Hotel Upper Diagonal

I was in town for a conference at Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, just a short taxi ride away. The hotel was quiet, with a reasonably sized room, a very comfortable bed, and a good shower. The front desk staff were very nice. The restaurant serves very good food from breakfast through dinner, and there’s a bar as well.

The area around the hotel is lovely, quiet, and safe, and getting into the city is easy since the metro is very close. After looking for three weeks for somewhere fairly near the centre of Barcelona, this was just right. Staff were friendly and really welcoming. They even celebrated a birthday with free cake and champagne in our rooms when we arrived. Our rooms were clean and modern. You might hear a little from next door, but they’re partly soundproofed. The food was lovely, with lots of breakfast choices, though it isn’t a buffet. Remember the tourist tax per person, which you’ll be charged at the end of your stay. I’d completely forgotten about it. We had a great stay and I’d recommend it.

Breakfast was the highlight for me. I always ordered the American breakfast with an Americano, and it was such a good start to the morning. I’ll miss having it. The staff at reception and the restaurant servers were both very friendly. The location is peaceful, with the metro nearby, and they kept our room very clean. It was a little worn, though, and there was a strange smell in our room that never went away. We were right above the restaurant, so I’m not sure if that was the cause. Still, it was a very good stay.

The hotel sits in a tidy, quiet neighborhood, and the room was spacious and cleaned every day. Maria Cristina metro station is about a 7-8 minute walk away, with roughly a 15-minute ride from there to the city center and La Rambla. The front desk staff were helpful with everything. There’s also a restaurant and bar downstairs where you can stay until late. I stayed August 13-16, 2025, and would highly recommend it.