The Barcelona EDITION

Step out of the taxi on Avinguda de Francesc Cambó and you’re immediately hit by the sensory collision that defines this corner of the city. On one side, you have the Santa Caterina Market, a riot of shouting fishmongers, hanging hams, and that iconic, undulating multi-colored roof. On the other, you have The Barcelona EDITION—a building so aggressively tasteful and polished it feels like it was dropped here by a very stylish alien civilization. This is Ian Schrager’s vision of Barcelona: a world of dark woods, gold leaf, and the ubiquitous scent of Le Labo Santal 33 that follows you from the lobby to the linens.

Walking into the lobby is an exercise in curated minimalism. There’s the signature spiral staircase—a white, sculptural swirl that looks like it belongs in a modern art gallery rather than a hotel—and a bar that feels more like a private club for people who own very expensive watches. The staff are young, attractive, and move with a practiced efficiency that suggests they’ve seen it all and aren't particularly impressed by your frequent flyer status. It’s a scene, make no mistake. If you’re looking for a dusty pension with a grandmother in the basement making gazpacho, you’ve wandered into the wrong movie.

The rooms are essentially high-end cigar boxes. We’re talking floor-to-ceiling walnut paneling, oak floors, and an almost monastic lack of clutter. It’s beautiful, in a restrained, 'I have too much money to need stuff' kind of way. The beds are draped in Sferra linens that feel like sleeping inside a cloud, and the bathrooms are marble-clad sanctuaries. Some rooms look out over the market’s kaleidoscopic roof, which is a hell of a thing to wake up to. It reminds you that despite the sleekness of your immediate surroundings, the messy, jagged machinery of the Ciutat Vella is pulsing just a few feet away.

But you aren’t just here for the thread count. You’re here for the Punch Room and The Roof. The Punch Room is a masterclass in speakeasy aesthetics—dim lighting, a granite fireplace, and a billiard table that looks too nice to actually play on. They serve punch in vintage silver bowls, and it’s the kind of place where you can lose four hours and a significant portion of your savings without noticing. Then there’s The Roof. In a city obsessed with rooftops, this one holds its own. It’s small, intimate, and offers a view of the Gothic Quarter’s spires that’ll make even the most jaded traveler reach for their phone. The cocktails are sharp, the vibe is chill, and the Mediterranean small plates are better than they have any right to be for a hotel bar.

Is it authentic? That’s a loaded question. It’s an EDITION hotel, which means it’s a global luxury product. But it’s a damn good one. It’s for the traveler who wants to dive into the grit of El Born and the Gothic Quarter during the day—dodging tourists on the Rambla and getting lost in the narrow stone alleys—but wants to retreat to a place where the towels are thick, the lighting is perfect, and nobody is going to ask them to compromise on their lifestyle. It’s expensive, it’s a bit pretentious, and it’s undeniably one of the best places to stay in the city if you value design over tradition. Just don't expect a bargain, and for God's sake, don't show up to the Punch Room in flip-flops.