Attica 21 Barcelona Mar

I absolutely can't recommend this hotel. The room was dirty, the bathroom was in terrible shape and had no ventilation, and the staff were unfriendly and unhelpful. When I raised my concerns at checkout, the receptionist laughed at me ironically. That was completely unacceptable and unprofessional. I booked a garden-view room, but what I got looked out onto a concrete wall and a residential building. The confirmation also said there would be a coffee and tea maker, but there was no machine, coffee, or even a teaspoon. Reception told me coffee machines were only for Premium or Superior rooms. I showed them my Booking.com confirmation, which clearly listed a tea/coffee maker and garden view, but it made no difference. There was tea and sugar, but nothing to stir them with. After I asked for spoons, someone went into my room while I was out, without telling me, despite the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. They left a small wooden stick instead of proper teaspoons. I find staff entering a guest's room in those circumstances unacceptable. The city tax was another problem. At booking it was listed as €6.27 per person per day, but the hotel said it was €9.24. At checkout, the receptionist said the hotel manager was responsible for the Booking.com information. I don't see why I should pay for someone else's mistake and inaccurate details. The room listing mentioned air conditioning, but apparently it only works in summer. It was 26°C inside. Opening the window didn't help, since it was hot outside too, and there was a strong sewage smell coming from outside. The rooftop “pool” is a joke, basically a tiny fun-size pool for children that shouldn't be called a swimming pool. I travel a lot around the world and have never had guests treated this way. I'm totally disappointed.

Check-in itself went fairly smoothly, but the reception staff all seemed tense and irritated with their jobs. We were also surprised to be told there was an extra €50 city tax to pay. The problems really showed up after the first night. The room windows weren't airtight, with water running down them and wind making a lot of noise. We could clearly hear the neighbors through the thin walls. The bathroom was poor, the sockets didn't work, and some lights were broken. The TV was outdated and only had Spanish cable, with no way to download apps like Netflix or Prime Video. The double bed was two single beds pushed together, which was uncomfortable. Cabinet doors looked ready to fall off, and the curtains had stains from some black substance. Cleaners ignored the “Do Not Disturb” sign. They came in daily but never changed the linen, only made the beds. The value for money was terrible, and the quality for the price was unacceptable. I don't recommend it, and it certainly doesn't deserve four stars.

The hotel itself was nice, with spacious, very clean rooms and an excellent breakfast. The reception service at check-in, though, was disappointing. The receptionist seemed annoyed and unfriendly, and I expected a warmer welcome from a four-star hotel. I had mentioned it was my birthday because the hotel had emailed that they would arrange a small surprise. She said she knew nothing about it and told me to call if there was nothing in the room. There wasn't, so I called. She brought a handful of candies straight to my hands, without a plate or wrapping, and seemed unhappy about it. Because of that experience, I wouldn't stay again 🙃.

The staff were great, and we loved the rooftop pool. The location suited our plans, though it's quite far east in the city. The tram is a 5-10 minute walk from the far side of Diagonal Mar shopping mall, and Glories shopping mall is about a 30-minute walk away. Our room was clean and generally well furnished, but it only had hanging space and a suitcase stand for clothes, no drawers or shelves. Breakfast was standard Spanish fare, with the grill options changing from day to day. For our booking it was mandatory, though some bookings clearly don't require it. There's a supermarket and pharmacy right next door, and Diagonal Mar mall is under a 10-minute walk. For a taxi, it's worth walking halfway to the mall to the one-way street, or going all the way to the mall, where there's a taxi rank near the Hilton hotel.