Hotel Brummell

This quirky and trendy boutique hotel is housed in an old city building that has been completely renovated. Some aspects of the original building have been preserved and work well alongside the contemporary furniture and decor that has now been implemented. The hotel describes its style as “tropical modernism,” which includes design elements from exotic and Nordic regions, as well as Mediterranean influences. The lobby and breakfast area have contemporary light wood furniture, a monochrome color scheme, and eclectic art objects displayed on chunky, untreated wooden shelves. Industrial-style lamps light the space, giving everything a techie, start-up vibe. The owner of the hotel is a keen photographer and his atmospheric black-and-white photos adorn the walls -- they're also available to buy as greetings cards at reception. Overall, there's a relaxed and quiet vibe here that attracts mostly couples looking to stay somewhere chic in a neighborhood that feels authentically cool and local.

The hotel is located in Poble Sec, just a five-minute walk from the Avenida del Parallel, where there are a wide range of theaters and entertainment venues, as well as many restaurants and bars. The neighborhood itself is up-and-coming -- or rather, it's already arrived -- with an abundance of hipster cafes and shops. It’s a 15-minute walk to the port of Barcelona, ​​the Columbus monument, and the famous Las Ramblas shopping boulevard. The scruffy and bohemian El Raval neighborhood is a bit closer, and takes 10 minutes to reach on foot. The Joan Miro Foundation is also just a 10-minute walk behind the hotel, up Montjuic. The walk to the top of Montjuic, with its hilltop fortress and museum, takes about 25 minutes and is filled with lovely city views, though it can alternatively be reached in 15 minutes by bus. The bus stop and the Parallel Metro station are both a five-minute walk from the hotel. Expect a 15-minute metro ride to Plaza Catalunya and a 25-minute ride to Gaudi's Sagrada Familia.  Barcelona–El Prat Airport is a 20-minute drive from the property. It will take about 70 minutes to reach the airport by metro.

The 20 stylish guest rooms at the Hotel Brummell are available as Classic, Poolside Classic, Suite, or Penthouse categories. Rooms are simple and contemporary, with soft gray and white decor and light wood flooring. Artwork by young European artists hangs on the walls. They have a lightbox outside each one with the room number illuminated, and other quirky touches include open closets with a functional and industrial look, tile-effect feature walls, and sliding doors leading into the en-suite bathrooms. 

All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, safes, desks, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms in higher categories have a terrace with an outdoor bath tub. Bathrooms are hyper on-trend as well, and have either a bathtub/shower combos or large walk-in shower . The soft mint square tiling is just a touch retro, while cutting-edge fixtures including vessel sinks and rainfall showerheads make everything feel a step above the three-pearl category. The premium Malin + Goetz toiletries are a nice addition. It's worth noting that some bathrooms -- like the Poolside Classic Room that we visited -- do have open wet-room style bathrooms, where the shower is situated at the far end of the space, but is not closed off from the rest of the room.

The hotel has a breakfast area in the lobby, although breakfast is not included in the room rate. It's served a la carte, which is a rarity in Barcelona. There is also a restaurant on-site, The Box Social, by renowned chef Damian Bolger. It’s a contemporary bistro which offers fresh, seasonal, local food and receives rave reviews from diners. There are plenty of other nice-to-haves as well, including an indoor courtyard with a fish pond, a sauna, and a shop selling local products and where guests can rent bikes. There is also a small outdoor swimming pool which is surrounded by deck chairs, parasols, and chunky wooden side tables. It has an adjacent sun deck with dining tables and chairs and a large canopy offering some shade. Potted plants add some greenery to the space. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property as well.