Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona ★★★★

It was so nice to arrive in the reassuringly clean, contemporary, efficient Hilton Diagonal Mar after a 25-minute whisk from the airport. Sometimes, particularly if you’re travelling with a child, you just need to know everything will play out smoothly. Check-in was fuss-free and soon we were in our light, bright and airy room with its huge picture window overlooking the sea. The light wood colours of walls and floor created a clean and pleasing contemporary look. A stylish bathroom had all the four-star facilities you would expect, and my delighted niece soon set to work sampling all of the toiletries on offer.

Downstairs, the Pistaccio Lounge Bar beckoned with inviting leather sofas and comfortably grouped tables. An air of sophistication reigned from the beautifully-designed hanging lights and objects d’art, such as a single perfect vase, stand in subtly-lit wall alcoves. It also serves the most colourful cocktails, delightfully presented, and with plenty of non-alcoholic choices as well.

It would hardly be a proper holiday for a little girl without trips to the seaside, and we all enjoyed the proximity to the beach. Meanwhile, my sister also relished being next door to the Diagonal Mar shopping centre! As the largest shopping centre in Barcelona, it naturally has all the international names, along with lots of independent and quirky boutiques – the kind for which this city is famous. Her self-administered retail therapy was applied with enthusiasm, and indulged while my niece and I had fun in the pools on the rooftop.

Dinner on our first evening was in the Hilton Indigo Restaurant, where the menu is a fusion of Mediterranean and Catalan dishes, and the sommelier was helpful and full of information about the wine list. We had an altogether lovely evening!

The hotel’s location is great for visiting the city too, with El Maresme-Forum Metro Station being just 2 minutes’ walk away, and links to the city centre in about 15 minutes. Shopping, ice cream, sightseeing and the beach, not forgetting the rooftop pools at the Hilton Diagonal Mar, all made for some fantastic memories and furthered our love for this city.