Hotel Medicis

The Hotel Medicis building is about 60 years old and five stories tall, located amidst the Catalan Modernist buildings of the Horta-Guinardo District. The property is compact, clean, and functional inside. The lobby features lots of natural light and a red-and-white color scheme, extending from leather sofas to window shades and abstract wall art. A two-level terrace with simple metal and black-wicker furniture is separated by a metallic spiral staircase. The terrace overlooks surrounding buildings and is the only other common space aside from the lobby. Staff are consistently friendly and helpful, offering maps and transportation tips when guests arrive and throughout their stay. Guests are a mix of tourist families and couples as well as business travelers -- including doctors working in nearby clinics. 

Hotel Medicis is located in the Horta-Guinardo district of Barcelona. This is a quiet, somewhat residential area about 30 minutes by metro from the city center. There are many tapas restaurants, bars, and shops around the property, as well as several private clinics and the Hospital de Sant Pau (within a five-minute walk). The area is a also a hub of Catalan Modernist architecture, including Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, located just a 10-minute walk from the hotel. A bus stops near the hotel front door, while the Sant Pau-Dos de Maig (L5) metro station is a four-minute walk away. A bus ride to Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona, takes about 30 to 35 minutes. Barcelona-El Prat Airport is about one hour and 10 minutes away by public transportation. 

Rooms are clean, efficiently designed, and have plenty of natural light. Decor is modern and simple and includes gray tile floors and more red and white -- on beds, curtains, and walls. Each room has a small metal desk with a basic white chair. There's a decent amount of storage space in open units with shelves and a small rack for hanging clothes. Rooms are on the small side, especially Singles, but some extend to small balconies or larger terraces. All rooms are air-conditioned and have flat-screen TVs (with satellite channels in several languages), safes, and free Wi-Fi. Kettles for coffee and tea are also provided and most rooms (except Singles) have mini-fridges. Bathrooms have angular green-glass sinks and shower stalls with glass doors. Generic toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Noise from the street and from hallways can be heard in some rooms. 

This hotel's best feature is probably its convenient location as there's no full restaurant, bar, or gym here. For travelers who don't mind not being directly in the center, the hotel provides easy access to public transportation as well as La Sagrada Familia. Otherwise, there's not much extra here. Breakfast is served each morning for a fee, but guests advise leaving the hotel for cheaper options. Parking is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free and consistent throughout the property.