Ofelias Hotel

Ofelias Hotel is situated in a five-floor building on a quiet street, which is impressive as it sits near one of the city's busier areas, Plaza de Espana. The stylish boutique interiors are done in an intriguing mix of contemporary and classic elements. Modern accents abound like stark white furnishings and bold black-and-white geometric prints alongside vintage-inspired touches like dark wood floors and paneling, floral motif art, and colorful toile wallpaper. The main gathering points are the breakfast room, leafy courtyard, and rooftop pool and deck, and the elegant lobby lounge offers another good place to relax. At only 44 rooms, the hotel has an intimate atmosphere and draws mostly couples. With a location a five-minute walk from Fira de Barcelona trade fair, the Ofelias also draws a fair number of business travelers. 

Ofelias Hotel is located in the western Eixample on a quiet side street, just southeast of Joan Miro Park. There are a number of cafes, restaurants, and bars in the area, and the Arenas Shopping Center is across the street. Plaza de Espana -- which is home to a metro station -- is a two-minute walk from the hotel. The Fira de Barcelona trade fair is less than a five-minute walk. The trendy cafes of Poble Sec are a 15-minute walk away, while Montjuic's sights -- the Joan Miro Foundation, Palau Nacional, and Olympic Stadium -- are all around a 15-minute walk away (give or take, depending on the destination). It's a little more challenging to access Barcelona's historic center on foot. By metro, it takes 15 minutes to reach Las Ramblas and 30 minutes to Sagrada Familia. Barcelona Sants railway station is a five-minute drive or 10-minute walk from the hotel, while Barcelona - El Prat Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Alternatively, it's a little over 20 minutes via Aerobus from nearby Plaza de Espana.

Rooms and suites at the Ofelias Hotel have an upmarket boutique look. Soft white, beige, tan, and gray hues combine with big windows to create a soothing, airy effect, though most walls are deliberately left bare. Instead, the focus is on subtle artsy details -- like backlit floral panels -- and bespoke, vintage-inspired furniture. Beds get almost universally solid marks for comfiness from previous guests, and some are made with Egyptian cotton linens. Standard features include free bottled water, plus electric kettles for instant coffee and tea, minibars, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. All rooms have air-conditioning, though it's not always operational and depends on the season. Some suites include with free minibar items and living rooms. Balconies and courtyard views are perks in a few rooms as well. The Buganvillia Superior Terraza has a private terrace, teak flooring, and a Mediterranean garden that's great in warm weather. Stylish bathrooms feature rainfall showers, hairdryers, and premium bath products. Some come with jetted tubs, bathrobes, and slippers. Bathrooms are designed to be open to the bedrooms, with glass windows and frosted glass doors for the toilet areas. A few past guests have found this to be a less-than-private arrangement. Keep in mind that noise from neighbors and hallways can be an issue as well.

The best feature at the hotel is its seasonal rooftop plunge pool, situated on a landscaped terrace with sun loungers. It's not quite big enough for an actual swim, but it's a good spot for cooling off on a hot day. The deck can sometimes get a bit crowded, making it difficult to nab a sun lounger. The breakfast buffet (for a fee), offers a good range of hot and cold items, including scrambled eggs, meats, pastries, and yogurt -- most past guests are happy with the offerings, but there's no lunch, dinner, or bar on-site. Room service is available, too. Other features include a public computer, library lounge, in-room massages (for a fee), a 24-hour front desk, and parking (for a fee). The hotel lends out bicycles free of charge for jaunts around the city.