"What's the vibe?In a city of phone-battery-leeching architecture, you could easily walk past Motel One’s boxy modern façade without noticing it. Inside, however, is a riotous party with geometric textiles, high-as-a-human plants, and imaginative chandeliers—plus a huge bar that could get you swinging from them. Give us the backstory on this place.Each of Motel One’s 71 European hotels adheres to the same philosophy: that a budget price point shouldn’t mean dreary, bland, shoebox-sized spaces in lieu of interesting design. While every bedroom has the same dimensions (so if you’ve stayed in one Motel One, you’ll know exactly what you’ll get in another), each hotel commissions a local artist to create site-specific murals. Here, the talented young illustrator Lara Costafreda combines watercolor jungle motifs—tropical foliage, tigers, and exotic blooms—with black-and white sketches of landmarks like the Arc de Triomf. Bookmark her name next time you’re looking for wallpaper. Tell us about your room.There’s only one room size (172 square feet), which solves the turmoil of deciding which category to go for. (Try to pick a park, rather than courtyard, view.) Facilities have their priorities right: comfy beds and great shower pressure instead of nice, if unessential, add-ons like minibars. How's the Wi-Fi?Wi-Fi is fast and free, and you can borrow iPads for free. What's the dining and drinking scene like?There’s no food service apart from the breakfast buffet (11.50 euros). Focus, instead, on the bar, which is well-staffed and -stocked, especially with gins. The space hosts live jazz in summer. How did you find the service?Fast, fluid, and quick to say hello. Who stays here?Hear the word “budget” and your brain goes to backpacker. Not here, where the main demographic is 40- and 50-somethings with exploration, not room-rate exploitation, on their minds. How's the neighborhood?The location scores full marks. The park and zoo are directly in front of you; bike rentals are around the corner (and you’re surrounded by cycle lanes); and you’re a six-minute walk from the Arc de Triomf metro station, and only 20 to Las Ramblas and Barceloneta beach. Is there anything you'd change? With a huge ground-floor courtyard and a spacious roof, you can’t help but think they’re missing a trick by not having a pool—even a teeny, dip-your-toes kind of thing. Any standout features?Underground car parking is available for 20 euros a day, which is useful in a city with absolutely no parking. What's the bottom line?A completely average and nondescript hotel in Barcelona can easily set you back 200 euros a night in peak season. Motel One not only undercuts this, it does so with design panache—and a damn good bar." - Gemma Askham
