Santa Ana, 18-20, Barcelona, Spain | (888) 551-4925
Short walk to attractions like Plaça Catalunya and Las Ramblas
Supermarkets, restaurants, and commerce all nearby
Rooms well insulated from street noise
Many rooms have small balconies
Charm of an early 20th-century building
Hotel keeps luggage for day in cases of late checkout
Computer stations with free Internet
Rooms may not be fully insulated from hallway noises
Some room windows open onto an elevator shaft
Fees for Wi-Fi, safe box, and use of TV remote
Wi-Fi reportedly spotty or slow
Location is a huge draw of this property, as Nouvel Hotel is a historic building in the Art Nouveau style situated four minutes by foot from Plaça de Catalunya, considered by many to be the center of Barcelona. The property’s common areas feature much of the grandeur of the original interior architecture. Still, the hotel offers very little by way of amenities, and rooms are dated, though clean and of reasonable size. Many visitors have noted that the mattresses are on the firm side and that the rooms are well insulated from street noise, though not so much from noise produced by fellow guests.
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Scene
An updated Art Nouveau building popular with tourists who want to be centrally situated
Frosted glass chandeliers, a glass arcade in the restaurant, and a grandiose marble staircase leading up to guest rooms all constitute some of the fabulous interior architecture at this property. Some of the modern updates make for a strange combination—the armchair textiles in the lobby, for instance, clash somewhat with their surroundings. Considering the limited number of services the hotel offers apart from its rooms, some guests find the cost high. However, most tourists, who constitute the majority of visitors here, are interested in Nouvel Hotel’s close proximity to the center of town.
Location
Four-minute walk to Plaça Catalunya; near artistic institutions like the Picasso Museum
The property is ideally situated for access to major tourist sights. It is a short walk to iconic attractions like Las Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya, Barcelona’s busiest square wedged between the old city and the 19th-century district known as the Eixample. Plaça Catalunya is also where one can catch the bus that runs directly to the airport, taking approximately one hour (no transfers necessary). The Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house is less than 10 minutes south of the hotel by foot, while the Picasso Museum is less than 15 minutes east.
Rooms
Slightly strange mix of old-world style with some updated elements
The rooms here retain multiple aspects of the building’s historic character, both through the interior architecture and decor accents like crown molding and cinched curtains. The floral patterned bedspreads just look old, rather than deliberately traditional, however. These elements are coupled with more modern features like sliding glass doors in bathrooms. Beds may feel firm, and all spaces have air-conditioning. Many of the bathrooms have been handsomely updated with bamboo flooring and marble surfaces. Some also have a combination shower/bathtub with a glass half-door instead of a curtain.Overall, the decor feels a bit on the dated, grandiose side and the Wi-Fi is reportedly spotty. Nonetheless, guests have consistently commented on the cleanliness of the rooms.
Features
Not many apart from a bar and restaurant
The hotel offers little in the way of amenities besides a marble-floored restaurant and bar, though there are 24-hour reception services and Wi-Fi (for a fee) that's said to be slow at times. Many guests have also commented that the breakfast is on the pricey side and isn’t worth the cost. Keep in mind there are multiple bakeries worth their salt in the immediate area.
