Hostal Nova

The rooms were clean, and during our two-night stay they changed the towels and made the bed. The staff were friendly, too. After spending the day exploring Barcelona's center, it was handy to have shops and restaurants nearby for dinner close to where we were staying. The metro is close as well. There's a kitchen where you can get coffee or tea, plus snacks from a vending machine. The main drawback was the lack of soundproofing. We could hear people showering or leaving their rooms very early in the morning.

The neighborhood was pleasant and quiet, and there are a metro station and several bus stops nearby. It's still a long way from the city center. My room's window faced a closed courtyard, so it didn't bring in much fresh air. There wasn't a closet, just a small rail for hangers. The room and reception were clean, but the lobby air freshener was overpowering and smelled unpleasant. There's a coffeemaker and microwave in the lobby, though no plates, so the microwave isn't very useful. When I asked, I was told not to bring food because this wasn't a cafeteria. Booking sites mention a refrigerator, but using one costs €5 per day. Reception is open very limited hours, and after 3 pm I wouldn't expect to reach anyone, even at night. That left noisy guests free to carry on without consideration. The receptionist who checked me in didn't speak English. When I later asked politely for information, she shouted at me as if I were attacking her. The hostel allows babies, and I wasn't expecting to be woken in the middle of the night by a crying baby. Drunk or noisy people, sure, but not a baby. This was far too expensive for the service and location.

Their service ruined our holiday. I didn't like it at all and wouldn't recommend staying here.

A comfortable, cozy place in a nice spot near public transport. The rooms were clean, the staff were kind and ready to help, and the price felt fair for what we got. I'd recommend it :)