Sercotel Amister Art Hotel

The Sercotel Amister is housed inside a seven-story 19th-century beige building with large, colorful letters emblazoned across its tall ground-floor windows. Inside, the lobby is striking and soundly 21st century, with polished stone floors, off-white armchairs, and a variety of framed, contemporary art pieces on its walls. The property bills itself as an art hotel, with works of different artists on each floor. A dazzling central atrium topped with a skylight is also adorned with words in silver script. But its the rooftop deck, with its loungers and loveseats overlooking the Eixample's buildings, that could be the biggest draw. While many of the guests here are business travelers due to the hotel's location in a financial area, its relative proximity to tourist attractions and rooms that sleep up to four guests make it a good choice for sightseeing families, too.

Sercotel Amister Art Hotel is located in the financial area of the Eixample neighborhood, just far enough away that walking to the city center or shopping along Passeig de Gracia becomes a bit of a hike (about 20 minutes away on foot). The location is best suited for business travelers who have meetings nearby, though tourists in search of tranquil surroundings may appreciate the quiet location. The nearest metro stations are Estenca and Hospital Clinic, both nine minutes away on foot. There are plenty of authentic cafes, restaurants, and shops nearby -- as well as conveniences such as supermarkets and banks.

It's a 15-minute walk to Sants Estacio train station, where the high-speed trains stop, and a 19-minute walk to Casa Batllo, and 21-minute walk to La Pedrera, both landmarks by acclaimed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. It's a 23-minute walk or nine-minute drive to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), while getting to Las Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya takes about 25 minutes on foot. It's a 15-minute metro ride from the hotel to Gaudi's masterpiece the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, a 21-minute metro ride to Ciutadella Park and Barcelona Cathedral, and a 26-minute metro ride to the Picasso Museum and the Gothic Quarter. Getting to Guell Park (another Gaudi landmark) involves a 15-minute subway ride plus a steep 13-minute walk. It's a 20-minute drive to El Prat International Airport.

Continuing the contemporary, art-centric look of public spaces, guest rooms at the Sercotel Amister display a sleek and urban look. Streamline furniture in light hues is paired with gray and white textiles. Details like slate-gray tufted armchairs adds a little glamor to the spaces. But the wall art commands the most attention. It varies from room to room, as each floor features works from a different painter. 

The Sercotel offers Standard and Superior Rooms, the latter of which have separate living areas with double sofa beds (some Standard Rooms with extra beds are also available). All rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned and come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are equally chic, with granite tiling on the floors and walls, long marble countertops, and standard shower/tub combos. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. 

For a small-scale hotel, Sercotel Amister has a nice lineup of features that adds to its personality of appeal, starting with its rooftop terrace. This wood-clad space offers a small pool with a few lounge chairs for sunbathing plus a poolside bar with tables and chairs to linger and take in the view. Other dining options include a mezzanine restaurant offering a continental breakfast buffet every morning (usually not included in room rates). A small lobby bar with a few tables and a flat-screen TV off to one side gives another spot to sip a drink, and a library-like area furnished with plush sofas and chairs and a second television gives yet another place to mingle.

For business travelers, the hotel offers three meeting rooms for rent. There's no business center per se, but Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the property. Wellness facilities include a small fitness center with a few cardio machines and a rack of barbells, and the hotel provides free loaner bicycles for guest use.