Hotel El Palace Barcelona

The undisputed grand dame of Barcelona’s hotel scene, El Palace channels classic European charm on a lavish scale. Built in 1919, it has preserved its original opulence, with liveried doormen, sumptuous marble and gilt interiors, and attentive service.

Rooms are traditionally furnished in pale colours, and some feature Roman-style baths with mosaics.

There’s no pool and the gym is small, but there is a superb spa, and a range of dining choices: feast on Romain Fornell’s exquisite contemporary Mediterranean cuisine under crystal chandeliers in the restaurant Caelis. Alternatively, tuck into an elegant Sunday brunch served in the conservatory-style Winter Garden.

The centrepiece of the Mayan-themed spa is the domed Temazcal sauna, heated with volcanic stones and perfumed with aromatic herbs.

It is conveniently situated within walking distance of many of the city’s best attractions, including Gaudí’s finest domestic buildings on the Passeig de Gràcia and the stone warren of the Gothic Quarter.