Staying in Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Spain, which comes as no surprise considering the city's architecture, history, and gastronomy. As the buzzy capital of Catalonia, a passionately independent region of Spain, you'll get a mix of Roman origins, medieval architecture, and 20th-century modernism paired with avant-garde buildings. Luckily, some of the best things to do in Barcelona are right in the city's historic heart, meaning a centrally located hotel is an ideal choice.
When deciding how many days to spend in Barcelona, a lot depends on your itinerary. Many historic sites are clumped together in the Gothic Quarter and El Born neighborhoods. Still, you might want to set aside some time to see places like Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, Passeig de Gràcia, and Port Vell. You may also want to take a day trip up the Costa Brava, which could extend your time in the city. It's best to plan for at least three to five days in Barcelona, but you could easily enjoy an entire week in the area without getting bored.
To make the most of your time in Barcelona, consider staying in the city's historic center. You'll find plenty of smaller, local, and more personable boutique options in the main neighborhoods of the Gothic Quarter, El Born, and Eixample, with choices fitting into any budget. We recommend the following picks for the best boutique hotels in Barcelona.
Hotel Mercer Barcelona
For Barcelona's top luxury boutique hotel, consider staying at the Mercer Hotel. Set in the Gothic Quarter, this property welcomes you right into the city's history. The building includes part of the Roman wall of ancient Barcino, plus preserved frescoes, wooden ceilings, and atriums ranging from the 12th to 18th centuries.
The giant rooms at Mercer Hotel also channel the property's history, with floor-to-ceiling windows, oak flooring, free-standing soaking tubs, and stone walls. The hotel starts room categories at a superior tier to maintain its elegance, though you can opt for a suite if you'd like to splurge. You can easily explore the historic city center when not enjoying your room. You'll be walking distance from sites like Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça de Sant Jaume, the El Born landmark neighborhood, the waterfront promenade, and La Rambla.
After a day of seeing the sites, you can relax with some of the hotel amenities, such as the Mercer Restaurant, which puts a modern twist on classic Catalan dishes and overlooks an inner courtyard filled with orange trees. You'll also find a gastro bar, cocktail bar, and one of the most elegant rooftop terraces in the city, complete with a bar and outdoor pool.
Hotel Neri Relais & Chateaux
LUXURY
Another luxury boutique hotel in Barcelona, Hotel Neri Relais & Chateaux combines two historic buildings, one being a 12th-century medieval palace. After renovation and preservation efforts, the hotel received an award for adding value to the city's heritage. You'll enjoy this legacy in the spacious and ultra-comfy rooms, featuring wooden floors, high ceilings, and views overlooking the historic Gothic Quarter streets.
If you'd like to splurge, you can opt for the deluxe room that includes a private terrace and outdoor tub or a suite with a relaxing seating area. Families and small groups might prefer the hotel's Casa Neri, a subsection of one-bedroom apartments with its own private rooftop pool and sundeck.
Enjoy walking through Barcelona's historic center, easily reaching sites on foot, such as the Barcelona Cathedral, Calle del Bisbe (and its famed Gothic bridge), Barceloneta, and La Rambla. When done for the day, head back to the hotel to enjoy its amenities, including a terraced restaurant and two bars, one on the rooftop near the outdoor pool and sundeck.
Hotel Bagués
LUXURY
Known as a "museum hotel," you'll truly have a unique experience at Hotel Bagués. The property shares its history with a 100-year-old jewelry brand, Bagués-Masriera Jewellery Store. You'll find a few small exhibitions around the hotel highlighting these jewels, plus several nods to the brand in the property's decor and construction, including a golden vine sculpture at the main staircase.
You have three choices of rooms at Hotel Bagués: deluxe, superior, and suites. These elevated categories keep the hotel's elegance high while still offering options with perks like private terraces and outdoor tubs. You can also enjoy several amenities, such as a luxurious lobby eatery, plus a rooftop terrace with a tapas bar, sundeck, and outdoor pool. From here, you can enjoy a 360° view of the city, including La Rambla.
Besides all the goodies inside, Hotel Bagués also offers an exceptional location right on the popular La Rambla avenue. One step out of the lobby gets you to the historic Betlem Church, and you'll be just one block from Mercat de la Boqueria. Other sites that you can easily walk to include the Barcelona Cathedral, the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi, and Plaça de Catalunya, to name just a few.
Yurbban Passage Hotel & Spa
Enjoy all the unique perks Yurbban Passage Hotel & Spa offers, including an organic and vegan spa (one of the first of its kind), a flower market, rentals for vintage bikes and longboards, fun photo booths, yoga kits, and cooking classes. You'll also find other amenities, like a rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool, a lobby shop selling goods from local artisans, and an onsite restaurant with a trendy vibe.
Aside from the obvious perks, you can also enjoy the rooms, all of which (even the standard category) offer stately decor and ambiance. Some rooms have private terraces overlooking the Ciutat Vella neighborhood, and all feature rainfall showers and luxury toiletries from the spa. As perhaps the ultimate perk at Yurbban Passage, all guests also receive 30 complimentary minutes to enjoy the water circuit at the spa.
Another reason to love this hotel is its location in the El Born neighborhood above a historic merchants' passage, where you'll find the property's flower market. You'll also be within walking distance of numerous city sites, the closest being Plaça de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia, and La Rambla.
Casa Bonay
Casa Bonay feels like its own little city, a trendy and vibrant hotel that welcomes you with neon signs and tons of plant life. You won't go hungry here, as the property has four eateries: a specialty coffee bar (Satan's Coffee Corner), a cocktail lounge with bar food (Libertine), a rooftop bar and barbecue restaurant (Chiringuito), and a gourmet tapas spot with natural wine and local ingredients (Bodega).
The hotel's location helps make it one of the best mid-range boutique hotels in Barcelona, as it's on the corner of the Eixample and El Born neighborhoods. You'll be within walking distance of many significant sites, including the Arc de Triomf, Casa Milà, and (bonus) La Sagrada Família. You'll also be next door to the Tetuan metro and one block from the Girona metro, should you want to zip across the city or head to the beach. After a day of sightseeing, spend time at the rooftop terrace, complete with dining, sun loungers, couches, and an outdoor shower to rinse off after sunbathing.
Casa Bonay has eight room types, all following the hotel's vibrant, energetic, and colorful theme. To fully take advantage of the hotel's essence, we suggest skipping the "tiny room" category and grabbing a passage- or courtyard-facing room or upgrading to one with a private terrace featuring hammocks, sun loungers, and an outdoor shower. Some rooms also offer yoga kits to stretch your body after walking around the city.
Hotel Pulitzer
MID-RANGE
In early 2022, Hotel Pulitzer closed its rooftop terrace for renovations, and the property received numerous calls from locals asking when it would reopen. This demand proves it's one of the best rooftop hotels in Barcelona, one beloved by Pulitzer's guests and city residents alike. There's no pool, but you will find a trendy space with strings of lights, leafy plants, comfy seating, a bustling bar, and occasional events, such as live music, barbeque nights, and happy hours.
Besides its rooftop reputation, this boutique hotel also offers other amenities, including the Green Restaurant on the ground floor, which focuses on slow food and a home-cooked approach. You can enjoy your breakfast and other meals here, dining on the outdoor terrace surrounded by plants. After breakfast, take advantage of Pulitzer's ideal location next door to Plaça de Catalunya, putting you within walking distance of many famous sites, including La Rambla, the Barcelona Cathedral, Picasso Museum, Arc de Triomf, Ciutadella Park, and more.
Another perk at Hotel Pulitzer is its quality of rooms. Even the standard options offer bright, modern, and stately decor, providing all guests with a sense of elegance. Of course, upgraded rooms offer a few extras, such as balconies, sofas, private outdoor terraces, and/or four-poster beds. Modern and clean bathrooms feature vibrant-blue tiling to reflect the energetic vibe of the hotel.
Hotel Praktik Èssens
Hotel Praktik Èssens provides a unique eco-experience centered around the olfactory memory and sense of smell. Upon arrival, the lobby greets you with perfumery, which you can purchase natural scents specific to Barcelona. You'll find these fragrances throughout the hotel in rooms and common areas, such as the outdoor terrace and lounge, which offer 24/7 coffee and tea service. Here, you can also enjoy afternoon snacks and a daily happy hour.
You'll choose from five room types, but we suggest the premium rooms, as they have a bit more space and private terraces with sun loungers and outdoor baths. But even if you opt for a standard room, you'll still enjoy the beauty of the hotel's 19th-century history with wooden floors, white-brick walls, and small balconies.
What makes this boutique hotel especially unique is its location in the picturesque alley housing El Nacional (one of the best fine-dining restaurants in the city) right off Passeig de Gràcia, which puts you just down the street from Casa Batlló and a few minutes from Casa Milà. Other sites within walking distance include Plaça de Catalunya, La Rambla, and the Arc de Triomf, among others.
Musik Boutique Hotel
STANDARD
For one of the best standard boutique hotels in Barcelona, consider Musik Boutique, a quaint hotel set on one of the city's best pedestrian streets. You'll be right on Calle de Sant Pere Més Baix, which runs right through the center of the El Born neighborhood. The moment you step outside the hotel, you'll be in the heart of Barcelona's buzzy core and truly in the center of it all. Enjoy leisurely walks to significant sites like the Arc de Triomf, Barcelona Cathedral, La Rambla, and the Picasso Museum.
There are just 23 rooms at Musik Boutique, all featuring a modern and minimalist aesthetic, which contrasts perfectly with the building's 18th-century facade. If you'd like a quiet room overlooking the central courtyard, ask for an inner deluxe or superior room with a terrace or balcony. Other perks include a 24-hour lobby bar, bicycle rentals for exploring the city, and a breakfast buffet.