Sometimes, you can tell a lot about a hotel from its name, and Grand Hotel Central certainly fits the bill. As you expect, this hotel is grand and central, but it certainly doesn’t let that do all the heavy lifting. The Grand Central Hotel offers a unique blend of historic opulence and contemporary luxury design. Rooms are chic, spacious and designed with thoughtful mid-century modern execution – beautiful, clean lines and stylish modern wood panelling create a cool and classy finish. The classic rooms tick all the boxes for a simple stay, while the grand suite sits at the other end of the scale, offering opulent luxury in the city. There are no bad options; it all comes down to your budget and personal preference.
The hotel is located in a building once famous for being the tallest in Europe, and right at the top, you’ll find its rooftop terrace and pool, chilled-out by day and raucous at night. Much like the rooftop bar, it maximises space without feeling crowded or cluttered. Restaurant Can Bo serves delicious tapas, curated and created by fine dining chef par excellence Oliver Peña, and the wine cellar is packed with some of the finest creations oneophiles will find in the city.
At Grand Hotel Central, it all comes back to the rooftop. Many would-be travellers dreaming of a Barcelona adventure might conjure up images of rooftop pools and sunset views, and you’ll find all that and more here. The infinity pool provides the perfect backdrop for a spectacular aesthetic experience, whether you are looking for the sunrise or the sunset. Maybe hold off on that cocktail until the latter, of course. The building itself is a real treasure of Barcelona's history, and was one of the first to have an elevator. We’re happy that it still uses them today.
Time Out tip: Head to the eighth floor to learn about the life of Catalonia politician Francesc Cambó, with plenty of Barcelona history to boot.
Address: Via Laietana, 30, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Price per night: Starting from around €150
Closest transport: Jaume I metro station (Line L4), under 100 metres away