B Hotel

One evening, I found myself sat at the rooftop B-Pool Bar with a gloriously effervescent glass of local cava in my hand, gazing down at Plaça d’Espanya below. Watching the never-ending flow of cars orbiting the grand fountain in the centre was surprisingly mesmerising, but it was the architecture that really struck me (as is often the case in Barcelona). On the opposite side of the square, two twin Venetian towers soared above the square, forming a magnificent gateway to the gorgeous Montjuic hill. Meanwhile, just opposite me was the beautiful old bullring, a stunning circular structure with Moorish arches and colourful brickwork and tiles. A typical Spanish scene, I hear you say. But not quite…

You see, nothing here is exactly ‘typically Spanish’ at all – this is Barcelona and everything is authentically Catalan. The great Spanish tradition of bullfighting is not even legal here. The mighty Las Arenas bullring has not seen a bullfight since 1977, and has since devoted itself to something much more Barcelona… It is now a fashionable shopping centre, where the only bulls to be found are in the form of leather shoes and handbags. Fashion and style are as important to Barcelona’s identity as football, sunshine and Gaudi’s architecture, all of which combine to form a city with a truly inimitable character.

It is a character which is well worth getting to know. Whether by getting into the laid-back Spanish lifestyle with a lengthy snooze on the beach or slow tapas lunch, cramming in as much of the culture, art and architecture oozing out of every street corner as possible, or even trying to order a glass of sangria in rudimentary Spanish at a tiny, authentic bar, after a week of really getting to know the Catalan capital you will never want to leave. At least at the B-Hotel you will make the most of Barcelona while you are there, immersed in the city centre and situated just at the foot of Montjuic hill, only three stops on the metro to the old port and the bottom of the Ramblas, and four to Plaça de Catalunya, the main hub of the town.

Every time I entered the hotel, be it for the first time or after my final hectic day of sightseeing, I instantly felt at ease; if not because of the friendly staff, then because of the décor and ambience which were contemporary, light and soothing. Worn down by the intensity of the gothic old town, by the weight of shopping bags, or perhaps by the uphill walk to Gaudi’s iconic Parc Güell, my return to the hotel always symbolised that it was time to indulge in another great local tradition – the siesta! Upstairs it was then, right up to the seventh floor where I would find my sumptuously comfortable Superior Room.

Absolutely ideal for a siesta, my room was a resplendent example of award-winning contemporary design and style. The atmosphere was peaceful and modern, with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows bathing everything in natural light. If I could bring myself to close the curtains on the frenetic city scene below, I would sink blissfully into my soft king-size bed and awake with renewed energy for the city’s legendary nightlife.

The evening might begin with a drink and even a refreshing dip at the rooftop pool bar, or perhaps it would be downstairs at the B-Bar, a perfect spot to enjoy an inventive cocktail (particularly recommended is the pink mojito) and some deliciously creative tapas. If I were to be branching out from the hotel, several times I made the trip across the Plaça d’Espanya to admire the ‘magic fountain’ show, an extravaganza of water, lights and music at the foot of the stunning Palau Nacional art museum. Beyond that, there was no end of choice. A tapas-inspired bar crawl, a gourmet meal, a classy cocktail bar, a flamenco show… The only thing for certain was that after the short journey home, I would effortlessly fall into a deep sleep in the glamorous and cosy surroundings of my room.

The B-Hotel expertly encapsulates the cosmopolitan, forward-thinking, stylish character of Barcelona, while also positioning you within easy reach of its charming ancient attractions. It is the perfect complement to the perfect city, allowing its savvy guests to relax in true style and enjoy a rare luxury – a hotel which makes it just about possible to tear yourself away from the delights of Barcelona when night falls. After four heavenly nights spent in this remarkable hotel, all I can say is I will certainly B-sure to B-back…