Gran Via de las Cortes Catalanas, 605-607, Barcelona, Spain | (888) 551-4925
In Eixample, between Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia
One-minute walk from the Passeig de Gracia metro station
Building and lobby are gorgeous and extravagantly decorated
Bright, attractive rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars
Restaurant and lobby bar both offer live music
Hair salon with various treatments available
Event spaces, including Gran Salon, can accommodate up to 500
Free Wi-Fi
Rooms can get noisy
No fitness center or full spa (in-room massages are available)
Some beds are really two mattresses pushed together
The luxurious, 151-room Avenida Palace Barcelona exudes fancy old-world splendor. Inside the beautiful building, chandeliers, an extravagant spiral staircase, and serious artwork channel elegance from a bygone era. The location is central: The hotel is in the heart of Eixample, between Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia, and right by the Passeig de Gracia metro station. Rooms are simpler than the grand lobby but are comfy and include minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. There is a restaurant, a classy lobby bar, a beauty salon, and space to host conferences, meetings, or tie the knot.
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Scene
A gorgeous, swanky, and lavish building and lobby
This wildly grand, nine-story hotel was built in 1952, where the legendary tea lounge and restaurant, Casa Llibre, had previously stood. The architecture takes its inspiration from classical 19th-century European splendor. Ernest Hemingway, Joan Miro, and Liza Minnelli stayed at the aptly named Avenida Palace, as did the Beatles during their one and only Barcelona performance.The place is indeed palatial, with marble, chandeliers, bouquets of fresh flowers, gold spiral staircases with gilded banisters, luxuriously upholstered furniture (think couches in blue silk and gold damask), and more sleek, shiny marble. Artwork includes a golden winged sculpture, grand vases, and stately busts. Outside the building’s extravagant detailing, shrubs and trees grow in carefully manicured perfection. The opulence feels like a cross between Vegas tacky and old-world elegance. It definitely makes a magnificent impression.
Location
Centrally located between the Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia, and right by the Passeig de Gracia metro station
The Avenida Palace Hotel sits on the leafy, stately Gran Via, in the elegant Eixample neighborhood, sandwiched between the Rambla de Catalunya and the shopping district of Passeig de Gracia. A long lineup of charming restaurants, bars, and shops abound. The Passeig de Gràcia metro station is right outside the hotel’s door. A 10-minute walk will take visitors to the Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas, and in the other direction, the hotel is within walking distance of Casa Batilo and Casa Mila, two major Gaudi landmarks.
Rooms
Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars in attractive -- but not ostentatious -- rooms
Compared to the Avenida Palace Hotel’s lavish public areas, the rooms feel relatively sedate. Rooms on the top floors have lovely views, more sunlight, and less noise. There’s a Beatles suite, decked out in myriad Beatles paraphernalia in homage to the iconic band. All rooms have hardwood floors, desks, and handsome, modern furniture. Bathrooms are outfitted in marble and decked out with fresh flowers and ample toiletries. Rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars; suites have kitchenettes, giant bathrooms, and living areas. Thin walls mean rooms can get rather noisy.
Features
A restaurant, piano bar, hair salon, and ample event spaces
The Avenida Palace's Cafe Gran Via Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine, including an a la carte lunch and dinner menu. There is also a swanky lounge bar (on evenings, live music envelops the space), and room service is offered. There are plenty of meeting and event facilities, including seven function rooms, three of which can be opened up into one big space. The Gran Salon can host 500 people; this is a popular spot for weddings. A salon offers hairstyling, massages, and mani/pedis; massages are also offered in guest rooms. There is no on-site fitness center.
