Chic & quirky Barcelona hotels you need to know about - Barcelo Raval and Barcelo Sants

I've always adored Barcelona. The art. The people. The clubs. Mincing along the tree-lined La Rambla, checking out the fabulous kerfuffle alongside me as I ponder where to visit next. And the food. All the foods.

The city also boasts a variety of cool and quirky design hotels and two of my favourites are the Barcelo Raval and Barcelo Sants - both equally eccentric in design and perfectly located close to the city centre. 

The ultra chic Barcelo Raval is a mere stones throw away from the hustle and bustle of the action, a hop, skip and a merry jig away from the lively Las Ramblas and close to famous landmarks such as Plaza Catalonia, the Liceu theatre, the Boquería food market and the epic cathedral hounded by excitable tourists month after month.

Upon entering the lobby of this quirky hotel, I was greeted with a refreshing glass of Spanish bubbly before noticing on the plush sofa, a life like plastic mannequin of a fabulously dressed woman sporting a massive afro. After taking an obligatory selfie with said plastic mannequin, I then made my way to my room which was modern in design and featured a swanky shower compete with futuristic looking toiletries.

I also adored the hotel's rooftop with its inviting swimming pool, complementary fruit kebabs and striking views of the Barcelona skyline.

Breakfasts were a hearty yet healthy affair and consisted of cheese platters, freshly baked breads and eggscelent egg dishes (kill meh now). I also ordered a late night pesto pasta dish one hungry evening when I had no time to dine out and was seriously impressed with its level of palate pleasing.

The second hotel I visited in Barcelona was the Barcelo Sants...

which was somewhat different but just as visually appealing. Nestled above Sants railway station and with direct access to the speedy AVE metro service, this could arguably be hailed as the city's best connected hotel.

When I entered the lobby I was slightly flabbergasted at the intergalactic theme of the place. Massive spacemen floated above my head, spaceship style signage adorned the corridors and bedrooms (known as Orbital rooms), looked like they belonged in a science fiction film.

My bed was king sized and deliriously comfortable - the plump white pillows and blackout blinds helped lull me to a deep slumber after I returned from a slightly debaucherous wedding. The booze in my system may have also had something to do with my swift departure to the land of nod, but I'm pretty sure my comfortable surroundings helped.

Such futuristic shenanigans continued as I made my way to the light and airy dining room for breakfast one morning and discovered what could quite possibly be the largest and most varied buffet selection I had ever come across in a hotel.

I could choose from cold Spanish quiches, omelettes, cheeses, yogurts topped with super grains and fruit, fish, cold meats, quinoa and even space age shots of spirulina.

The day of my departure was a stress free affair as this eclectic design hotel is perfectly situated just 15 minutes from the airport. Luckily, I made my flight even though I naughtily slept through my alarm, waking up with only an hour before take off.

Damn those futuristic plump pillows.

Mitra Wicks

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