Hotel España

I was inclined to award this property five stars, but several issues prevented a perfect rating. At check-in, I was assigned a Boutique room rather than the Deluxe room I had reserved. This was initially described as an upgrade, although the hotel’s own published rates place the Boutique category below the Deluxe. When I raised this discrepancy, the room was recharacterized as a Family room, yet the floor plan clearly identified it as Boutique. Fortunately, another staff member intervened, verified my Deluxe reservation, and assisted with a move to a newly renovated Deluxe room. The renovated room was tastefully appointed and consistent with the elegance of the hotel’s public areas. While the accommodations were comfortable and modern, improved sound insulation would be beneficial, as street noise remained noticeable until approximately 11 pm. Additionally, the complimentary Nespresso pods were not replenished during the final two nights of my stay. Breakfast represented excellent value when included with the room or added at the discounted check-in rate. The buffet offered fresh continental items as well as made-to-order dishes. However, I was surprised to find that the hotel used a commercial Nespresso machine rather than an automatic espresso machine, as freshly ground coffee would be more aligned with the property’s positioning. The location is exceptional, steps from Liceu metro station and within easy walking distance of major Gothic Quarter attractions. Despite some concerns raised in other reviews, I did not encounter any safety issues, aided in part by the presence of a doorman/security staff member. I would like to commend Omar at the front desk and the lady who oversaw the breakfast room for their warm hospitality. Once the renovation is completed and a few operational details are fine-tuned, I would gladly return and recommend the hotel to others.

I totally recommend this hotel! The staff was super respectful, the room was newly renovated and looked brand new, and the service was awesome. I especially loved the Bluetooth speaker in the room. Plus, the location is amazing. I'm definitely coming back here again.

Staff was outstanding!!! The transportation our travel agent arranged for us was a no call no show. The front desk workers, Omar and another gentleman, went above and beyond to arrange alternative transportation to get us to the airport on time. It was a major challenge due to construction on major roads and many road closures due to a run.||The hotel was clean and our room was fine. The hotel was as easy walk to many shops and restaurants.

We were only there for one night but would have loved to stay much longer! The location was perfect for walking around that part of Barcelona. The staff were excellent, knowledgeable, friendly, courteous..., the list goes on. Atmosphere was exactly what we were hoping for when we booked the room, modern amenities with an old world feel. Would strongly recommend to anyone looking to stay in that part of Barcelona and we hope to return for an extended stay

This was a wonderful boutique hotel with amazing decor, warm friendly and helpful staff. The rooms were clean and tidy and the beds were very comfortable. We had great sleeps. The only drawback was the room was very warm on the second night and we couldn’t figure out how to cool it. However, all in all, a great experience.

I rarely leave reviews, but I feel it’s important to warn other travelers about my experience. While the hotel décor is stylish and modern, the surrounding area feels unsafe — especially at night. We were shocked to learn that taxis often refuse to come directly to this part of the city because of the ongoing construction and poor road access. Several drivers turned us away or dropped us off 15–20 minutes away, forcing us to walk through dark, narrow streets that did not feel secure. We even considered renting a car to avoid the issue, only to find out there’s no parking available. The hotel itself is also under construction — something we weren’t informed about before booking — which added to the overall inconvenience. It’s located off the main streets, and I genuinely did not feel comfortable walking back after sightseeing. The fact that the doors are locked at night says a lot about the safety of the area. Inside the room, the experience didn’t improve much. The TV only offers local channels (no streaming or smart features), and the water pressure fluctuates from extremely hot to freezing cold. To their credit, the staff was kind and offered complimentary champagne for my birthday, which I appreciated. However, the unsafe location and lack of transparency about construction made our stay stressful. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel for anyone unfamiliar with Barcelona or traveling with family — it’s simply not worth the risk or hassle.

I rarely write Google reviews, but I felt future guests might find our experience helpful. My partner and I chose to stay at this hotel because of its strong ratings and convenient location. We stayed for two nights, and during that time, we both experienced symptoms such as frequent sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sore throat, and skin irritation/rashes. Unfortunately, on our final day, we discovered visible mold in the bathroom (see attached photos for reference). We checked out at around 05:00 and did not feel confident that reporting the issue to the front desk would lead to any action, unless it was escalated directly to the manager, who unfortunately, did not appear to be present at the time. Instead, we chose to email the hotel team to highlight the issue and its severity, as mold poses a clear health and safety risk and is not something one would expect at a hotel of this standard. This discovery left us extremely disappointed, as it affected not only our comfort but also our well-being. The purpose of sharing this review is not to harm the hotel’s reputation, but to raise awareness and ensure that the issue is addressed to prevent it from impacting future guests. The response from the Front Desk Manager stated that the hotel is currently undergoing renovations. While we understand this, it does not excuse neglecting basic standards of cleanliness and hygiene. Considering the circumstances, we felt the response and compensation offered were inadequate. We sincerely hope that future guests have a better experience and receive fairer treatment if similar issues arise. On a positive note, we would like to thank the hotel staff, who were attentive, welcoming, and ensured a smooth check-in and check-out process. We have nothing but praise for their professionalism, which was genuinely appreciated.

Beautiful building but dangerous location. Doesn't feel safe and they even lock the hotel entrance doors at night. The outside of the hotel is dirty, covered in graffiti and homeless people openly doing drugs and urinating in the street. The hotel is located in an alley and many taxi drivers refused to go into it which ment we had to walk quite a bit. The rooms are nice but falling apart. As many reviews state the shower design is terrible. Water just pours into the bathroom and I almost slipped several times getting out of the shower even with a towel on the ground. The rooms are all designed with a window directly into the hallway that you can see through and can't close which feels invasive and also allows light in at night which doesn't allow you to sleep. From afar the Hotel looks stunning but as you look closer you can see the flaws. Paint chipping, stained walls, damaged furniture. The walls are very thin as well. You can hear everything inside and out. Lots of police sirens and screaming people in the middle of the night. However the hotel staff were wonderful and responsive. They do offer luggage storage as well.

This hotel absolutely sucks. Service is really rude and it is in a very touristy unsafe part of town. Would not recommend.

This is a pretty, historic hotel in an excellent location. It is off La Rambla, with a metro just down a short block. One thing to be aware of, however, is that despite being next to the Opera House, the hotel is on the border of a more sketchy area. Just don't go too far west onto La Rambla, and you should be ok. The hotel doesn't seem to be keeping up with repairs; the room was showing its age. Wallpaper was tearing apart, and a piece of the closet was dangling out. The stitching/material on the back of the bed was really falling apart. When we first arrived in the room, we discovered that the safe wasn't working. To the hotel's credit, it was replaced quickly. The room was small, with no seating other than a chair at a small desk. There is a step up to get to the toilet, which is dangerous at night. A small light (i.e. one for the side mirror) would be helpful in this case. We had absolutely terrible WIFI, and initially the front desk people were not helpful. One employee suggested we come down to the lobby. My husband told him that we shouldn't have to do that at a four star hotel, where Internet is promised as part of the package. My husband realized that due to our corner room, the router on our hall was poorly positioned and the main reason we weren't getting good reception. He worked with the staff to fix this. Who knows what it's like on other floors! We do want to commend the hotel tech for his responsiveness and friendliness. Once called into action by the front desk, he was great for both the safe and WIFI.

The best thing about Hotel España happens to be its great location on Carrer San Pau which is a pedestrian walkway between the ever popular happening La Rambla and an open plaza. The interior architecture is Gaudi inspired with the most magnificent piece being what struck me as an art nouveau, though I was told Gaudi, alabaster fireplace. It was sculptured by Eusebi Arnau and appropriately located in their Bar Arnau. Hotel Espana also has as its restaurant, Fonda España, serving up dishes that though traditional in preparation and concept are fused with unique modern day embellishing touches. Though the rooms are nice enough, rather noisy, nothing I would call exceptional and not very much in keeping with the rest of the hotels very nice lobby, bar and restaurant facilities. If staying here in this area, a word of caution. Be aware of your surroundings. I spoke with two different guests who I must say were rather naïve about life in European cities. Both managed to get pickpocketed outside of the hotel while in the nearby plaza square. Gentlemen would be wise not to carry wallets in their back pockets and never give money to a beggar because chances are that other eyes are watching you reveal where you keep your money. At night, though things tend to change, everything is actually very safe, basically problem free. Even the street prostitutes of the area are polite, friendly and will take a "not interested" as a final answer without pestering you.

As far as location, you really could not book a better hotel in Barcelona. You are right in the heart of the city and close to EVERYTHING. The rooms are small, but clean, nice and just enough to meet our needs. Our room was located inside the hotel, so we did not notice any outside noise that would keep us awake. The walls are fairly thin though. We could hear people snoring and talking in the rooms that were close to us. Our first night in Barcelona there was a problem with our airconditioner, but we mentioned it to the staff and by the time we returned to our room that evening the problem had been remedied. The staff at this hotel were nice, but not overly pleasent or helpful with restaurant choices or places to go. I would not recommend the breakfast here, at 25 euros a person it is outright ridiculous. I also would not recommend the upstairs bar. It was unique, but the food was not anything to brag about and the sangria was one of the worst I experienced in barcelona. Also, if you need a cab in I would not recommend ordering one from the hotel. It will cost you more. If you just walk toward the main street, taxi's are offered at all times of the day or night. You will never have a problem finding one and it will save you big time!

Great hotel in the heart of Barcelona. Clear to the pier and great shopping and restaurants. Staff extremely friendly and helpful. Great rooftop bar/pool/lounge area. Highly recommend this gem!

I am currently here as am writing this review for a week long vacation to celebrate my wife's 40th birthday and our wedding anniversary as well. I highly recommend this hotel. Great location, amazing staff and room is adequately sized and very well appointed and clean. I like their location because it's very close to Las Ramblas and the metro but not directly on Las Ramblas so you still have a bit of privacy away from the hustle and bustle night life happening in Las Ramblas. Lastly, the hotel is the home of Fonda Espana, a high end restaurant, that you must try. You won't be disappointed especially if you are celebrating a wonderful occassion!!! Will definitely stay in this hotel again!!!

A beautiful hotel in a good location. Friendly staff but extremely loud. The street noise is pretty bad beginning at about 3am; it's an old building and the walls and windows are thin. If you have polite neighbors then everything is fine from that point of view. However, we had some obnoxiously loud and drunk kids in the room next to us, and we were effectively at their mercy--we could hear everything they said through the wall and could not sleep for hours until they stopped. Overall, I would say that if you want to be certain that your stay will be seamless and peaceful, take your money somewhere else. Not sure to what degree this is the hotel's fault--it's really just the nature of this old building.

Although the hotel is beautifuly renovated, the rooms are very very small. I am giving them less than 1 star if I could is because they were not accommodating to my family. For the prices they charge I was not happy with the size. In most hotels is europe, they give you the option to add another person if you pay the city tax and a daily fee. However, this hotel will make you pay for another room if you are more than 2 people. My family is 3 persons and they made us book another room because I was not allowed to stay in one room with my parent only for one night (6 hours because we did the checkin at midnight and we were leaving the next morning). Ended up staying at a massive apartment down the street called The streets apartments 18.

Cute hotel just off of La Rambla. We opted for this hotel based on the pictures but should have reconsidered. While the hotel pics are exactly what you get i.e. modern, fun, classy, and definitely clean its definitely style over function. The sink in our room was about four feet long. Not bad but the counter was also 4 feet long. No place for getting ready. There were two really cool faucets but they were hard to control and splashed water everywhere but the four foot sinks. The showers are really really cool. Rain heads from the ceiling and a slick stream of water from the center. These are all controlled, including the temperature, but turning one of four handles. Problem: When your hands are wet you cannot turn a polished chrome handle that is about 2" in diameter. We were excited for the roof top bar. Cool pics and lots of advertising urging us to visit and look out over Barcelona. We were there 5 days and the bar never opened once. Erika at the front desk is very helpful. She really tries hard and does well at her job. Her associate during the day (gentleman) is equally helpful and very nice. The nighttime staff might as well go home. Nothing more to say there. I wouldn't stay again but I would not necessarily state no one should. It has charm just style over function.

Tucked just off La Rambla, a major tourist area in Barcelona, Hotel Espana is a great choice for the traveler who wants to be in the thick of it all without breaking the bank. We booked through JetSetter and got a great deal, the only thing we were responsible for at the end of the trip was the city task (and our bar tab haha). The rooms are decent size but the bathroom was a bit cramped as the toilet was in a glass shower like square. Our room had a balcony that overlooked the alleyway which was very European. My only complaint was the rooms aren't very soundproof. Not only could we hear lots of street noise but the hallway noise as well. It made sleeping a bit difficult at times. Staff was friendly, pool on the roof was small but has good bar service. Overall a great choice

I stayed here when I was in Barcelona in January of 2013 as part of a larger trip, and this is probably the second nicest and the most visually striking of the 5 hotels I stayed at during the various legs of the trip. The architecture was inspired by the work of Guadi, which dots the city, and as a result is sumptuous and whimsical, yet decidedly modern, in a color scheme of black and gold. The staff does speak English reasonably well, but being able to understand Spanish and rattle off a sentence to make things clearer came in handy for me. It's right off La Rambla, which has interesting implications. If I recall correctly, when we turned left, we were out on La Rambla which was unoffensivly touristy. The first time we turned right and went deeper down the street we were solicited by a very polite prostitute. The dichotomy served to explain the lower than expected rate for such a nice hotel. I never thought I'd get knifed, but when I turned right, I always kept out a sharp eye. I would stay here again in a heartbeat. Darn, now I'm pining for the Rambla and sangria by the liter.

This entire experience was extremely annoying. My television didn't work the first night and I was jet-legged so I couldn't sleep. I asked to move rooms and the guy told me all the TV's don't work. The next day I found out he was completely lying and just didn't know how to program a TV. The day I checked out there was a marathon and no one told me the cabs weren't running and I had to cancel all my meetings and figure out how to take the Metro to the airport. Rude.

Excellent location, nice rooms, very pleasant staff. I stayed here for 3 nights and was very pleased. It's an older hotel situated right off of La Rambla. I highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a nice hotel that is close to the main activities.

Front desk was great. The location is awesome, tons of stuff near by including the open market. Rooms are modern and very nice. Only complaint, WiFi sucks hard.

This hotel is just off the famous Rumbla in downtown Barcelona. The staff are welcoming and friendly and dealt with everything efficiently and politely. Most with good English. The restaurant was very good for breakfast and dinner and the room was clean, large and user friendly. The hotel is well maintained, and because it is in a narrow side street our transport was unable to deliver us right to the front door but only a few meters away, so it didn't matter. A strong word of warning though about personal security. I was pick pocketed about 100 meters from the hotel front door and lost my wallet containing c/cards, debit card, driving license etc etc, plus E850 in cash. We had just been to an ATM...I normally wouldn't carry that much cash, so be aware someone is probably watching you! The inconvenience is a real drag even though all cards were immediately cancelled. Be careful!

Viva España If you're on a tight budget, but want to stay somewhere a bit special, you can't go wrong with Hotel España. The reception, staircase, landings and courtyard are spectacular, and while the rooms themselves are nothing out of the ordinary, they are clean and quiet. Ideally situated just off the Rambla in the up and coming Raval.