Architecturally, Barcelona is not known for skyscrapers. Rather it’s probably best known for Antoni Gaudí’s work and its Gothic Quarter. And the Torre Agbar and the Hotel Arts are probably the only two modern skyscrapers worth mentioning. The first is a suppository-shaped, Jean Nouvel-designed office block. The second is a 44-storey glass-and-steel exoskeleton-ed landmark designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Both are symbols of the city’s post-Olympics renaissance.
More pertinent however, is that when the Hotel Arts opened in 1994 as the Ritz-Carlton’s first outpost in Europe, it was widely regarded as an industry pioneer for offering art as an amenity. Besides the fabulous Frank Gehry copper fish sculpture at the entrance, the hotel houses an impressive collection of over a thousand pieces of contemporary Spanish art - much of which was commissioned specifically for the property.
The hotel has 483 rooms, including 58 suites, 28 duplex apartments, a Royal and a Presidential Suite, all of which received a much-needed makeover in 2006. The results are still wearing well.
The beige colour scheme provides airiness, while the dark wood accents adds a certain chic. The televisions are all by B&O and so are the iPod speaker stations. In the bathroom, you’ll find an abundant supply of towels, two fluffy robes and more Acqua di Parma toiletries than you could sensibly use in a single stay. On the minus side, there’s limited storage space and the windows – which offer incredible views during the day – don’t do a decent job of keeping the noise out at night.
The hotel also boasts a couple of impressive Michelin-starred restaurants, a Six Senses Spa, the city's only beachside pool and a fantastic fitness centre. Our advice? Go for the art (and the city) but make sure to book a Club Room, as this affords you your own concierge and free all-day dining at the dedicated Club Lounge.
