"A sultry hideaway among the bustle that is the Gothic Quarter, the Kimpton Vividora is five minutes’ walk from the city’s main Gothic cathedral (not to be confused with la Sagrada Família) in one direction, and the thronging Las Ramblas in the other; among the winding historic alleys and buzzy boulevards of downtown Barcelona. This urban sanctuary doesn’t scrimp on rooftop chill-out scene, inviting you to taste the buzz of the city without ever leaving. Accommodation is divided into Guestrooms and Suites, and what sets them apart is the outside space you get. The upper tiers of the Guestroom category offer small Juliet-style balconies, but the Suites go big on terraces—and it’s worth it. My Executive Suite had a wraparound corner terrace that ticked off views of the W hotel, the cathedral, Torre Agbar and the top of La Sagrada Familia. But you also get a fascinating snapshot of raw Barcelona life, stealing glances into people’s terraces and the pretty—and gritty—reality of that." - Gemma Askham, Isabelle Kliger
