Enric Granados, 83, Barcelona, Spain | (618) 248-8274
Chic decor incorporating Hindu and Buddhist art
Sleek rooms have flat-screen TVs and stocked minibars
Eighth-floor bar serves cocktails and snacks
Centrally located near many tourist sites
3 Restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel
Meeting space and business center
Some rooms are small and dark
Pool is tiny
Gym is just a couple of machines in a small space
Fee for breakfast and parking
Clear bathroom door creates lack of privacy
Many rooms experience noise despite sound-proofed windows
The upscale 77-room Granados 83 is located in Eixample, near many tourist sights and within easy walking distance of Passeig de Gracia. Both the public spaces and rooms feature earth tones and gorgeous Hindu and Buddhist artworks. Ranging from tiny single rooms to duplex and family rooms, they all feature flat-screen TVs and modern bathrooms; however, some are dark and experience noise. Bathrooms with plush robes and ample amenities are a luxe touch, but the clear door separating it from the bedroom could cause a privacy issue for some. The 8 Terrace Bar is a popular spot for a cocktail and the adjacent pool is really only large enough for dipping toes. Although there's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, breakfast and parking will cost you.
Scene
Gorgeous wood and leather furnishings, mixed with Asian art, create a sleek urban space
The Granados 83 is housed in a former hospital and has been revamped in a Nouveau Art Deco style. The entrance is marked with pale pink and tan marble columns that then lead into a dark, chic lobby. Gorgeous earth-tone flooring, high-backed black leather chairs, and an exposed red brick wall create a cozy atmosphere. A highlight of the property are the numerous works of Hindu and Buddhist art scattered in the lobby and guest rooms. Although the property is kid-friendly thanks to the family-oriented rooms and a (tiny) pool, it's more popular with couples who want to be near many tourist sights but removed from the heavily trafficked Las Ramblas area. Business travelers can make use of the business center, function room, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. An outdoor terrace has ample seating and a water feature, but with high walls, views are nil; the 8 Terrace Bar has prettier vistas.
Location
On a quiet semi-pedestrian street in Eixample, an area with high-end restaurants and shopping
For guests that don't want to be in the heavily trafficked Las Ramblas area, Granados 83 is a 15-minute walk away in the quieter Eixample district. The neighborhood name literally means "expansion," and it's just a 15-minute walk from the hotel to the historical city center, anchored by the Plaza de Catalunya. Eixample is known for its gorgeous Modernist architecture, as well as its posh restaurants and stores. Passeig de Gracia, the neighborhood's major artery, is a seven-minute walk. A school is nearby and some guests have noted that it can be loud inside the rooms when kids are playing. Guests can take the frequently running metro to get around, which has stops near the hotel.
Rooms
Ranging from tiny Single Rooms to spacious Family Duplex Rooms; all have modern furnishings and flat-screen TVs
The most basic and smallest rooms at Granados 83 are the Single and Single Executive categories. All rooms feature the same color scheme and furnishings -- wood floors, brown leather couches and matching headboards, and slightly shiny black bedspreads. Exposed brick and stone walls, long sheer gray curtains, and black nightstands continue the earthy, rock and wood design. Note that some double beds are two twins pushed together and some rooms lack storage space.Gorgeous works of Asian art are spread throughout the spaces and a welcome rose sits in a glass vase. In-room safes have room for a small laptop. Family Deluxe Rooms have the most space, spread out over two levels; these rooms have semi-private terraces and share a small, narrow dipping pool. Many rooms face the elevator shaft, which hinders natural light and leads to more noise.Marble bathrooms have bathtub/shower combos, comfy robes, and ample toiletries, including bath salts. But doors separating the bedroom are clear and can pose a privacy issue.
Features
A tiny pool and adjacent bar on the eighth floor, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, and a lobby bar
This hotel lacks a spa and the gym is just a couple of machines in a small room, but there are multiple areas to sit back and grab a drink. Next to the tiny outdoor pool with a few adirondack chairs is the 8 Terrace Bar, named for its location on the eighth floor. There are numerous chairs and tables, and it serves substantial snacks like pizza and croquettes. The small but chic G Bar off the lobby has white tufted leather couches and a flat-screen TV behind the bar. The mediterranean-inspired 3 Restaurant receives good reviews, but guests have to pay for the breakfast offered. A central patio with water features and modern seating is a tranquil setting, but the high walls and surrounding buildings make the space feel small. There is a business center for guests as well as a meeting room that can hold 45 people sitting.