The Hipstel Paseo de Gracia

The Hipstel is located in a beautiful historic building, its entrance nestled between designer shops in Barcelona's posh Eixample. Heavy oak doors open to wrought-iron staircases leading up to the hotel lobby, which is full of trendy design pieces, like wall-mounted suitcases and reclaimed antique furniture. There's a laid-back vibe and plenty of seating areas, including a cute outdoor terrace with colorful patio furniture, and comfy leather sofas in the TV lounge. The odd sofa or set of chairs also dot the parquet-floored corridors. It's not a big hotel, but the scale is grand, due to the high ceilings, and huge windows common in buildings of this age. The hotel is a child-free zone, and it also advises those over 50 to look elsewhere -- yes, you'll hear some noise from other travelers most days and nights. Predictably, guests are young, mostly groups of friends and solo travelers, with some couples in the mix as well. 

The Hipstel is located in Barcelona's Eixample -- in fact, it's one of the more central spots in this sprawling district. The hostel sits between Passeig de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya -- two of the city's best shopping streets -- and it's a 15-minute walk from Las Ramblas, the pedestrianized shopping zone often regarded as the heart of the city. It's a five-minute walk north to Diagonal Metro station for connections to top attractions like the Sagrada Familia -- which can also be reached on foot in around 20 minutes. Expect a five-minute walk to Passeig de Gracia Metro which links to attractions in the south, like the beach, the zoo and Catalan History Museum. There are also several bus routes and Barcelona-Passeig de Gracia train station within a five-minute walk, providing easy access to destinations both in and out of the city. The airport is around a 20-minute drive from the property, or 30 minutes on the train. 

Rooms at The Hipstel range from private options sleeping one to six, to large dorms with 12 beds. They're bright and open, with air-conditioning, parquet flooring and bunks, and many with patio doors opening onto balconies. Linens are provided and Wi-Fi is free, though there's an extra fee for towels. Each dorm has a set of lockers for personal possessions, which require a padlock to secure -- guests either bring their own or buy one from the reception desk. Some rooms have a private bathroom with shower, and there are further shared bathrooms on each floor, some mixed and some same sex. They are simply decorated with a white brick-style tile and black marble floor, and include a shower. You should expect some noise from neighbors and throughout the hostel in general. While most travelers find the hostel to be clean, some have found stray cleanliness issues throughout the property.

The Hipstel's common areas include a TV room with sofas and a vending machine, and a small kitchen area with a microwave, stovetop, and free coffee machine. There's also an outside terrace and a dining room. The hotel offers a continental breakfast buffet and a set meal every evening, each for an extra charge. There are two guest PCs with internet access available for a fee, but Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Guests are encouraged to interact and there are organized weekly events such as walking tours of the city, salsa classes, and open mic sessions. The hotel offers a free luggage storage service, and the front desk is manned 24/7.