Loreto, 28, Barcelona, Spain | (618) 248-8274
In Les Corts
neighborhood, near Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium
Spacious guest rooms with
modern-style furniture
Outdoor terrace with pool
On-site conference room for meetings and events
Small fitness center with
sauna
Interesting original art
and lithographs by Catalan artists
Continental breakfast
buffet with made-to-order options
Laundry and 24-hour room service available
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Noise from neighboring
rooms can be heard through thin walls
Central Barcelona sights
take half an hour to reach on foot
Fitness center has limited equipment
Breakfast not included in standard rates
Open showers in Duplex Rooms lack privacy
The mid-range Hotel Gran Derby offers 43 spacious guest rooms with thoughtful mid-century-modern details, down to Le Corbusier-style furniture. It's situated on a residential block in
Barcelona's Les Corts neighborhood, a short walk from the shops of Avenida Diagonal -- just a block
away -- but far from many of the city's main attractions. The hotel draws mostly business travelers, although features such as an outdoor pool and terrace attract tourists looking for good value
as well. Guests wishing to stay closer to Barcelona’s historic center for about
the same price may want to compare rates at the Andante Hotel, which also has a pool, but smaller rooms.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Eclectic hotel with mid-century-modern touches and striking art
At first glance, the Gran Derby looks like a tall version of a building that might be found in an English
town square, but the lobby inside has a distinctly eclectic, mid-century-modern vibe. Retro and vintage furniture contrast against striking black-and-white
checkerboard tile floors, and there are abstract sculptures tucked into
nooks that line the walls. Hallways feel a bit dorm-like, but get plenty of light
through a glass-enclosed marble staircase that runs alongside the elevator.
There aren’t many places to sit and relax in the lobby, though there is a terrace with a pool for fair-weather lounging. While this hotel is geared
towards business travelers, the large rooms attract leisure travelers, too.
Location
In residential Les Corts neighborhood, within walking distance of the metro
The Hotel Gran Derby is located in Les Corts neighborhood, on a block filled with
residential apartment buildings and storefronts. There's plenty of great shopping
available along Avenida Diagonal, one block away. Camp Nou Stadium -- home to
Barcelona’s famed FC Barcelona soccer team -- is a 20-minute journey on foot, and
game day can be a lively occasion in the otherwise quiet neighborhood. The Hospital Clinic
metro station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, from where attractions such as Plaza Catalunya, Barri Gotic, and the beach at Barceloneta take anywhere
from 15 to 30 minutes. There's a taxi stand just outside the hotel, and a taxi takes around 20 minutes to reach El
Prat International Airport. The same trip takes about an hour
by bus, which stop along Avenida Diagonal.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with mid-century-modern furniture and artistic details
The Gran Derby's mid-century vibe carries over into the spacious guest rooms, which feature mid-century-modern-style furniture that recall Le Corbusier’s minimalist
aesthetic, wood paneling, and
stone tiles. However, details such as cheap-looking satin comforters
on the beds and mismatched tiles in the rooms detract from what would otherwise come across as a chic
retreat. Rooms have bay windows, flat-screen TVs with limited satellite
options, and minibars. The double beds are actually two twin
mattresses pushed together and aren’t very comfortable. Deluxe Rooms have small
tables and leather love seats, while Family Rooms have sofa beds and separate
lounge areas. Duplex Rooms are spread out over two floors: a checkerboard-tiled living area
with a sofa, table, and chairs on a main floor and a bedroom and bathroom
upstairs. Junior Suites also offer separate bedrooms and have lovely oak furnishings. Bathrooms are a decent size, with contemporary
vanities and shower/tub combos, some of which have jetted tubs. Duplex
Rooms feature walk-in showers surrounded by transparent glass off of the bedrooms, and lack privacy. Many guest
rooms have eye-catching artwork on the walls, and the hardwood bas-relief
sculptures over the beds in Duplex Rooms are especially appealing.
Features
Outdoor terrace with pool, small sauna, and continental breakfast (not included)
The hotel’s outdoor
terrace is one of the few public places to relax and it has a tranquil
vibe, with a small outdoor pool, trees, planters, and lounge chairs. A
small sauna is a nice touch, though the fitness center is both tiny and spartan, with only an exercise bike, a treadmill, a sit-up bench, and two pairs of
free weights. The hotel’s website claims that the Epsom Bar and The Times
Restaurant are on-site, but they are actually across the street in the hotel’s
sister property, Hotel Derby. A sparse but sleek conference hall can be booked for private meetings and events, as can the terrace and pool. A continental breakfast buffet with made-to-order eggs is served in an attractive room lined with abstract prints
by Catalan artist Josep Maria Guinovart. However, it's not included in most room rates and is on the expensive side. Laundry service is available for a fee and Wi-Fi
is free throughout the hotel. An external restaurant provides 24-hour room
service, but the quality is on the weak side.
