Catalonia El Pilar

Situated in a modernist building from the early 20th-century, the hotel's lovely beige and cream facade is peppered with wrought-iron balconies. Clean-lined contemporary decor is elegant; the lobby is filled with natural light thanks to large windows overlooking the street, while sunny yellow accent walls imbue the neutral color palette with some cheer. The building retains charming original details, like wooden elevators and wrought-iron balustrades. Overall, this is a great choice in a central location that's ideal for exploring the city on foot, attracting lots of tourists, while business facilities draw plenty of business travelers as well. The hotel is especially popular with Spanish couples. 

The hotel is situated on the Plaza de la Justice, a pleasant square with leafy trees and a fountain. It's in Zaragoza's historic center, so most attractions are within easy walking distance and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops nearby. Most notable historic sites are within a five- to 10-minute walk, including the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Plaza del Pilar, the Museo Pablo Gargallo, the San Pablo Church, the Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza, and the Puente de Piedra. The banks of the Ebro River can be reached in three minutes. Other sites that are a bit further away include the Aljafería Palace (20-minute walk) and the Monasterio de Piedra (an hour-and 20-minute drive). Both the Zaragoza-Portillo train station and the Zaragoza-Goya station can be reached in around 25 minutes on foot or 20 minutes via public transit. Zaragoza Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel, or about an hour via public transportation. Both Barcelona and Madrid can be reached in about two hours by train.

Rooms are fairly plain and simple in terms of decor, but they're clean and pleasant. Wooden floors complement the large wooden headboards, while sleek furnishings include shiny black nightstands and work desks. All rooms also offer seating areas. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, electronic safes, and free Wi-Fi. Superior Rooms add Krups espresso machines and Nespresso coffee pods. Bathrooms are sleek and spacious, covered in green and white marble. They offer plenty of vanity space and some have double sinks, as well as being equipped with shower/tub combos, bidets, heated towel racks, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Superior Rooms have jetted tubs and separate walk-in showers, as well as providing bathrobes and slippers. Individual toiletries are provided in all rooms. Some rooms overlook a small city park from a step-out balcony. 

The hotel offers a handful of amenities, but facilities are fairly modest. There's a small fitness room that offers just a few machines, but they're modern, plus there are towels and chilled water on hand. A buffet breakfast is served daily (for an additional charge) and includes a varied selection of fruit, yogurt, cheeses, cold cuts, cereals, pastries, and breads. A dinner menu is also available at the on-site restaurant, while the bar offers various drinks. Business travelers are catered to with a meeting room, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Parking is available nearby for a fee, but some guests note that it's hard to find the lot.