Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas

Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas is housed in a four-floor building erected in 1866, and features the Arabesque arches and wooden doors of the original building. However, the look inside is thoroughly contemporary. Avant garde light fixtures and vivid violet and red seating in the lobby make a fine first impression, and colorful modern art and photos line the walls. The breakfast room is a bright space with globe-shaped hanging lamps, bronze and metallic blue chairs, and photography on the walls. The pool and rooftop terrace get good direct sun, and guests gather here to cool off in the pool, sip a drink from the poolside bar, and relax on a lounge chair. The hotel draws leisure travelers with its affordable rates, rooftop pool, and central location that's a short walk from the metro, Las Ramblas, and nightlife. 

Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas is in El Raval, a somewhat scruffy, bohemian, and quite trendy part of the city. Across the street are a grocery store and a couple of cafes, and numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops are a short walk from the hotel. The bustling Boqueria Market is a two-minute walk, and La Rambla, the Liceu opera house, and the Liceu Metro station are a little under five minutes on foot. Expect a seven-minute walk to MACBA. The Gothic Quarter is a 10-minute stroll across Las Ramblas, while the Picasso Museum is 15 minutes away on foot. Famous Sagrada Familia is a 15-minute drive or 20-minute trip by bus or metro. Barcelona Sants train station is 15 minutes away by car and Barcelona-El Prat Airport is around a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Catalunya Square is a 10-minute walk or drive, and the Aerobus (cheaper than a taxi) runs to the airport from there. You can also take the metro to the airport in about in an hour.

The quiet rooms at the Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas have a stylish boutique feel. The white, gray, and beige color palette is livened up with purple curtains, decorative throws, and red throw pillows. Graphic-print headboards add even more character, as do brick walls in some rooms. At 140 square feet (13 square meters), a few lower-category rooms are a little snug, even for Barcelona, though most are spacious enough. Keep in mind that while there are small balconies in certain rooms, some have only a single small window meaning limited natural light. All 111 rooms come with air-conditioning, minibars, electric kettles or Nespresso machines, free Wi-Fi, and wall-mounted 40-inch flat-screen TVs. Some rooms have sofa beds. Bathrooms are clad in marble and have a stylish look. All come with make-up mirrors, hairdryers, and good-quality bath products, and either stall showers or shower/tub combos.

Many three-pearl Barcelona hotels don't have swimming pools, which makes the fourth-floor rooftop outdoor pool here a nice surprise. It's not suitable for a genuine swim, but it's still a good place to splash around and cool off on hot Barcelona days. The adjacent deck has lounge chairs and a poolside bar. The hotel has no restaurant for lunch and dinner, but it does serve a breakfast buffet (for a fee) with an ample spread featuring Spanish tortillas, hot eggs, cold cuts, cereal, pastries, and fruit. The quality is fairly good, but there are occasional issues with the hot items getting cold. The Leonardo also has meeting rooms, a lobby computer, and 24-hour front desk. Luggage storage after check-out is available, though the hotel charges for this service, which is a bummer.  Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.