Avda. Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer, 15, Barcelona, Spain | (888) 989-6591
Budget property situated on historic grounds of old monastery
Clean double and triple rooms with en-suite bathrooms
Extensive, charming gardens with fountains and sitting areas
Eight-minute walk to metro station
Free breakfast buffet with hot and cold items
Lunch and dinner available for a reasonable fee
Range of classrooms and meeting rooms
Free on-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout
24-hour reception
Far from tourists sites and the city center
No air-conditioning or TVs in rooms
Some guests complain of noise due to thin walls
Staff provide limited services
The Residencia Salesiana Marti-Codolar is situated among several buildings on the grounds of an old monastery. The budget property offers 99 basic, no-frills rooms that lack air-conditioning or TVs, but they all have en-suite bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. The property has a simple, cafeteria-like restaurant that serves lunch and dinner at prescribed times in addition to a free breakfast buffet. The highlight here are the hotel's ornate, old gardens with statues, fountains, and sitting areas. It's a bit far from tourist sites, however, though there's a metro station nearby that gives access to the city center in about 30 minutes. Budget travelers seeking something in the city center might want to check out the Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel, though there's no on-site restaurant and not all rooms have private bathrooms.
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Scene
Set in an old monastery with beautiful, historic gardens and basic decor
The Residencia Salesiana Marti-Codolar is situated among a series of buildings on a property that was once a farm, then a monastery of the Salesian order, and later turned into a summer retreat for a 19th-century bourgeois family. Many original features remain, among them a beautiful building with an ornate coral and white facade, where the hotel's restaurant is situated. Another, more basic building contains the guest rooms, reception, and classrooms that are available for guest use. The reception area is fairly simple, with a tiled floor, an office-like front desk, and a small waiting area with two black couches surrounding a simple wooden coffee table. The grounds are the highlight here, and include beautiful and charming old gardens sprinkled with old statues, fountains, sitting areas, and pathways. The gardens were once filled with an array of animals -- including an elephant -- and were the beginning of what later became the Barcelona Zoo. In comparison, interiors are basic and no-frills, as one might expect from an old monastery. The property attracts an assortment of guests, including young travelers on a budget and tourists in groups.
Location
In residential area outside of city center, an eight-minute walk to the metro station
The hotel is situated in the quiet Horta-Guinardó district, a primarily residential area of Barcelona. There are few attractions nearby, but the metro is close; the Montbau station (L3, green line) is an eight-minute walk from the residence, meaning guests can get to the heart of the city in about a half-hour. Top tourists attractions like La Sagrada Familia church, the Gothic Quarter, Placa de Catalunya, and Las Ramblas are about 35 to 40 minutes via public transportation. There are a few restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance of the property. Barcelona's El Prat Airport is about a 20-minute drive away, or a bit over an hour by public transportation.
Rooms
Small, spare rooms with twin beds and en-suite bathrooms -- but no TVs or AC
Guests rooms are small and extremely simple, more akin to a typical hostel than a hotel, but they're private and include small desks, wardrobes, and en-suite bathrooms. Rooms have dark tiled floors, yellow walls, small windows, and white bedding, but little else in the way of decor or extras. Guests can choose between Double and Triple Rooms, but all rooms have twin beds. Bathrooms are small with white tiled floors and wet-room-style showers with wall-mounted soap dispensers. Towels are provided and changed every two days. Guests sometimes complain of interior noise due to thin walls. Rooms do not have TVs or air-conditioning, but they do have free Wi-Fi.
Features
Extensive gardens to explore, free breakfast, and lunch and dinner available
The best feature here is undoubtedly the property's extensive array of charming gardens with pathways, fountains, statues, and sitting areas. The hotel also has a variety of classrooms and meeting rooms, which can be reserved by groups, and even a basketball court. A free breakfast includes bacon and eggs, bread, cereal, and other standard selections. Lunch and dinner are available for a reasonable extra fee in a pleasant cafeteria-like setting (separate building), but only at specified hours and with pre-selected menus. Food can also be taken out for a picnic. While rooms don't have TVs, there is a TV available in a common area that also has a piano and some vending machines. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Limited free parking is available on-site. Reception is available 24-hours, but staff offer limited services.
