Sunotel Aston

The Sunotel Aston has the atmosphere of an old-fashioned living room. The lounge across from a small reception desk looks more like a grandparent's foyer, with red floral-print armchairs and couches clustered around glass-topped tables. A long hallway connects it to the lobby of the Aston's sister property, Sunotel Junior, whose guests come to share the other common areas here. There's a windowless breakfast room and a more appealing cafe, but the rooftop pool deck is the most popular spot, where there's a hot tub, sun loungers, and patio seating. Most guests are couples willing to trade proximity to Barcelona’s main sights for the rooftop pool and the trendy neighborhood.  

The hotel is in L’Antiga Esquerra de L’Eixample, a hip but low-key area popular with the LGBTQ community that's filled with cafes, restaurants, shops, and art galleries. It's not within walking distance of the city's top attractions, but public transportation is readily accessible: the Paris - Comte d’Urgell bus stop is across the street, the Hospital Clinic metro station is a five-minute walk, and the Francesc Macia light rail station is a little more than five minutes on foot. Passeig de Gracia shopping and Gaudi’s Casa Mila are 15 minutes by metro, La Sagrada Familia is a little more than a 15-minute metro ride, and the Boqueria Market and bustling La Rambla are 20 minutes by metro. 

Barcelona - El Prat Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel, or to save money on cab fare guests can take a 10-minute metro ride from Hospital Clinic to Placa de Catalunya for a 40-minute trip by Aerobus. 

The hotel's guest rooms have a dated look, with red carpet and light-wood furniture, and a dash of more modern decor from soft neutral fabrics and throw pillows. All units have AC, double-glazed windows, desks with upholstered chairs, spacious wardrobes, safes, and older flat-screen TVs (limited English channels). Free Wi-Fi is standard, but units lack kettles and mini-fridges. Most rooms have double beds, though some have two twins pushed together. There are also some Family Rooms with two double beds. The bathrooms could use minor renovations, but they're adequately equipped with bidets, hairdryers, toiletries, and either walk-in showers or shower/tub combos that have rainfall showerheads as well as handheld sprayers.

The rooftop deck is the main feature at this hotel, with a small outdoor pool and hot tub. Both are open year-round, but the pool is unheated so it can get a bit chilly in the colder months. The deck gets direct sun, and there are plenty of sun loungers so overcrowding isn't an issue. For dining, there's a generous hot breakfast buffet, but it costs extra and it's served in a drab, windowless room. The cafeteria and bar is in a cheerier modern space with light fare for lunch and dinner, along with daily specials. There's also a small meeting room. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but parking costs extra.