Punch Room — Bar Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"First impression? Who doesn’t love lounging in a comfy leather armchair in a classy hotel bar? If that bar happens to serve some of the best cocktails in town, even better. Fancy a game of pool? Rack up the balls on the yellow baize billiard table, or simply kick back by the fireplace. The choice is yours. How’s the crowd? The Barcelona EDITION is one of the most fashionable boutique hotels in town and its cocktail bar attracts just the right mix of trendy regulars and chic out-of-towners to create a fun vibe for people watching or simply hanging out. How are the drinks? The Punch Room isn’t just a catchy name, the bar in fact serves a full range of punches. The menu tells us that punch, a drink made from five ingredients (usually a spirit, a citrus fruit, a spice, sugar and something to dilute the mixture) was born on the “sun-bleached decks of 17th century trade ships, found its way into the cutthroat seafarers’ taverns of port cities and from there to the tables and garden parties of the aristocracy.” And while the lethal punch blends and the intricate bowls in which they are served seem very appealing, most patrons seem to be sipping classics like gin & tonics or negronis. If there’s food, is it worth ordering something to eat? A full range of bar bites, from olives and garlicky patatas bravas for sharing, to the comforting braised lamb brioche with mustard, yogurt and pickled cucumber. Did the staff do you right? Seasoned professionals who know when to shake it and when to stir it. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? The timeless calm and elegance of the Punch Room is the ideal antidote to the at-times overwhelming hustle and bustle of Barcelona ." - Isabelle Kliger