Catalonia Eixample 1864

Cali made our time at the bar especially memorable. He served us most of the time, was welcoming and professional, and suggested several drinks to try. From the beginning he made us comfortable, and his excellent English meant communicating was easy. It felt like having drinks at home with friends. I stayed with a friend, and we spent a lot of time there. Thanks, Cali, and thanks to the whole team for making the stay so enjoyable and unforgettable! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The dinner at the restaurant was very good, and we didn’t opt for breakfast. It’s a safe, convenient hotel right in the heart of Barcelona, close to all the attractions. The rooms are a little small but thoughtfully designed, with comfortable beds. We did have an internet problem: the WiFi showed up, but it wouldn’t connect to the internet, and staff couldn’t fix it. They brushed off our complaints by saying it worked for them, so they couldn’t help. Honestly, that wasn’t a great attitude. It was consistent with what we experienced overall in Spain, but the five-star service rating stays.

The location in Eixample was one of the few positives: quiet, safe, central, and within walking distance of many places or easy to reach by metro. The hotel itself felt like it needed maintenance and was more suited to business travelers. We were charged €204,60 in advance, and unlike other guests, weren’t given flexibility over paying the tourist tax. That felt unfair. We arrived around 10:00 AM and left our luggage there until check-in. Once the official 3:00 PM time came, we still waited over an hour, while guests who arrived later were helped first. Check-in was slow and disorganized, and communication was inconsistent and sometimes unprofessional. The worst part was a staff member named Abir making disrespectful remarks about me in Spanish, apparently assuming I wouldn’t understand. She said, “Esta tía me está enfadando,” and a female colleague replied, “Entonces le das unas patadas.” When Abir came back, I spoke to her in Spanish so she’d know I understood what they’d said. It was extremely unprofessional and disrespectful. As a POC, I left feeling very unwelcome and disrespected. I’d advise others to consider staying elsewhere and spending their money where guests are treated with professionalism and respect. The room wasn’t properly clean when we arrived, with dirty towels and pillows, and soundproofing was very poor. We could clearly hear hallway noise and doors, which made it difficult to rest. On the second day, the bathroom door handle broke. It was eventually repaired, but that was also an experience. Other staff interactions felt disrespectful and unprofessional too, and after day two, with everything going on, we decided to avoid them as much as possible. For the price, the service, cleanliness, and maintenance don’t meet expectations. I’m not writing this for compensation, just to share an honest account for future guests.

The rooftop was lovely, with really comfortable loungers and a refreshing plunge pool. The hotel is great and the location excellent. Our room was spacious and nicely decorated, and the staff were helpful. I’d highly recommend it and come back.