"How did it strike you on arrival?The quiet, elegant lobby stands in stark contrast to the activity on Las Ramblas just outside. The 1898 has that old-school luxury hotel feel. What’s the crowd like?Lots of well-to-do, middle-aged business people and couples. Tell us about your room.The Deluxe rooms are fairly standard. But they're spacious and, most importantly, some have a private terrace. The view of the rooftops and streets toward the back of the hotel is peaceful, unlike the buzz of tourists and street vendors on the other side. The room is respectable, but besides the terrace, nothing much to write home about—a good, solid hotel room. How's the bed?Standard bed. Comfy and cool pillows. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Elegant marble bathroom and high-end Italian toiletries from Etro. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi is free and works well throughout the hotel. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The standout feature of Hotel 1898 is the impressive La Isabela roof terrace, with its large heated pool and 360-degree views of the city that stretch all the way from Port Vell to the two hilltops of Montjuïc and Tibidabo. Any issues with your stay?Once the epicenter of Barcelona’s tourist chaos, staying on Las Ramblas can feel fairly hectic—no matter how good the hotel is. What's the bottom line?The 1898 combines exceptional public spaces with solid rooms, all slap-bang in the middle of Las Ramblas." - Isabelle Kliger
