My husband and I were embarking on a cruise on the Windstar Wind Spirit in Barcelona to sail the Mediterranean Islands. We decided to go early and spend a long weekend exploring Barcelona and treating ourselves to a bit of indulgent R&R.
We checked into the Grand Hyatt Barcelona with a plan to get out and explore to shake off our jetlag but found ourselves so immersed in the luxurious experiences on property, that we stayed in the hotel our first day. This 5-star hotel is located in the tranquil Pedralbes neighborhood, in the Les Corts district of Barcelona, where many of the city’s wealthy residents live in grand stately mansions amid tree-lined streets. Our room at the hotel was magnificent, spacious, and elegant. The marble bathroom that spanned the room's length included a welcome amenity, and a deep-soaking bathtub with luxury bath amenities (the best way to shake off the jet leg).
The king room at the Grand Hyatt Barcelona
We grabbed a light lunch at the chic little coffee bar off the hotel’s lobby that attracts both travelers and locals with a nice selection of upscale light bites. The hotel’s Oasis Spa proved to be our favorite amenity, as we spent the entire afternoon rejuvenating our bodies in the multi-station hydrotherapy circuit and zen relaxation room. After a much-needed nap, we cozied into an outdoor seating area tucked away in the hotel’s tropical gardens near the pool for afternoon cocktails. In the evening, we dined at the hotel’s rooftop terrace restaurant, MayManta, which serves a lovely Peruvian menu with amazing views looking out over the city.
The Grand Hyatt’s breakfast buffet was the next surprise in store for us. It filled three rooms with everything from fresh pastries to an omelet station to a gourmet coffee bar, so we lingered a bit longer than your typical morning. Then, we set out for a walk through the neighborhood to see the gardens of Torre Girona, where the 19th-century palace of the Marquises of Castellvell is housed. Next, we headed up Barcelona’s main boulevard, Avenida Diagonal, which led us to Passeig de Gràcia, the city’s exclusive shopping area with all of the top designer stores. We returned to the Grand Hyatt to enjoy cocktails and tapas in the lobby bar.
The next day, we wanted to spend some time in the Eixample district of Barcelona and meet up with friends, so we checked into Seventy Barcelona. This boutique hotel has a beautiful, grand lobby with high ceilings lined with bookshelves and a sweeping spiral staircase.
The lobby bar was the perfect spot to grab a morning cocktail while we waited for our room. Rooms at Seventy are modern with high-end furnishings and beautiful art on the walls; we especially appreciated the black-out shades hidden by plantation shutters. We considered getting a workout in at the hotel’s fitness center but opted for the hotel’s hydrotherapy pool and sauna instead.
We were scheduled for a helicopter and boat tour with The Tour Guy but the clouds were not cooperative so we set out on our own walking tour to explore Gaudi’s marvels along the Passeig de Gràcia. We strolled the length of the pedestrian La Rambla, popping into the busy La Boqueria mercado for a Spanish wine flight. After all that walking, we returned to the hotel to enjoy some sunshine at the rooftop pool and cocktail bar.
In the evening, we met friends for a tapas crawl through the Gothic Quarter, hitting a few of the top dining spots. We returned to Seventy Barcelona to find the lobby bar buzzing with guests enjoying the sounds of a solo jazz singer, so it was the perfect spot for a nightcap. Breakfast at Seventy is indulgent yet guiltless, thanks to a buffet selection of healthy foods.
On our last day, we saved the best attraction for last, a Sagrada Familia skip-the-line-tour with The Tour Guy. Trust me, this is the only way to see this architectural masterpiece because you have a local expert who can share details you would miss on your own.
There’s so much to see and do in Barcelona, let alone eat and drink, so having an inviting hotel that welcomes you home after a long day is key - and finding hotels with hydrotherapy pools is a bonus.
The rooftop pool at Seventy Barcelona
