The 20 best hotels in Barcelona

That shiny sail-shaped tower at the edge of the Mediterranean could be your home in Barcelona, for as long as your budget allows. Relax in one of the stylish rooms and take in the stunning, seaside views. Boasting a spa, two pools, gourmet restaurants (one run by Michelin-starred chef Carlos Abellán), and a rooftop bar – this is the place to go if you want to feel a bit flash. It's set right on the beach at Barceloneta and minutes away from the Old City, where you can stroll through the streets of the Barri Gòtic and the charming El Born district, both brimming with restaurants and bars.

This iconic, modernista building stands at the head of Barcelona’s chic Passeig de Gràcia. The stunning Casa Fuster is a monument in itself, built in 1908 by architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner. His work, including the hotel, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. So staying at Casa Fuster doesn't only mean sleeping in a luxury five-star hotel – it means sleeping in a work of art. Boasting a rooftop terrace with a pool and excellent views of the city centre, a jazz club, and a restaurant that serves up Mediterranean cuisine, this is a singular space that's full of history.

The Arts is one of the most emblematic hotels in the city for many reasons – its coveted location near the sea, its cutting edge design and its restaurant among them. In the kitchen is renowned chef Sergi Arola, who combines local traditions and seasonal ingredients with characteristic creativity. Arola whips up imaginative reinterpretations of traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Definitely make your way up to the lovely rooftop terrace for impressive sea views.

El Palace is a bit of Barcelona's living history. The building, which first opened its doors in 1919, features a neoclassical façade, and elegant rooms that have been completely renovated. When you're hungry, get tapas and Mediterranean dishes at one of the in-house restaurants 19/Nineteen, or head to the Winter Garden restaurant, an intimate space on the hotel terrace. You can also start or end your night at Bluesman with a tasty cocktail and live jazz. After a bit of R&R? El Palace houses a Mayan-style spa with a Temazcal sauna.

This exclusive 22-room hotel is set in an 18th-century aristocratic house with views of one of Barcelona's most historic squares, Plaça Sant Felip Neri. The building enjoys Special Monument Status and features a gorgeous, original façade. There's also an original 17th-century stone wall that separates the bar area from the restaurant. If you can tear yourself away, you're very close to La Rambla on one side and the Cathedral on the other, both must-see stops during your stay in Barcelona.

Once the headquarters for the Association of Cotton Manufacturers, it's easy to spot decorative and structural elements that are reminiscent of this hotel's past. That's not to say Cotton House have compromised on luxury: every inch of the place has been carefully designed to maximise comfort. Plush Rooms and a lovely terrace on the interior patio are highlights. Located in the historic centre of Barcelona, wander out on foot for a snack during the day or a glass of cava at night.

Alma Barcelona stands on some coveted real estate just one street away from La Pedrera, a five-minute walk from Casa Batlló, and just over a kilometre from the city's central square, Plaça de Catalunya. The height of luxury has got to be the hotel's restaurant, El Jardi de l'Alma, an enormous, beautiful garden where you can have a drink or a meal and feel like you're in a leafy grove. For the ultimate relaxation, check out the hotel spa's indoor pool, hammam or sauna.

A neoclassical style building with a spectacular original facade, the Majestic is set right on Passeig de Gràcia. Inside there's a full-treatment spa, a piano bar, a cocktail bar, and a modern Gourmet Bar on the rooftop terrace next to the pool. From there you get vistas of the city: look one way and see Montjuïc mountain, look the other for the Sagrada Família. Michelin-starred chef Nandu Jubany serves as the culinary consultant, and you can discover Catalan cuisine in any of the hotel's three restaurants and two bars.

You'll find the Hotel Omm on Passeig de Gràcia, just a five-minute walk to Gaudí's La Pedrera. Luxurious delights include perfectly equipped, boutique-style rooms with views of the city or the interior garden, and a spa with steam baths and selection of facial treatments and aromatherapy. Best of all might be their gastronomic offering, called Roca Barcelona and made up of the Michelin-starred restaurant Roca Moo as well as the Roca Bar, which is a less formal spot where you can enjoy tapas and smaller dishes to share.

If you fancy staying out of the bustle of the city centre, Primero Primera in Barcelona's uptown neighbourhood of Sarrià is a great option. It's also a bit different from your typical luxury hotel in looks, with its stone and wood decor giving it the cosy feel of a mountain home. One of the prettiest areas of this 30-room boutique hotel is its patio, full of greenery, and a spot in the back that's ideal for having a quiet drink. 

When a hotel's name has the word 'restaurant' in it, you know what their big selling point will be. Indeed, ABaC is one of only three restaurants in all of Barcelona to have earned three Michelin stars, thanks to renowned chef Jordi Cruz. This boutique hotel's 30 soundproof rooms are both cosy and spacious; you can even treat yourself to a suite with a private jacuzzi. There's no outside swimming pool, but if you head to the spa you can take a dip in the pool there, as well as lounging on heated stone chairs, and visiting the hammam.

The Barceló Raval is a cosmopolitan design hotel in one of Barcelona's most vibrant neighbourhoods. Set in an impressive oval-shaped building, the hotel's treasure is its 360º rooftop terrace bar, where you'll find binoculars dotted around, perfectly placed for zooming in on city landmarks. Attractions near enough to visit in just a few minutes on foot include the MACBA Museum, the Liceu opera house and La Boquería on La Rambla, the Columbus monument and the port beyond.

If you're looking to stay outside the centre of Barcelona, this strikingly modern, uptown five-star hotel that could be a great fit. And hey, if you're also in town for a Barça match then even better, as you're just a five-minute walk from Camp Nou. The swanky Sofia's designer rooms have names like Harmony, Sphere and Infinity. You can also treat yourself in the Oasis spa, where you can really get away from it all.

Set on top of Tibidabo mountain, phenomenal views over the whole city and the Mediterranean are the big draw at this grand five-star hotel. When you stay here you can also bliss out for free in the L'Occitane spa and dine on gourmet Catalan, Spanish and Mediterranean cusine in the Barcelonas Restaurant. This is a great area for exploring nature, as you're in Collserola Park, and staying right next to attractions such as the Tibidabo amusement park and the Sagrat Cor temple. Not far down the hill you've got Gaudí's Park Güell, and metro and local trains that get you into the centre or to the sea.

The Miramar is nestled among the gardens of Montjuïc in a former 'noucentista' (early 20th-century Catalan cultural and movement) palace. As it's set atop one of Barcelona's two mountains and is called 'Miramar' (roughly, 'Look at the sea'), you know you can expect some top views here. Be sure to stop in at the terrace bar, and also enjoy that spectacular outdoor swimming pool. When you head out, you've got the whole of Montjuïc at your feet, with the Joan Miró Foundation and MNAC museums, gorgeous public gardens, the Greek theatre, and more. Keep heading downhill and you're at the old port and the foot of La Rambla.

The design hotel that is the Grand Central Hotel Barcelona offers fantastic views of the Barri Gòtic and the Barcelona Cathedral from the infinity pool on the rooftop. The City Bar & Restaurant has three areas: a restaurant in informal surroundings that cooks up fresh Mediterranean cuisine; a bar that plays good music and mixes up lush cocktails; and a space dedicated to art, the Gallery, which exhibits work by local artits. You'll also find a modern bar on the rooftop where you can have a drink and appreciate the city views.

Set smack in the middle of the Barri Gòtic, this majestic hotel was built on ancient traces of the Roman water channel, where the first Count of Barcelona had his palace. On the terrace you'll find a unique, glass-sided pool. Romain Fornell is the chef in charge of the hotel's kitchen, where they prepare contemporary cuisine that includes a reinterpretation of traditional and avant-garde dishes.

Some 400 metres from the Nova Mar Bella beach stands this Hilton hotel. There's an urban terrace and an outdoor pool plus another kiddie pool (for when you get sick of all those blues and greens of the Mediterranean). When you're not at the beach, head away from the shore to explore the art and culture hub that is the neighbourhood of Poblenou. You've also got the Parc del Fòrum nearby, so if you're in town for some of Barcelona's biggest music festivals the Fòrum hosts, you only have to dance your way to your hotel afterwards.

The Brummell is a lovely boutique hotel set close to the centre, as well as the seaside mountain's museums and gardens. It's the best of both worlds. There's a striking outdoor pool, beautiful views that stretch across the city, and a chic garden patio. There's also free yoga classes on offer. Food-wise, you can indulge in gorgeous eats from the Brummell Kitchen.

The Cubik opened in 2015 on a spot that's just about as central as you can get in Barcelona. This modern, 101-room hotel is designed in geometric shapes reminiscent of mid-20th-century brutalist architecture. Inside you'll find futuristic elements and plenty of light, as well as the restaurant Market and the Robotik Bar. Head up to the eighth floor for the Atik terrace, where you can enjoy a plunge pool by day, and by night have drinks and nibbles, all with spectacular panoramic views of the city.