Best Luxury Hotels in Catalonia

The Serras is what luxury boutique hotels are made of. It is a jewel that is carefully tucked away in Barcelona with stunning views of Port Vell. The rooftop has a cocktail pool and a sitting area that affords guests gorgeous sights. There are sunbeds around the swimming pool where you can lie and soak in the sun. At night, you can sip cocktails at the bar as you watch the hotel’s Michelin-Star chef prepare different delicacies. On weekends, the bar has live DJ sessions to change things up. At The Serras Barcelona, you get to appreciate the lively neighbourhood of the El Born district and the Gothic Quarter.

Found at Carrer d’Aragó in Catalonia, OD Barcelona attracts a young audience with its relaxed house music and quirky interior. The rooms are made from bamboo, and the property is in typical OD hotel design. It’s a few minutes walk from Paseo de Gracia, which is one of the trendiest shopping avenues in Barcelona. The terraced rooftop has a solarium and pool where guests can spend their evenings marvelling at the goings-on below.

Built in a crescent shape, Eurostar Sitges is an unusual landmark hotel, perched on a hill — the sea on one side, a sweeping golf course on the other. The hotel’s pool area looks out onto the latter, providing an especially sheltered spot to enjoy a swim and sunbathe, on parasol topped loungers, surrounded by palm trees. The design has been inspired by the bordering coast, with 263 rooms in soft colours, custom furnishings, statement lighting and huge windows. There are seven places to eat and drink, four outdoor pools and a spa (incorporating a piscine climatisée, Finnish sauna, steam bath, ice fountain and solarium).

Take a heritage vacation by staying in this magical castle dating back to the turn of the 14th century. This Catalan ruin – said to have been inhabited by Christopher Columbus at one point – has been completely refurbished to create boutique hotel accommodation comprising 57 bedrooms. Here guests will find exposed stonework, global artefacts, patchwork rugs, stained glass windows, Tibetan textiles and Victorian bathtubs, all contributing to an antique, yet exotic feel. There are two pools, one proffering stunning views and a bar, the other tiled and nestled in the castle’s gardens. Hotel Castell d’Empordà’s restaurants serve Spanish and Asian dishes and a cellar bar provides an atmospheric spot for a drink. 

Lloret de Mar is one of Costa Brava’s premier destinations and it’s here that Hotel Santa Marta is found. Yet this property is hidden away, in an exclusive forested location beside Santa Cristina beach (this is accessed via a woodland path). The 76 room hotel is within reach of the town, yet provides plenty of activities on-site, such as tennis courts, beachside yoga, a waterfront pool with jacuzzi, supervised kids activities and an Ayurvedic spa. Guests can also bring their pets along when holidaying here. Fine dining is available at Hotel Santa Marta and there are two bars – one indoor, one alfresco.

Don’t be fooled by the name, this is no ‘hostel’. This retreat, dating back to the 1920s, has hosted a plethora of Hollywood’s icons as well as real-life royalty. Hostal de la Gavina sits on an area of land jutting out toward the sea. This provides panoramic views from most of its sides, with an excellent beach just five minutes on foot via a coastal path. The interiors here follow a palatial traditional style with gleaming parquet flooring, silk wallpaper, Grecian pillars, flamboyant flower arrangements, marble surfaces and antique furniture. Three restaurants (the main dining room offers piano accompaniment at dinner) a spa and a ship-themed bar are available for guests’ enjoyment. Outside there’s a large, glamorous pool terrace, a kids’ play area and tennis courts. 

For some of the best views around, book a room at Melia Sitges with a terrace overlooking the Garraf Nature Park or Mediterranean sea. The four-star hotel has 307 types of accommodation, including suites and family rooms. Indeed it’s an excellent choice for those travelling with children; The Kids&Co programme provides special toiletries for younger travellers, chocolate milkshakes and cookies at bedtime on your arrival day. Breakfast is served buffet-style at Noray restaurant and caters to international tastes with over 100 different products, while Saffron Mediterranean Bistro has menus containing everything from light bites and cocktails, to main meals.

New to Sitges is the Sabàtic Sitges, Autograph Collection hotel. This chic hotel features 90 stylish and comfortable suites, each with a balcony or sea view terrace and interiors of neutral interiors designed by Barcelona-based interior designer, Sandra Tarruella. The hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Pasatempo, led by renowned Catalonian chef Rafa Peña and features an idyllic outdoor terrace. Guests can also enjoy an adults-only outdoor pool, daily wellness activities like yoga and Pilates, and stunning views of the Balearic Sea.

Another of Melia’s seafront properties, ME Sitges is found on Paseo Marítimo, beside a quiet stretch of beach, close to the town’s attractions. A kidney-shaped pool is surrounded by loungers and four-poster daybeds, swathed in muslin drapes. The decor is minimalist, with an emphasis on light, bright and flowing spaces, complemented by state of the art technology and funky black and white photographic art. Its main restaurant, Beso (meaning ‘kiss’), explores creative Spanish cooking, while three bars serve drinks and lighter meals — its Radio Rooftop Bar is on the eighth floor and specialises in multicultural street food with regular live music.

Located in the very heart of Barcelona on Passeig de Gràcia, the Mandarin Oriental is just seconds away from the city’s luxury boutiques and only a 2-minute walk from the Gaudi-designed Casa Batlló. Fusing modern interiors and timeless style from Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, the 120 rooms are bright and airy. Book a suite for a freestanding whirlpool tub, terrace and even kitchen. Gourmet Michelin-star dining is available in three restaurants – one of which is al fresco. The addition of a  relaxing spa, first-floor terrace, indoor pool for year-round dips and a rooftop pool with views out over the city makes the hotel one not to be missed.

Part of the Ritz Carlton group, the Hotel Arts Barcelona is one of the city’s original luxury hotels, mixing tradition luxury service with minimalist aesthetics. The iconic building was designed by architects Bruce Graham and Miguel Ruano, originally for the Olympic Games. Providing outstanding views out to sea and across the city, its location on the seafront is ideal for those seeking to fuse a city and beach break (you will need to take a taxi into the city centre). A great swimming pool, 483 rooms spread over 44 impressive stories, 5 restaurants (from bistro to two Michelin-starred Enoteca) and impeccable service place this hotel at the premium end of the contemporary luxury scale.

This Avant Garde hotel is in the heart of Barcelona, close to the celebrated Passeig de Gràcia next to Casa Rocamora and just a step away from Plaça Catalunya on the city’s golden mile. The contemporary hotel design brings together innovation, art, music and technology along with exclusive experiences to enjoy the local scene. Rooms and suites present a neutral and stylish design with a range of sizes, views and upgrades such as a private terrace or Jacuzzi to suit every occasion. Guests can make use of the gym fitted with the latest fitness technology and equipment or pamper themselves with sophisticated beauty and well-being treatments. The hotel also has two restaurants in which Mediterranean cuisine with an innovative flair provides healthy, unique, surprising and sustainable dining experiences using fresh and organic ingredients harvested from our own urban garden. The Rooftop Bar is the perfect place to unwind with a drink and take in the views of Plaça Catalunya and the Sagrada Familia.