Beach on the mind? Catalanonia's capital offers three hot hotels with a Mediterranean view
Barcelona's W Hotel is perched on an artificial island at the southernmost tip of the city's beach, which means there are sea views from every room. The soaring, sail-shaped edifice by Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill, has the feel of a berthed ship as much as a hotel. For the full effect, book the W's three-bedroom Extreme Wow Suite, which has a 635-square-foot terrace (complete with whirlpool tub) jutting out over the Mediterranean and floor-to-ceiling windows shielding a 360-degree city and sea outlook.
The Duquesa de Cardona boutique hotel sits on the edge of the Barri Gòtic, Barcelona's character-laden old town. The hotel faces Port Vell marina, a large community of boat dwellers that looks particularly beguiling at night when many of the boats' masts are illuminated by fairy lights. The 40-room hotel has 14 deluxe rooms with balconies overlooking the water. The classic decor, with damask textiles and faux regency details, harmonizes with the hotel's mid-19th-century architecture.
On the 30th floor of the Hotel Arts, a 44-story blue glass and steel tower, Barcelonese architect Josep Juanpere has created the Arts Suite. The contemporary furnishings are luxurious, such as a huge, cushion-strewn modular sofa, with a neutral palate so as not to detract from the outlook over the Mediterranean Sea and Port Olímpic marina. This room-with-a-killer-view is part of an ongoing refurb of the hotel -- this April saw a renewel of the Club Level lounge -- which originally opened for the city's 1992 Olympic Games.
