Regal by title and most undoubtedly regal by nature, the Lodge El Palace Barcelona is Barcelona’s first ever five-star lodge and boasts décor and furnishings as wealthy as its high quality heritage.
The Luxurious Editor’s Chrystal was invited to expertise the independently owned city-centre lodge. Learn on to find extra.
Historical past
In 1919, the lodge opened its doorways because the Ritz of Barcelona, and though Ritz founder, César Ritz was hesitant to deliver a lodge to Barcelona– he solely selected giant European capitals as areas for his resorts – he was persuaded to take action by Catalan politician Francesc Cambó and the choice was (and nonetheless is!) an enormous success. The lodge shortly attracted a star-studded line-up of visitors; from Hollywood stars together with Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Sofia Loren, and Woody Allen to different distinguished figures equivalent to Alexander Fleming, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso – and Queen star, Freddie Mercury met Spanish Soprano, Montserrat Caballé, right here to carry out the hit track ‘Barcelona’.
In 2005, the lodge was rebranded to El Palace however continues to reside as much as the ostentatiously fashionable, extremely luxurious, and unequivocally elegant requirements that the Ritz title has now grow to be well-known for.
El Palace Barcelona has been recognised for its excellent high quality and distinctive character and is a member of the Main Resorts of the World.
Location
Situated within the Eixample District of bustling Barcelona, El Palace affords visitors handy entry – strolling or by way of metro – to lots of the metropolis’s primary points of interest. Iconic buildings equivalent to La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and La Boquería are a stone’s throw away, high-street outlets and different historic websites will be discovered on close by Passeig de Gràcia, and the numerous unbiased boutiques and eating places throughout the historic Gothic Quarter are additionally shut by. Take a 25-minute stroll to witness the splendour of Sagrada Familia or hop on the close by metro to succeed in the seaside in lower than half-hour. A superbly positioned base from which to discover the town.
Type / Idea
Standing slightly majestically on the nook of a busy avenue, El Palace Barcelona is difficult to overlook; the Baroque-style constructing is adorned with scarlet purple robes that proudly dangle throughout its entrance and the putting shade continues throughout window canopies and ornate window bins that body the rows of the rooms and suites excessive above. Good, smiley, and completely polished porters greet us and whisk away our luggage. Half an evolution of the normal revolving door is all it takes for me to take pleasure in a ‘take-my-breath-away’ second; the grandeur of the lodge reception is a visible feast. Big marble columns shoulder a sweeping double star case, imposing excessive ceilings current twinkling chandeliers, their glint to not be outdone by the shiny ground beneath, and heavy curtains give approach to an attractive view by way of to the Nice Corridor – magnificence is current in each blink of the attention. Even the Concierge’s key cabinet is Insta-worthy!
As soon as inside visitors are transported again to a bygone period – unaware of the hustle and bustle of the busy metropolis exterior and each visitor is welcomed with VIP service, while an air of timeless glamour flows all through the whole lodge.
Visitor Rooms and Suites
El Palace Barcelona presents 120 visitor rooms taking inspiration from a neo-classical fashion. A signature artwork suite will be discovered on flooring one to 6 – every named after and styled in honour of a few of the famend artists that frequented the lodge (Salvador Dali | Josephine Baker | Cesar Ritz | Carlos Ruiz Zafon | Joan Miro | Ronnie Wooden. Flooring 5 and the Joan Miro suite can be our dwelling for the following two nights.
The heavy bronze door key with a theatrical purple tassel and engraved suite title was one more distinct signal of high quality.
The Joan Miro suite covers rooms 508 – 509 – 510 with entry by way of doorways 508 and 510 solely (509 is a façade!) and is a grand area; that includes a eating desk for six, a big lounge space with fire, a desk to finish the all-important enterprise offers together with an previous ‘pole-style’ desk stand phone (don’t be fooled – it’s for present solely which I found after I tried to name room service!!), a separate WC and a door results in a big bed room, with an intensive dressing space with ample wardrobe area, that then results in an attractive marble rest room. The big rest room has his and her sinks, walk-in rain bathe, a bidet and bathroom and the piece de resistance was the Roman bath-inspired mosaic bathe – it was a murals!
Décor displays the fashion of Joan Miro’s work with a easy color palette of yellow, bronze, and darkish wooden with a barely masculine vibe.
The eye to element is ever current with sumptuously mushy mattress linen, El Palace embossed pillowcases, a TV cleverly disguised as a mirror, weighty historic and way of life espresso desk books, a personalised welcome word with a plate of cheeses, meats, and native wine. We forgot to go away our ‘no want to scrub’ and the housekeeper was meticulous in her work, exactly folding our garments and considerately (and creatively – she made a coronary heart form from my necklace) inserting our different private gadgets on present so we may simply discover them.
El Palace Barcelona is forging relationships with like-minded native manufacturers considered one of which is Carner, a neighborhood perfumer who created a signature scent Bo-Bo which captures the festive Mediterranean spirit that can be mirrored within the work of Joan Miro. The scent was gentle and recent, so we loved somewhat spritz. The store is a brief stroll away from the lodge and affords an excellent choice to suite all events.
Gastronomy
There is a superb selection of bars and eating places and El Palace Barcelona with one thing to suite each event. Govt Chef, Jesús Caballero’s combines Basque and Catalan culinary kinds, utilizing native and seasonal components at every of the eating places inside El Palace Barcelona.
The Rooftop Backyard & Terrace. We loved dinner right here on our first night and this really enchanting place proved to be considered one of our favorite areas throughout the lodge.
Accessed by way of the seventh ground, the 1,500 m2 area presents panoramic views throughout the town. It has a relaxed vibe, and its thought of format means visitor can comfortably wine, dine, chill out, and recharge. The point of interest is the central pergola with tropical crops impressed by the greenhouse of the Ciutadella Park, beneath which sits a putting stone bar which is the place the inventive cocktail magic occurs. There’s a second pergola, often called the
Pergola Sagrada Familia that provides an extra shaded space and alluring low-level seats with the scent of orange blossoms and jasmine filling the air. Statues, sculptures, and over 50 kinds of crops adorn the Rooftop Backyard – particulars that improve the charming character of this welcoming sky-high area.
Lodge visitors who dine on the Rooftop Backyard obtain a welcome drink upon arrival and are introduced with a selection of tapas or a la carte menu together with a selection of seating preferences; excessive bar stools, relaxed low-level seating beneath the quilt of the pergola adorned with fairly flowers or take a barely extra formal seat within the restaurant space. We opted for the latter and loved the catch of the day, served with seasonal veg adopted by a really indulgent melt-in-the-middle chocolate dessert, we gorged considerably on the nuts with our pre-dinner drinks so didn’t want a starter. Service wasn’t the speediest however at all times with a smile and the crew took time to recollect your title and face and confirmed curiosity within the ponderings of your day. On our second night time, after exploring the town, we loved a cocktail nightcap right here and because the sundown and darkness crept in, the Rooftop Backyard took on a completely totally different twinkling persona to that of its daytime self.
The Rooftop Backyard additionally hosts reside music performances, DJ units, together with a Summer time Rooftop Cinema, Brunch & Vinyl’s, Yoga, and lots of different seasonal actions.
Different meals and beverage choices on the lodge embrace;
AMAR Barcelona – a luxurious brasserie serving recent seafood with an intensive wine in a trendy artwork deco setting.
The Nice Corridor – a grand and formal setting, the place Afternoon Tea is the order of the day, and reside music from a pianist will be loved on a weekend and as have been testing we had the pleasure of catching a glimpse of the Afternoon Tea with a Tango efficiency – fairly a rousing expertise. All day eating can be on provide right here and is a refined setting to take pleasure in a espresso, gentle chunk, or glass of fizz.
The Bluesman Cocktail & Cigar Bar – Named after the portray gifted to the lodge and painted by Rolling Stones legend, Ronnie Wooden, the lodge’s speakeasy bar oozes the fashion and class of a bygone period. A surprising marble bar homes a set of distinctive spirits used to make inventive and signature cocktails, antiques and crystal chandeliers from the roaring twenties, purple cloth partitions and velvet chairs add to the exuberant ambiance. Dwell music is performed on a weekend from 10.30pm.
Breakfast
A buffet fashion breakfast is served in El Jardin which is an attractive monochrome courtyard come indoor backyard space accented with color from the seasonal crops that line the realm. Three ‘carts’ current a choice of chilly breakfast dishes starting from granola, cinnamon and orange zest infused prunes (my favorite) to native fashion pastries, meats, cheeses, eggs, Spanish omelettes, smoked salmon, together with sizzling dishes together with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, and noodles – to call only a few. Freshly ready dishes equivalent to porridge, eggs Benedict, French toast and pancakes will also be ordered and in case you fancy some fizz to kick-start the day then the Cava cork will be popped!
Spa and Pool
El Palace Barcelona is dwelling to the Mayan Luxurious Spa which as its title suggests is impressed by the Mayan tradition, providing visitors conventional Mayan therapies designed to deliver the thoughts, physique, and soul collectively as one. Anne Semonin is the luxurious beauty model of selection on the spa and together with conventional therapies, trendy and different therapies and facial therapies will be booked.
We didn’t use the spa; nevertheless, it did appear like an absolute haven of tranquillity and is on my to-do-list subsequent time I go to.
In a busy metropolis the most effective methods to sit back is to take a refreshing dip on the rooftop and El Palace Barcelona affords visitors use of its dip pool situated on the seventh ground. Set alongside the charming Rooftop Backyard Bar and Restaurant there are many sun-loungers, towels, and refreshments readily available to chill out on a heat sunny day amidst the gorgeous blue Barcelona sky. From the pool space, you may entry the solarium, the very best level of El Palace Barcelona. An virtually secret spot, with gorgeous 360 views, and the perfect place to look at Barcelona’s spectacular sunsets.
Occasions and Actions
El Palace Barcelona isn’t just a lodge, it’s a vacation spot level. Famend throughout the metropolis for its array of cultural, enjoyable, and invigorating occasions and actions; starting from artwork exhibitions, reside music performances, to rooftop yoga and summer season cinema periods it welcomes vacationers and locales alike. And the lodge’s stunning distinctive and historic ballrooms are the idyllic setting for giant occasions and celebrations.
TLE High Suggestions
- Take a stroll up the steps and look down from the primary ground – the view of the reception is kind of spectacular.
- Earlier than getting into the lodge look all the way down to see the bronze tile within the pavement acknowledging its Ritz heritage.
- Our Les Clefs d’Or Concierge couldn’t have been extra useful. It’s an apparent one however make sure to faucet into his native information.
Remaining Ideas
I hope my assessment conveys what a surprising and high-quality institution El Palace Barcelona is – a real grand dame of a lodge.
We solely want partitions may speak as her tales can be as breath-taking because the lodge itself!!
