Sandwiched between the Gothic Cathedral and the artsy El Born district, the Grand Central Hotel offers a unique blend of historic opulence and contemporary luxury design. It’s a building once famous for being the tallest in Europe, and one that housed the private rooftop apartment and gardens of Francesc Cambó, a legendary patron of Catalan culture in the nineteenth century.
You can glimpse its lush foliage above you while lounging at the rooftop terrace and pool – our first stop after checking in, naturally, which we were carted up to in a charming restored 1920s elevator. The infinity pool and views will make you feel reassuringly smug. It’s a smart, versatile set up, which means they maximise the use of the space throughout the day and it’s always got a nice vibe motoring along: think relaxing poolside coffee and lunch spot by day, bustling rooftop bar by night.
At the time of visiting, the new Can Bo restaurant was not yet open, however the rooftop bar menu was more than fine. The ground floor breakfast lounge has just enough options to cater for most tastes before tipping over into a gluttonous all-you-can-eat brunch. They even have breakfast cake, a move that got the gold seal of approval from my sweet-toothed partner.
The rooms are chic, spacious and recently refurbished in a really thoughtful mid-century modern execution. We stayed in the junior suite, which is a quietly spectacular space. Beautiful clean lines and stylish modern wood panelling create a cool and classy finish. Much like the rooftop bar, it maximises space without feeling crowded or cluttered.
The communal spaces are peppered with beautiful books about art, food and worldly matters. This is in homage to Senõr Cambó, who commissioned the building for his private apartments and who was famed for financing the translation of many works of literature into Catalan, to make them available to the local people. The hotel staff were great, and genuinely seemed proud of the building’s history. Overall, if you’re looking for laidback luxury, the Grand Central has it in buckets.
Neighbourhood
El Born is packed full of independent shops, cafes and bars. The interconnecting windy narrow streets are a pleasure to get lost in and you really have no idea what is waiting for you round the next corner.
Nearby
- Mescladís del Pou is a wonderful community-run cafe that helps migrants upskill and integrate into the local culinary scene. It’s a cool hang-out too and the food is great. Win-win.
- Bar Leo in Barceloneta is a kooky little spot for locals that doubles up as some kind of mad shrine to ’60s rumba singer Bambino Piccolino.
- El Vaso de Oro is a tight railroad-style tapas bar with excellent food and cold frosty beers served by busy waistcoated bar staff that don’t stop moving
Time Out tip
The poolside Balinese beds get snapped up pretty quick, so make sure you book ahead.