Hotel Arts is a big deal. It’s part of the city’s silhouette, and as recognisable on Barcelona’s skyline as the Sagrada Familia. No exaggeration. Everyone knows ‘the towers’, built for the 1992 Olympic Games and visible from the plane when approaching the airport from the coast. One of them is the Arts, one of Barcelona’s best-known and most luxurious hotels, where the location, the service, the gardens and pools, and above all the carefully designed rooms with unique views make it a safe choice for those with a generous budget or looking to treat themselves.
Why stay at Hotel Arts?
Staying on one of the hotel’s 44 floors – the higher the better – is one of those things anyone who has visited Barcelona (or lives here) has wanted to do at least once. So visitors should keep this in mind when looking for a luxury hotel in the city. Part of the Ritz Carlton group, Hotel Arts offers everything you’d expect from this brand, and the recent renovation of many of its rooms and suites is another reason to visit now more than ever – the whole hotel is sparkling.
What are the rooms like at Hotel Arts?
With more than 400 rooms spread over about thirty floors – the upper ones currently reserved for luxury residences – there’s plenty to choose from. Here you’ll find 56 executive suites (some of which have just been refurbished), 28 duplex apartments, and then a few ultra-luxury suites; the Arts Suite, Mediterranean Suite, Royal Suite and Presidential Suite.
The spectacular views of the sea, the city, or both are without doubt one of its main attractions, and every room will deliver on one or the other. In fact, this sea-and-mountain theme, so often used to situate oneself in Barcelona, is the guiding thread of the décor in the renovated rooms and suites, combining Mediterranean warmth with a very welcoming, understated idea of luxury. The light pouring in through the windows, the space – even in the simplest rooms, let alone the spectacular brand-new suites – and the attention to detail, from the towels to the lamps and furniture, are exactly what you expect from a hotel at this level.
What is the food like at Hotel Arts?
The fact that you can find both caviar and butifarra at the hotel’s splendid breakfast is a good summary of the way it combines luxury and local products. The buffet, together with the à la carte dishes, is varied and high quality, and only the coffee (Nespresso) feels a bit out of step – at least for serious coffee drinkers – with the rest of the offering, which can be enjoyed indoors or on a lovely terrace. The Enoteca restaurant, with two Michelin stars and Paco Pérez at the helm, is the jewel in the hotel’s food offering. In total there are five restaurants, including the P41 cocktail bar and Marina Coastal Food, the poolside restaurant with a good selection of fresh, Mediterranean dishes.
What’s the service like at Hotel Arts?
The challenge for a hotel of this size is making every guest feel special, and not just another among the hundreds of rooms. A large, attentive and very international team takes care of this, ready to guide, answer questions and handle requests in any language. Reception can get a little cramped during peak check-in and check-out times, but even then there’s always someone on hand to speed things up and make the process easier. Service at breakfast is outstanding, and room service is not only friendly but also fast and efficient.
What pools and facilities are there at Hotel Arts?
As well as being a luxury hotel, the Arts is also an urban resort, combining its proximity to the beach with its gardens and pools (undergoing a big renovation in August 2025, along with other common areas) to become one of the city’s great oases. It has a couple of pools and an outdoor jacuzzi, which, it’s true, can feel a little small for a hotel with 400 rooms, but it usually doesn’t feel too crowded. There’s also a gym, a spa, a programme of activities for adults and children, and, in short, everything you’d expect from a large hotel of this level. The care of the gardens, the flowers throughout many of the common spaces, and the pieces of art dotted throughout are also part of its hallmark.
What’s the area like around Hotel Arts?
The hotel’s proximity to the beach is one of its strong points – though visitors should remember that Barcelona’s beaches are not exactly paradise. Even so, a morning swim before returning in time for breakfast can be a great way to make the most of the location, which also appeals to runners, as jogging by the sea here is always pretty special. To get to the centre or the city’s main sights you’ll need a short taxi ride or a long walk, since there isn’t much to see in the Port Olímpic area. The good news is that the area’s renovation and the opening of the so-called Gastronomic Balcony have greatly improved the local restaurant scene.
Why book a stay at Hotel Arts?
Since it opened in 1992 two things have remained the same: the Arts is still Barcelona’s tallest building, at 154 metres, and one of the city’s landmark hotels when it comes to luxury. Rooms are freshly renovated and luxurious, and if you’re in Barcelona, you should wake up at least once to the views this hotel offers. If travel is about experiences, staying here is one of them.
DETAILS
Address: Marina, 19-21, 08005 Barcelona
Price: Rooms from €350 per night
Closest transport: L4 (Ciutadella Vila Olímpica), ten minutes by metro from the city centre
Book now: Via Booking.com