Hotel Acevi Villarroel

Barcelona’s Eixample is a grid of ambition and exhaust. It is a relentless machine of octagonal blocks, whirring scooters, and the smell of roasting coffee competing with diesel fumes. In the middle of this beautiful, chaotic geometry sits Hotel Acevi Villarroel. It isn’t trying to be a Gaudí-inspired fever dream or a hyper-designed boutique playground for the Instagram elite. It is a hotel in the most honest sense of the word: a place to drop your bags, wash off the city grit, and maybe—if the sun is hitting right—disappear into a pool for an hour.

Walking into the lobby, you realize quickly that this is a four-star establishment that prioritizes function over flash. It’s clean, it’s professional, and it feels like a place where people actually work for a living. You aren't here for the lobby art; you’re here because you want a solid base in one of the best neighborhoods in the city. The Eixample Esquerra (the Left Side) is where the locals actually live, drink vermouth, and complain about the tourists. Staying here means you’re part of the neighborhood, not just a spectator.

The rooms are exactly what they need to be. Expect hardwood parquet floors that don’t hide the sins of previous guests like old carpets do, and marble bathrooms that feel substantial. If you’re lucky, you’ll snag a room with a balcony overlooking the interior courtyard or the street. Be warned: this is Barcelona. The walls can be thin, and the city never truly sleeps. If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs or ask for a room away from the elevator. But for the price, the space is generous—especially if you’re traveling with a crew and book one of the Family Duplex rooms, which are a rare find in a city where 'triple room' usually means a cot shoved into a closet.

The real draw, the thing that makes the Acevi Villarroel punch above its weight class, is the basement. There is a full-service spa down there—sauna, steam room, hammam, and a jacuzzi that actually works. After a day of walking twelve miles on the hard Catalan pavement, descending into that humid sanctuary is a religious experience. Then there’s the rooftop. It’s not the biggest pool in the city, but when the July heat is melting the asphalt on Carrer de Villarroel, that small patch of blue water and a sun lounger feel like a godsend.

Don't expect a Michelin-starred revelation in the hotel restaurant. It’s fine for a quick breakfast—a decent spread of jamón, cheese, and pastries—but you’re in the Eixample. Step outside. Within three blocks, you have everything from old-school bodegas where the floor is covered in sawdust to high-end bistros. The Urgell metro station is a four-minute walk away, connecting you to the rest of the city, but you’ll likely find yourself walking. Plaça de Catalunya is only fifteen minutes away on foot, and the walk takes you through the heart of the city’s architectural golden age.

Is it perfect? No. The decor might feel a little 'early 2000s executive,' and the staff can be spread thin during peak check-in hours. They also require a 150 EUR damage deposit on arrival, which catches some people off guard. But if you want a reliable, comfortable stay with a pool and a spa in a neighborhood that feels like the real Barcelona, this is a solid move. It’s for the traveler who knows that the best part of the trip happens outside the hotel walls, but still wants a decent place to collapse when the night finally ends.