From a state of the art spa to Michelin starred dining, rooftop pools to sumptuous suites; Catalonian hotels don’t come much chicer than the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona.
As first timers in Barcelona, staying in the Spanish city’s luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel has left us rather spoilt when it comes to short city breaks.
Much like London, Barcelona has that grimy vs. glamour thing down to a T – historic architecture sits beside modern art galleries, graffiti art beside Gaudi, trendy restaurants beside rustic, family-run tapas bars.
The Mandarin Oriental certainly sits on Barcelona’s glamourous side, but the attitude is in no way stuffy or snobbish, it’s quintessentially Catalonian in its down to earth, friendly approach.
Arriving at the hotel, which sits proudly up on a raised walkway in the middle of Barcelona’s premium shopping street, Passeig de Gràcia, we were greeted by the loveliest of doormen with a glass of fresh orange juice – a tradition at the Mandarin hotels. Already knowing our names, the doormen also greeted everyone who walked past by name, whether they were a man on business or little girl holidaying with her parents.
The hotel has been designed with subtle Eastern flare, from the oriental panels that line the walls, to the low-slung sofas just waiting to be lounged in, and high-backed ornate armchairs. All these intriguing interior details sit in stark contrast to modern white walls and a glass ceiling that literally pours in light.
The hotel’s rooms range from the small but sumptuous cheaper rooms, over looking the tree lined Passeig de Gràcia, to the grand suites on the top levels. No expense is spared when it comes to a little luxury, as the bathroom is fully stocked with every aromatherapy product you could wish for, an elaborate, edible display of chocolate on arrival, as well as all the regular mod cons.
Once we’ve settled into our room we head down to the Mandarin’s Blanc Brasserie & Gastrobar for a spot of lunch. The stark white, double height atrium sits nestled below the hotel lobby, below a glass roof that drips with light. Walls are lined with lush green plants and foliage, you feel like you could be in an oriental garden, never mind a European city.
The Blanc Brasserie is the hotel’s top dining spot for breakfast, lunch or a casual dinner, and the menu lives up to the aesthetic. We sampled a classic Catalan pea and ham stew, Moorish Catalan bread and a Chinese inspired tuna tartar. The menu is a mix of two sides of the globe, one that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
The next day we head back to Brasserie Blanc for an early breakfast, where a fresh feast of Spanish cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, fresh bread, and even dim sum is served up on a beautiful, dark oak Epicurean table in the centre of the room.
The Mandarin also offers up dining of Michelin star standard in the hotel’s Moments restaurant, which is much better suited for a decadent dinner. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t living up to Barcelona’s usual spring temperatures when we visited, so we missed out on alfresco dining in the Mimosa Garden restaurant – it did however look beautiful lined with potted plants, trees and comfy cushions.
Back inside and the hotel’s aptly named Banker’s Bar, which indeed used to be a bank, still showcases old vault boxes along the walls and a menu of delicious cocktails – make sure you try the Banker’s Martini.
In terms of exploring Barcelona, the Mandarin Oriental acts as the perfect base. Take a stroll out to the hotel’s neighbours, which include luxury stores like Prada, Burberry and Lowe. As well as some more credit card friendly high street stores like Zara and Cos.
Walk down the Passeig de Gràcia and you’ll hit Barcelona’s vibrant beach bars and seaside restaurants (about a half an hour’s walk), or take a little longer stroll or a short taxi ride in the opposite direction, to take in the splendid views of the Parc Güell that overlooks the entire city. A stop off at Gaudi’s breathtaking Sagrada Família church is also a must, where the Barcelona landmark is still being built some 130 years after it began.
A good tip is to see the sights early in the morning, before the crowds get too hectic, and spend the afternoon by the beach, exploring the city’s shops, wealth of museums or sampling up the array of tapas bars.
We headed back to the Mandarin to sample the hotel’s spa. Sat in the basement beneath the hotel, the spa is vast with multiple treatment rooms, an oriental steam room, relaxation area and 12-metre pool. The pool is arguably the most tranquil spot in Barcelona, crafted in jet black with soothing lighting the water takes on a dark, inky appearance – the perfect place to sit back and relax.
When it came to checkout we were genuinely sad, we could have happily stayed at the Mandarin for a whole week, even move in permanently. We’re already planning our next trip to see Barcelona in the summertime, we’ve yet to sample the Mandarin’s afresco dinning and rooftop pool after all.
Need to Know
Rooms: 98, including 10 suites
Rates: Doubles start from £406.74 per night, excluding tax at 10 per cent.
Facilities: Breakfast is included in all room rates, flat screen TV, DVD player, iPod dock, CD player, blackout curtains, Red Flower and Acqua di Parma toiletries, spa, gym, pool, rooftop pool, three restaurants and hotel bar. Cots or extra beds for children under 12 can be added to rooms free of charge.
Check out time: 12 noon
How to get there: Daily direct flights from London Gatwick, London Heathrow and London Standsted to Barcelona-El Prat Airport fly on various operators including British Airways and EasyJet. A taxi ride from Barcelona-El Prat to Mandarin Oriental takes about 20minutes.
Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Passeig de Gràcia, 38, 08007 Barcelona, Spain Tel. +34 931 51 88 88 www.mandarinoriental.com
Keep up-to-date with the latest travel news from around the world, in StyleNest’s Travel Notes page.