Mercer Hotel Barcelona

Despite its location in Barcelona's busy Gothic Quarter, the Mercer Hotel Barcelona is an oasis of calm. A sweet fragrance permeates its historic -- make that ancient -- interior, some of which dates to the first century. The building's history is reflected in its stone walls, archways, and Roman wall that dates to ancient Barcino (Latin for Barcelona). While the hotel has preserved its history and ancient remains, its decor is thoroughly modern, with sleek gray sofas and colorful block-floor rugs. The lobby also does double duty as a mini-museum by hosting art exhibitions.

A bit hidden down a quiet cobblestone street but within walking distance to many top attractions, the Mercer Hotel Barcelona is well-situated for leisure travelers. But taxi drivers sometimes have dificulty finding it, and so the best way to approach this property is on foot. The hotel is close to the action of the city's Gothic Quarter, surrounded by bars, tapas spots, and restaurants. The beach at Barceloneta, Las Ramblas, Boqueria market, Barcelona Cathedral, the Picasso Museum, and the Palau de Musica are all within a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Mercer, as is the trendy Born District, which begins on the eastern side of Via Laietana. The Jaume 1 metro station (Line 4), which connects to three other lines at Passeig de Gracia, is a five-minute walk from the Mercer.

There are two standout features of the rooms at the Mercer Hotel Barcelona: First are the beds: Comfortable and luxurious, they're done up in high-end white linens. Second are the bathrooms, which get lower marks than the beds: They're "open plan," meaning there is no real divide between the facilities and the place of rest, a layout that doesn't appeal to everyone. Rooms, which incorporate stone walls, beamed ceilings, and sleek, modern design, come in five categories, from superior to suites, with the most significant difference being the size of the rooms. All rooms have wood floors, large windows, flat-screen TVs, rain showers, Molton Brown toiletries, slippers, and twice-daily housekeeping service with free water provided at turn down. Some rooms have balconies. All rooms are quiet, even those that overlook the hotel's entrance, but for total silence, request a room that faces the courtyard.

For a property with just 28 rooms, the Mercer Hotel Barcelona packs in several features that might be expected of a much larger property. Guests can eat and imbibe on the rooftop deck, in the cocktail lounge, in the tapas bistro Le Bouchon, and in Jean Luc Figueras' Mercer Restaurant JLF. There's also a terrace on the hotel's fourth floor that houses a plunge pool and offers views over the ancient rooftops of the Gothic Quarter. There's also 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi, but no spa or fitness center.