Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection – Review

Since I stepped into the Glass House Hotel and then Threadneedles in London I have had a fascination with the Autograph Collection by Marriott. Taking the best elements of a big brand and distilling it down into a boutique environment Autograph has me now as a lifetime ambassador. So on a recent trip to Barcelona to see the new Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean liner, there was really only one place to stay in the city – The Cotton House Hotel.

Located in what was originally the headquarters of the Cotton Textile Foundation, this 19th-century neoclassical building is Catalan bourgeoisie through and through. A fairly new hotel project culminating in January 2015, the hotel is contemporary and sophisticated and pulls out all the historical details of the building without compromising any of the luxury functionalities we expect on TLE, which is why it has made it onto our best luxury hotels in Barcelona guide.

Hotel Details

At 78 bedrooms and 5 suites, the hotel is small enough to fit the boutique bracket. Walk up to the entrance and you first enter the vestibule lobby covered in mirrors, then through to the main hall with a grand marble staircase to the right and a spiral staircase from the 50s on the left, which is suspended from the ceiling rather than the floor. The communal areas of the building are really like no other I have seen before – and include a library, a number of grand lounges to relax in, and then onto the exquisite dining room, terrace and bar.

Location

Right in the heart of Barcelona, you have the city’s best shopping street (Passeig de Sant Joan) a few minutes walk away and all the main tourist attractions are a short walk away, making it ideal for a short break to the city.

Ambiance & Check In

Relaxed, friendly and professional, I was checked in and in my room earlier than expected as the room was ready before lunchtime, which was great. Drinks and small cakes are there to refresh you at the reception.

Rooms

Bedrooms are split into 4 groups – all taking on a cotton theme – Cotton, Egyptian, Panama, Madras. My room was a front-facing Egyptian room. At 30 m2 it was large and spacious, including a kingsized bed, a small sitting room and was fresh in look and feel with cotton flowers in the wall art and prints around the room.

I loved the attention to detail in the room, the anglepoise 50’s lamps, and the 50’s style furniture really work with the room.   

Some of the practical things I liked

Nespresso – a winner! And the easy access, fast wifi around the hotel and roof was great. What was also good in the bathroom was the amenities pack, which included some extra little helpful items – toothbrush and toothpaste being one.

Some of the finishing touches

The room included a large walk-in wardrobe for two – great if you are staying in the hotel for a few days. One of the drawers also conceals a rather ingenious bottle of red wine and glasses.

There is also a turn-down service which includes fresh water by your bed.

Bathroom

The bathroom was luxurious, finished in white marble. There was no bath, but it was made up for with the rain shower and Ortigia amenities.

The Pool

Located on the roof, it’s more of a plunge pool, but perfect for my needs, in fact I spent most of the time in this space in a lounger drinking wine and eating olives. There is bar service and a great view to the Sagrada Familia.

The Library and Lobby

This hotel goes beyond the usual communal areas and provides an almost museum-like experience, I was in love with the library.

The Terrace

I ate breakfast on the terrace, which was a treat for someone who comes from Scotland.

The Restaurant & Bar

I didn’t eat dinner here but did have breakfast in the hotel. Breakfast is buffet style with cold continental foods and the hot dishes are cooked to order – try the breakfast pancakes, they are good as a treat!

Out and About

You have the city’s main shopping and historical buildings on your doorstep.

Final Thoughts

I don’t often ‘gush’ about a hotel stay, but the Cotton House is really something special. It made the stay in Barcelona perfect, and I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel. In fact, I endorse it. Here’s to my next Autograph experience.