathtub and rain shower, a robe waiting for me to fill it and a mini fridge waiting for me to empty it, I felt equally indulgent and immensely appreciative and ready, immediately, to relax and seek forgiveness for all my sins.
Hotel Primero Primera is on the cusp of this new movement where hotels try to create a more immersive experience where you can sit and relax and help yourself to everything in the hotel as if it was your home. breakfast each morning felt like it never ended and was set in a loungey-cafe area where you were encouraged to sit and sip and eat and read and ease into your day. the hidden studies and spaces with “free snacks” tables let you create your own experience here without being bombarded by employees asking you if you needed anything. but trust me when i say if you do need anything, they’ll be there, almost before you express your desire. this hotel is a peaceful refuge with a modern flair, and just what i needed to recharge and transition from relentless raver in ibiza to urban explorer in barcelona. rooms are around $170 a night. check out the space here and book your stay. Carrer del Dr. Carulla, 25, 08017
Hotel Ca la María
we are all seeking that “like a local” experience when traveling. and as much as Airbnb makes us feel more like a resident than a tourist, their is a distinct lack of personal charm that real Bed and Breakfasts strive for. the Hotel Ca La Maria takes the air out of Airbnb to return to the origins of a bed and breakfast, a result that immediately took my breath away.
walking in to the Ca La Maria, I immediately felt at home, however, if that was in fact, my home, then I was also the coolest, most intelligent human on the planet. cultured. sexy. well-read. avid art collector. wine enthusiast. ok, to say I fell into the dream of myself there is an understatement.
located on the second floor of a traditional residential building in the charming l’eixample district, the decor juxtaposes history and modernity just as flawlessly the city of Barcelona itself does. featuring the artwork of Catalan artists, each room and space feels dynamic and inviting. Bright balconies flood each room with natural light. The shared living room has a floor to ceiling bookshelf made for sharing and conversations. A hidden projector screen alludes to movie nights and the charming and bountiful breakfast spread is well beyond continental. this b&b was made for the traveler who is seeking a personal experience beyond the generic luxury hotel and more engaging than an airbnb. It was made for the curious traveler who wants to be enveloped into culture and experience, entranced by distinct local charm and seeking both privacy and a shared social scene at the same time. expect nightly sunsets and morning coffees on the terrace and to get lost talking to the owner Maria Inglada about the ever-evolving city and neighborhood and tales of her travels and travelers alike. book early, this boutique hotel fills quickly and often. check it out here and reserve your spot. Carrer de Còrsega 284, 08008.
For the Budget Traveler
I’m surprised at the average prices for hostels in Barcelona. inevitably, most hostel travelers are looking for three things – price, location, and atmosphere. they want a social lodging experience but also something affordable. i found myself searching for hostels and constantly trading one thing for the other – raising my price minimum in exchange for a better location, sacrificing aesthetic all together for price, choosing a less-convenient location for hip decor. i settled on and then settled in to the best two. check them out below and save yourself time sorting through the hundreds of options on hostelworld.
Itaca Hostel Barcelona
pulling a card from the deck of classics, this pure backpackers hostel is where you go for location and a staff that feels like family, instantly. after a long and shamelessly debaucherous weekend in Ibiza, my travel partner in crime and I were separated in the airport after being fucked over by vueling airlines in too many ways. she headed to the hostel and the city alone. we both needed desperately to outrun our sins and to sleep. she waited 8 hours for my flight to get in, most of which was spent completely passed out on the couch in the common area. she was awoken only briefly while being covered up by one of the staff members who told her, “shhh, no te preocupes,” they saw that we needed to be taken care of despite our VIP wristbands. although this hostel is lacking a bit in that hipster-modern appeal, you immediately feel welcome when you open the doors, no matter what state you’re in.
the rooms are straightforward – bunkbeds and large lockers, communal hall bathrooms. i can’t exactly speak to the showers because, well, we didn’t meet. however what i will say is that itaca hostel is clean and welcoming. the location, right in the heart of the gothic quarter, cannot be beat. to wake each morning nearly in the shadow of the catedral is a gift that is worth well over the 35euro nightly price (for a 8-bed mixed dorm.) this is the best budget pick in barcelona by far. check their website here and book now. Carrer de Ripoll 21, 08002.
Free Hostel Barcelona
despite it’s name, this hostel is not free. however, it’s perfectly affordable and introduced me back into a neighborhood that occupies such a big piece of my heart. l’eixample is where i lived when i studied abroad. this, in the northwestern tip, borders the edge of history and modernity and seemed to be, at the time, a discernible hotbed for the separatist movement. i felt like a local, being far from the touristy area of las ramblas, but xstill feeling deeply connected to the city, surrounded by markets and cafes with old men sitting outside at all times of day with an estrella damm and jamon in multiple forms.
it’s clear to me that the people who designed Free Hostels Barcelone were travelers, backpackers, and hostel-goers who said, how can we curate a flawless shared shelter experience? well folks, they did it. they fucking did it. the bunks have 4-sided pull-down shades that took me back to the sheet forts my sister and i used to make. protected and private and in your own little fabric-fortified world. inside, a personal shelf with electric outlet (sounds dumb, but hostel goers know how important this is) the lockers are in the form of large, spacious drawers beneath the bottom bunk (yay! no heavy lifting!!), beside the beds are drawers that they made into steps to allow you a casual ascension up into your cave. a ladder-dresser of sorts, with locks. two for each bed. fucking genius. in addition to all of these thoughtful amenities, free hostels barcelona has en-suite bathrooms, a lovely coat rack, and huge windows that you can throw open and in my case, greet the beating heart and beating drums of the separatists every night at 10pm. the free breakfast was substantial. fruit, toasts, hams. the staff is relentlessly helpful. and for $42 a night, i felt world-class and rested. check out the modern, hip space here and then book your stay. Carrer de Londres 20, 08029.
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