Hotel Arts enjoys a privileged spot on the seafront of Barcelona. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city skyline, the property is located in Port Olimpic, next to the marina and Barcelona’s famous beaches, and surrounded by lush terraces and lively promenades. Close by, the district of Barceloneta is a hive of characterful bars, cafes, and local seafood restaurants. Although its proximity to the sea is hard to beat, the hotel is a longer walk away from the city’s historical center. However, this won’t be a problem for most guests as taxis are always available and the subway is a 5 min stroll from the hotel, with only 4 stops (or a 10 minutes journey) to Passeig de Gràcia and the very center of Barcelona. The hotel is just 20 minutes by car from Barcelona airport.
Hotel Arts is a landmark on the Barceloneta boardwalk: 44 stories of blue glass and exposed steel soaring high above the seafront. The construction of the skyscraper began during the tide of change leading up to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. At the time, the city was immersed in a profound urban transformation that included, among other major projects, the restoration of much of its coastline, revitalizing miles of beaches, reshaping the maritime area of the Barceloneta and Poblenou neighborhoods, and opening up the city to the sea. The famed architect Bruce Graham was commissioned to erect this monumental project that forever changed the skyline of Barcelona. The hotel opened as a 10-story building in 1992, then closed down to finish the construction project, and finally opened its doors as Hotel Arts in 1994.
Hotel Arts Barcelona’s elegant interiors with light-filled spaces and soaring ceilings – exude a residential ambiance, hereby creating a great environment to enjoy an exciting and inspiring city. At the ground-level lobby, guests are greeted by a waterfall on the outside, while designer furniture and floral displays await them on the inside. As guests step out of the elevators on the foyer level, they enter a beautiful lobby space that looks out over the hotel’s verdant garden. The lobby, styled in a sober design with a modern touch, has a lovely reception & concierge desk, and plenty of spaces to sit and chat, read or hang out, immediately transporting guests into a world of tranquility and serenity. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and huge vases characterize this beautiful space, from where guests can connect to the elevators of the guest room floors.
There are 455 rooms and 28 penthouses that feature a modern design and look out over the sea and/or the city. During my visit, I had Executive Sea View Suite on the 28th floor. Due to its corner location, the suite offered a panoramic view of the Mediterranean and the city itself. The living room featured a large sofa and coffee table, perfect for an informal work meeting or to relax and rest. There was a guest bathroom beside the living room, which was ideal for visitors. The bedroom had a minimalist aesthetic and the beautiful sea views from the kingsize bed made it the perfect place to wake up. The modern bathroom – set between the bedroom and living room was equipped with two sinks, a deep-soaking tub, and a walk-in rainfall shower. High-end Asprey toiletries were provided.
The hotel’s terraced gardens bask in the dappled shade of Frank Gehry’s monumental golden fish sculpture, one of Barcelona’s most iconic works of contemporary public art. Within the gardens, guests can relax in an outdoor hot tub, lose themselves in a good book, or simply stretch out on a sun lounger and savor the sense of natural seclusion. Next to the gardens is a sun-drenched pool deck with a decently-sized pool, the perfect spot for a refreshing dip. The pool deck features hammocks and sunbeds, and drink & snack service is provided all day long. One level up from the main pool deck is another, more tranquil pool deck, with an infinity pool looking out onto the sparkling Mediterranean Sea while also offering an unobstructed view of Frank Gehry’s iconic fish sculpture over its vanishing edges.
Things to know
* Because of its coveted waterfront location, Hotel Arts Barcelona enjoys beautiful views over the Mediterranean Sea and is in close proximity to the city’s best beaches. However, its setting comes with some inconveniences as well, as the property is located far from the city center and the best way to move around is by taxi or subway unless you like walking a lot. During the warmer months, I highly recommend staying at Hotel Arts Barcelona (to make the most of its beachfront location and outdoor facilities) but during the cooler months, it might be better to stay in a hotel in the city center.
* Hotel Arts houses one of Barcelona’s best restaurants, Enoteca Paco Pérez except for this Michelin-starred venue, the hotel doesn’t have any other restaurant for a dinner at night (the hotel’s three other restaurants are only open for breakfast or lunch). That might not seem too much of a problem at first since Barcelona is home to one of Europe’s most exciting dining scenes, but unfortunately, there are no good restaurants within walking distance of the hotel (so you’ll need to take a cab into town for your dinners).
* Hotel Arts Barcelona can feel busy as it is often used by large groups for corporate events or conferences. When you stay at the hotel during such an event, there are often lines for check-in and check-out, and the pool areas might feel crowded. For example, during my stay, there was a 20 min wait for check-in (which was not too bad but annoying nonetheless) and most sun loungers around the pools were taken by noon.
* If you stay in penthouses, located on the top floors of the hotel and you will have a butler service, you can use a MINI Cooper.
