Alma Barcelona
"What's the vibe?The doorman at Alma Barcelona takes his job seriously. Should you dare to make eye contact with the door handle, you sense that he’s poised to throw himself at it, intercept-a-bullet style, in order to save your hand from the indignity of touching its weighty, polished surface. Once inside—not by your own doing, naturally—the atmosphere is more art gallery than hotel. Brushed concrete walls and floors could be stark; but here they're elegant, softened by leather chairs, beautiful lighting, a single painting of a polar bear. Most notable though, is the sincere service. Decline a complimentary drink while you check in, for example, and it’s like you just refused a piece of your grandma’s apple pie. Tell us about your room.At a time when every hotel seems to be doing color-pop or kitsch décor, local design studio Corium Casa stuck to its minimalist guns. The rooms—accessed via 007-esque fingerprint technology instead of a plastic key—are spacious and stately, with herringbone wooden floors, giant beds, and, in our case, daring but graceful blue-gray walls. The TV is designed by the Spanish fashion brand Loewe; cosmetics are Bulgari; the mini bar is free (though also alcohol-free, save for a beer); and there are even fresh flowers. If pretending to be a real-life Barcelonian aristocrat is your jam, the new Alma Signature Suite will double as your home from home. At 1,500 square feet, it’s designed to make you feel like you’re living in an authentic Eixample apartment, but one that’s considerably fancier than any normal person could ever dream of. How's the Wi-Fi?Free and strong, although the signal drops a bit down in the spa. What's the dining and drinking scene like?Chef Gio Esteve’s Jardín del Alma is the formal restaurant; it's impressive for a special occasion, and equally appropriate for a business dinner. The courtyard bar on the ground floor, lush with plants and toe-tapping background music, is popular with after-work locals and guests in vacation mode. In high summer, the rooftop bar wakes up; guest DJs play jazz and soul while you work through cocktails named after Barcelona neighborhoods, such as Eixample, a Lavender bourbon. How did you find the service?Etiquette-perfect and attentive. You’re even given a special number to WhatsApp the hotel for tips, advice, and room requests. Who stays here?Business-makers and hand-shakers; families with the nanny in tow; bohemian art lovers inquiring where they can buy the table lamps. How's the neighborhood?The elegant Passeig de Gràcia is next door, placing Gaudí’s Casa Batlló a five-minute walk from your breakfast, and putting you within credit-card-tapping distance of the city’s best designer shopping. Is there anything you'd change? There's no rooftop pool, just a swimming spot in the spa. Any standout features?The breakfast buffet is excellent—even Israeli-English chef Yotam Ottolenghi said so. The coffee is from Cafés El Magnífico, a legendary Barcelona roaster, and the spread covers the entire sweet-savory spectrum, from syrupy pancakes and churros to cured meats and Spanish omelets. The bit that doesn’t sit well on the stomach is the price: 40 euros. What's the bottom line?In a city with a loud, look-at-me hotel scene, the Alma is like your friend who wears a simple T-shirt and jeans and still manages to turn every head. At face value, its décor looks majestic. Beyond that, its service makes you feel majestic." - Gemma Askham
