Barcelona, Spain
Cotton House Hotel
An Autograph Collection Hotel
What it is
An 83-room retreat with storied origins, complete with an al fresco pool.
What it isn't
Phoning it in. This may look like an idiosyncratically stylish boutique hotel, but because it falls under the Marriott umbrella, service is top-notch. You’ll have daily housekeeping, turndown, babysitting, limo service, 24-hour room service, laundry, a concierge, and much much more at your disposal.
What we think
Cotton has deep pockets. It must, if the jaw-dropping spiral staircase at this hotel—housed in the former Association of Cotton House Manufacturers—has anything to say about it. Where else in Barcelona can you spot a verdant glass-ceilinged conservatory, Versailles-esque mirrored vestibule, and buttoned-up library under one roof? Rooms are as restorative as can be in the heart of the city, with serene white-on-white palettes, cozy wingback chairs and (phew!) soundproof windows, a boon in a hobnobbing part of town.You may have the best sleep of your life here for another reason: heaven-sent Frette-topped feather beds.
You're here because
The pool, of course—a rarity in this town. It isn’t huge by any means, but it’s flanked by classically striped daybeds and overlooks the surrounding centuries-old rooftops. A solarium awaits adjacent for your chillaxing pleasure.
The Moment
It feels like only locals are angling for cocktails at Bataur’s gleaming bar—the mark of a good hotel watering hole. You order a glass of rioja and nab the club chair that’s beckoning to you by the carved wood fireplace. Is there anything better? It’s the same answer, in Spanish and English: no.
Restaurants & Bars
Batuar Restaurant & Bar - Offers a wide range of local proposals, all made with market ingredients typical of Mediterranean cuisine
Location
Central Barcelona, within a few blocks walk of the 1888 Arc de Triomf and the Born Cultural Centre, where you’ll spy the 18th century ruins of an evacuated city in a market hall.