The Corner Hotel

Eixample is a masterpiece of urban planning, a relentless grid of octagonal blocks designed by Ildefons Cerdà to let the light in and keep the soul-crushing congestion of the old city at bay. It’s the heart of modern Barcelona, a place of grand boulevards and hidden courtyards. And right there, on the corner of Mallorca and Muntaner, sits The Corner Hotel. It’s a place that manages to be cool without being a total prick about it, which, in the world of boutique hospitality, is a rare and beautiful thing.

Walking into the lobby, you aren’t hit with the usual smell of desperation and over-perfumed air. Instead, you get industrial bones—exposed brick, blackened iron, warm wood, and leather that looks like it’s actually been sat on. It feels like a workshop for the modern traveler, a place that respects the 19th-century building it inhabits while acknowledging that we live in a world of steel and glass. The staff doesn't treat you like a walking credit card; they treat you like someone who’s had a long flight and needs a drink. Which you probably do.

The rooms are a continuation of that philosophy. They aren't the size of a football field—this is Europe, after all—but they are smart. High ceilings, massive windows that actually let you see the city, and a design aesthetic that favors function over fluff. You’ve got the natural light pouring in, reflecting off the white linens and the dark accents. It’s clean, it’s sharp, and the beds are the kind you actually want to die in after a day of trekking through the Gothic Quarter. If you’re lucky enough to snag a Corner Room, you get that wrap-around view of the Eixample grid that makes you feel like the protagonist in a movie about a guy who finally figured his life out.

But let’s talk about the rooftop. In Barcelona, a rooftop is more than just a place to put a pool; it’s a social necessity. The Corner Rooftop is the money shot. It’s got a pool that’s more for lounging than Olympic laps, but who cares when you’re staring at the spires of the Sagrada Família and the rolling hills of Tibidabo? When the sun starts to dip and the sky turns that bruised purple color, this is where you want to be. The bar serves up drinks that aren't watered-down tourist swill, and the breeze coming off the Mediterranean reminds you why you spent the money to come here in the first place.

Then there’s the brunch. Now, I’ve spent a lifetime railing against brunch as a cynical way for restaurants to get rid of yesterday’s scraps, but here, it’s a different story. It’s a scene. Locals actually show up. The coffee is strong enough to wake the dead, and the food—from the perfectly poached eggs to the pastries that actually flake—is handled with respect. It’s the kind of fuel you need before heading out to fight the crowds at La Pedrera.

Is it perfect? Nothing is. The street noise can be a bitch if you’re a light sleeper, and Eixample can feel a bit sterile compared to the grime and glory of El Raval. But The Corner Hotel is an honest place. It doesn't pretend to be a palace, and it doesn't try to sell you a fake version of Barcelona. It’s a solid, stylish, and deeply comfortable base camp in one of the greatest cities on earth. If you want gold leaf and white-gloved service, go to the Ritz. If you want to feel like you’re actually living in the 21st-century version of this city, stay here.