Hotel Bagues

Right on the Ramblas, ideally situated for sightseeing and shopping, this chic and intimate ‘museum hotel’ occupies an elegant 19th-century mansion, near the Boqueria market.

Formerly the HQ of a prestigious 200-year-old jewellery company, Bagues-Masriera, it’s a favourite with first-timers, with an opulent interior that subtly evokes the building’s palatial heritage with a 21st-century take on Art Nouveau.

There’s a rooftop terrace with plunge pool and cocktail tapas/ bar, and fabulous views over Las Ramblas, as well as an inner bar with a small menu of dishes, exclusively for guests. The attentive, personalised service puts it head and shoulders above the boutique competition.