Hotel Continental Palacete

Walking into the Hotel Continental Palacete is like stepping into the fever dream of a 19th-century aristocrat who had an unhealthy obsession with the color pink and Louis XV furniture. This isn't your sterile, glass-and-steel corporate box. It’s a 'Palacete'—a little palace—built in 1863, and it wears its history like a heavy velvet coat. Located on the Rambla de Catalunya, the Eixample’s more sophisticated, less sweaty answer to the tourist circus of the lower Rambla, this place offers a slice of old-world Barcelona that most travelers miss while they’re busy getting pickpocketed near the port.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the 24-hour buffet. In a world where hotels charge you ten euros for a bottle of lukewarm water from the minibar, the Palacete does something radical. They leave the kitchen open. All day. All night. It’s not a 'gastronomic adventure'—it’s a survival station. You’ve got beer on tap, wine, juices, coffee, and a rotating spread of snacks, sandwiches, and salads. Is it Michelin-starred? Don't be ridiculous. But when you stumble in at 2 AM after a long night of vermouth and tapas in Gràcia, that free beer and a ham sandwich feel like a gift from the gods. It creates a weird, communal vibe in the grand salon, where travelers from all over the world sit under massive chandeliers, clutching plastic cups of Mahou and comparing notes on Gaudí.

The decor is unapologetic. We’re talking gold leaf, intricate moldings, and enough floral patterns to make a minimalist weep. The Malagarriga family, who has run the Continental brand for generations, clearly decided that 'more is more.' It’s the sister hotel to the famous Hotel Continental on La Rambla—the one where George Orwell stayed during the Spanish Civil War—and it carries that same DNA of stubborn independence. The rooms vary; some are palatial with high ceilings and views over the leafy Rambla de Catalunya, while others are smaller, tucked away in the interior. But they all feel like they have a story to tell. The beds are comfortable, the air conditioning works (a non-negotiable in a Barcelona July), and the bathrooms are clean, even if the tiles look like they’ve seen a few decades of history.

The location is arguably the best in the city for anyone who actually wants to enjoy Barcelona. You’re in the heart of the Eixample, the grid-patterned district that defined the city’s expansion. You are a three-minute walk from the high-end boutiques of Passeig de Gràcia and five minutes from the psychedelic bone-structure of Casa Batlló. Unlike the Gothic Quarter, where the streets are narrow and the air can feel stagnant, the Eixample is wide, airy, and filled with the clatter of daily life. You can walk to Plaça de Catalunya in less than ten minutes, but you’re far enough away that the roar of the crowds is muffled.

Is it perfect? No. If you want a gym, a rooftop infinity pool, and a staff that wears white gloves, you’re in the wrong place. The elevator is old-school, the hallways are a bit creaky, and the sheer amount of pink might give you a headache if you’re hungover. But it has soul. It has character. It’s a place that treats you like a guest in a home rather than a line item on a spreadsheet. For the price, especially considering the location and the constant flow of free booze and food, it’s one of the most honest deals in a city that is increasingly becoming a theme park. It’s a refuge for the weary traveler who wants a bit of faded glory with their morning coffee.