Ofelias Hotel ★★★★ Sup

Barcelona has gained a reputation as a city of art, progressive architecture and forward thinking, a city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a taste for the unusual. Its stylish reputation is reflected by its shopping, with many big fashion names based here, and it is also increasingly reflected in chic, boutique hotels, stunning examples of Barcelona’s spirit of creativity and designer flair. It was in this context that the Ofelias Hotel was opened in the city centre.

As you enter, the lobby immediately makes an impression. It is light and airy, with crisp whites, mirrors and clever lighting. And while right angles and blacks and white dominate throughout, fresh flowers and floral motifs are used perfectly to add a splash of colour and natural beauty. The décor and furnishings are simple but elegant and eye-catching. In the atrium, a Willy Wonka-esque glass elevator gives you views over this meticulously designed space as you ascend to your room.

The bedrooms are clean, white and gleaming. The design is simple yet sophisticated, classy but understated. Lovely artwork adorned the wall above my bed, while the bathroom – which boasted luxurious amenities such as a rain shower – was beautifully styled. While the bedrooms are luminous and bright, there are other spaces where the design is warmer or more colourful – the fireplace and leather sofas in the atrium, a library space with elegant wood panelling, and a dining room with rich colours.

Though style and fashion are a notable feature of Barcelona’s identity, the great city is about so much more. From art to football, beaches to mountains, around Barcelona there is a superb wealth of natural and manmade beauty, along with an almost embarrassment of cultural riches. Set just off Plaça Espanya, one of the main squares, and at the bottom of Montjuic Hill, with its magnificent palace-cum-art-gallery, gardens, Olympic park and castle, the Ofelias Hotel is ideally located right near some of the most spectacular sights, yet away from the crowded, tourist hotspots. Meanwhile, it is just three metro stops from the Rambla and the charming old port.

Since the lifestyle is part of what makes Barcelona so popular, lifestyle is at the heart of this hotel’s philosophy. Promoting a concept of ‘slow travel’, it is all about taking your time to appreciate your surroundings, staying relaxed, and discovering the town without rushing around at breakneck speeds. The organic, Ayurvedic breakfast (linked to ancient Hindu wellbeing treatments) is full of fresh, healthy and delicious ingredients, to get your day off to a positive start. Later, you may wind down in the peaceful rooftop swimming pool area with bar service.

Sitting on a sunny terrace, feet in the pool, among stunningly stylish surroundings in the heart of Barcelona, and sipping a ‘gin-tonic’, Barcelona’s drink of the moment... Can you imagine a more blissful way to unwind? If not, then the Ofelias Hotel, with all its design and comfort, is certainly the place for you!