Hotel Arts is a self-contained world of luxe loveliness; a cashmere comfort blanket in hotel form. If you need any more reassurance, bear in mind that you can see the distinctive skyscraper from all over the city, so there’s no danger of not finding your way back after a night on the tiles.
With 43 floors – and most of the steel structure visible on the outside – Bruce Graham’s building is a key architectural feature on the Barcelona skyline. From the vantage point of a window seat in your room, the panoramic view is mesmerising. For the best perspective, however, you need to go up to the spa on the top floor, where you can gaze out to sea from the sauna.
Rooms are all natural tones and textures, with Bang & Olufsen televisions and music systems. A handy control panel means you can operate everything from the considerable comfort of the bed. The marble bathrooms have rainforest showers with massage jets, and separate bathtubs. Club rooms on the 32nd and 33rd floors come with Acqua di Parma products and access to a lounge with all-day drinks and snacks.
Nearer ground level, the cocktail bar and tapas restaurant run by Sergi Arola is a seriously cool spot to hang out, while Paco Perez creates exquisite Catalan cuisine at the Enoteca. In warm weather, though, you’ll spend most of your time out on the terrace, eating, drinking, sunbathing or swimming in the outdoor pool.
What’s hot?
- Superb service
- Fabulous views
- Great spa
- Michelin-starred restaurant
What’s not?
- Not right in the centre
- The odd chain-y note
- Hefty internet charge
Need to Know: Hotel Arts
Number of rooms: 483
Check-in/check-out times: 3pm and 12noon
Room service: Yes
Swimming pool: Yes, outdoor.
Spa: Yes. There’s a wide range of top-quality Six Senses treatments, as well as sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.
Dogs welcome: No
Eating and drinking: Chef Paco Perez has earned a Michelin star at La Enoteca. Another Michelin-starred chef, Sergi Arola, oversees Arola, which serves gourmet tapas and cocktails, and where there’s usually a DJ or live music. Bites offers more informal meals, including pasta and salads, as does the outdoor Marina restaurant, which also serves pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven and seafood dishes. Café Veranda is used for breakfast and Sunday brunch. Despite its name, the Champagne Bar serves a wide range of drinks.
Near to? Overlooking the Port Olimpic marina by the beach, Hotel Arts makes a great base in summer. You can walk to the Barceloneta neighbourhood, where there are lots of restaurants and bars. Ciutadella i Vila Olimpica metro station is nearby, and there are plenty of buses, as well as taxis, to get to the city centre. A jogging map is provided if you want to run along the promenade and around the nearby park.
Getting there: El Prat airport is about 30-35 minutes’ drive away, while Sants train station is around 20 minutes’ away. Francia train station is 1 km from the hotel, but has limited services.
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