El Palace Hotel Barcelona

Walking into El Palace isn’t just checking into a hotel; it’s a surrender to a version of Barcelona that shouldn’t exist anymore. This place opened in 1919 as the Ritz, and while the name on the door changed, the DNA didn’t. It’s the kind of grand dame that has seen everything—civil wars, revolutions, and Salvador Dalí demanding a stuffed horse be delivered to his suite. If you’re looking for 'minimalist chic' or 'industrial warehouse vibes,' do us both a favor and keep walking. This is a temple to the heavy, the gilded, and the unapologetically formal.

The Great Hall is the heart of the beast. It’s a cavernous space of red velvet, marble columns, and the kind of hushed reverence usually reserved for cathedrals. You’ll see people having afternoon tea here, looking like they’ve stepped out of a 1940s film noir. There’s a piano player, because of course there is, and the concierge staff move with a quiet, lethal efficiency that suggests they could dispose of a body or find you a vintage bottle of Chartreuse with equal ease. It earns its reputation as the best luxury hotel in Barcelona by simply refusing to be trendy. It knows it’s the king.

Then there’s the rooftop. Most Barcelona hotels have a 'terrace'—usually a strip of AstroTurf and a plunge pool the size of a bathtub. El Palace has the Jardín Diana. It’s 1,500 square meters of actual garden, inspired by the 1920s, with over fifty species of plants, a pool that actually allows for swimming, and views that stretch from the Sagrada Família to the Mediterranean. It’s an absurd, beautiful lung in the middle of the Eixample grid. You come up here at sunset, order a drink that costs more than your first car, and suddenly the chaos of the city below feels like someone else’s problem.

The rooms are where the history really hits you. We’re talking about original Roman-style baths in the signature suites—deep, tiled basins that feel like they belong in a museum. The beds are massive, the linens are crisp enough to cut glass, and the soundproofing is so good you’d never know you’re on the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. If you can, aim for the Dalí Suite. The man lived here for years, and the room still carries a faint, lingering scent of surrealist madness and high-end turpentine. This is one of the best areas to stay in Barcelona for those who want the proximity of Passeig de Gràcia without the suffocating crush of the tourist hordes.

Is it perfect? No. The service can feel a bit stiff if you’re used to the casual 'hey man' vibe of modern boutique spots. The prices in the bar will make your eyes water. And yeah, it’s formal—don’t be the person wandering through the lobby in flip-flops and a tank top. But for anyone who misses the days when travel meant something, when a hotel was a destination and not just a place to park your luggage, El Palace is the real deal. It’s a reminder that while Barcelona changes, some things are too stubborn, too beautiful, and too damn expensive to ever go out of style. It’s a relic, sure, but it’s a relic that still knows how to throw a hell of a party in the Bluesman Cocktail Bar downstairs.