Hotel Sixtytwo Barcelona

Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s version of the Champs-Élysées, a wide, sun-drenched artery of high-end commerce and architectural ego. It’s where the city’s bourgeoisie once built monuments to their own success, and where today, tourists dodge influencers taking selfies in front of Gaudí’s undulating stone masterpieces. In the middle of this beautiful, chaotic circus sits Hotel Sixtytwo. It’s a 19th-century modernist building that hasn’t been preserved in amber; it’s been gutted and reimagined for the traveler who wants the history without the mothballs.

Walking through the doors, you leave the roar of the Eixample behind. The vibe is immediate: boutique, but not precious. It’s the kind of place that understands that luxury isn't about gold-plated faucets, but about the right lighting and a staff that knows when to be invisible and when to hand you a glass of something cold. The interior design leans into the minimalist—clean lines, dark woods, and a certain moody sophistication that feels more like a private club than a transit hub for the weary. It’s a sharp contrast to the ornate, bone-like balconies of Casa Batlló just a few doors down.

The rooms are where the hotel makes its case. If you’re lucky, or if you’ve paid for the privilege, you’ll get a room overlooking the Passeig. You can sit by the window with a Nespresso and watch the city wake up, the light hitting the mosaic tiles of the street lamps. If you prefer silence, the rooms facing the interior courtyard—a classic Eixample 'patio de manzana'—offer a level of quiet that feels impossible given you’re in the heart of the beast. The beds are the kind you actually want to sleep in, not just collapse onto, and the bathrooms are stocked with things that actually smell good.

But let’s talk about the wine. The Sixtytwo Cocktail Bar isn't just a lobby afterthought. It’s a legitimate destination. They have a curated selection of Catalan and Spanish wines that would make a sommelier nod in approval. In the afternoons, they put out snacks—not the sad, stale peanuts you find in a bowl at a chain hotel, but actual food that respects your palate. It’s a small touch, but it’s the kind of detail that separates the pros from the amateurs. The breakfast spread follows suit, ditching the industrial buffet for high-quality local cheeses, charcuterie, and bread that actually has a crust.

Is it expensive? Of course it is. You’re staying on the most prestigious street in the city. You’re paying for the ability to walk out the front door and be at the foot of La Pedrera in five minutes. You’re paying for the metro station that’s practically on your doorstep, ready to whisk you down to the beach or up to Gràcia. But unlike some of the grand dames of the neighborhood that feel like they’re resting on laurels earned in 1920, Hotel Sixtytwo feels current. It’s for the traveler who wants to be in the thick of the Eixample’s grid, surrounded by the ghosts of the Catalan elite, while enjoying a very modern, very well-poured gin and tonic.

If you’re looking for a budget hostel or a place to hide from the world, look elsewhere. This is for the person who wants to see Barcelona in its Sunday best, even on a Tuesday. It’s honest, it’s stylish, and it’s exactly where you want to be when the sun goes down and the city starts to glow.