Hostal Lausanne

The two-star, 17-room Hostal Lausanne is located in a beautiful 18th-century building on the popular shopping street, Portal de l’Angel. Not much has been changed in this old beauty since 1900, but its super simple rooms are moderately priced and its location is one of the most coveted in Barcelona.

Apart from the building’s elaborately carved ceilings and chandeliers, the Hostal’s Lausanne’s guest rooms are basic but comfy (think pressboard wardrobes, nightstands, maybe a small desk and little else). 

Some beds in the triples look like they’ve seen better days—or would be more appropriately called “cots.” (Note to tall folks: Your feet will hang off the beds.) The tiny doubles and singles have standard-sized beds. We recommend asking for the only room in the hostel with a balcony, as it also happens to be quite large.

None of the rooms are air conditioned, but fans are available and all rooms have television (and the list of amenities stops there).

Eleven of the Hostal Lausanne’s rooms share bathrooms. These are the nicest communal bathrooms we’ve seen in Barcelona: very chic in stone and tan tiles.

For the most part, the Lausanne feels worn, but quiet and cozy. The rate provides good value, especially for doubles with a shared bath.

There is a very pleasant lounge area, with sofas, a television and vending machines. The highlight of this antique living room is its balcony view, which is as entertaining as it is picturesque. Outside, street performers play an international selection of music, and tango dancers clash with decked-out hip hop performers amidst drooling shoppers.

Although the Lausanne’s building is quite old, its technology is 21st century. There’s a small elevator as well as an Internet station and Wi-Fi in public areas (both free). Note, though, that a historic building means there may be some additional noise, thanks to thin walls and older pipes.

There is no breakfast available at the hotel, but there are plenty of places nearby where you can pick up something cheap.

Location

Besides the terrific entertainment and shopping it affords, the Hostal Lausanne’s location is also superb for catching public transportation. El Corte Inglés, one of Barcelona’s largest department stores and supermarkets, is right around the corner, and shoppers might spend all they’ve saved staying at the Lausanne in the plethora of shops that line Portal de l'Àngel.

There are also restaurant choices galore in this area—everything from simple pastry shops to sushi. (However, we’d recommend heading away from the hostal into El Raval and La Ribera for a more “local” selection of eateries and nightlife options.)

The city’s Cathedral is right around the corner from the Lausanne, and La Rambla, La Boqueria Market and the history museum (MUHBA) are also nearby.

Transportation

Subway: The Lausanne’s Metro line is the Green Line/L3 or the Red Line/L1. From from either, your closest stop is Plaça Catalunya, a five-minute walk from the hostal. The Yellow Line station Urquinaona is also fairly close by.

From the Airport: The easiest way to reach the Lausanne is to take the Areobús direct to Plaça Catalunya. Trains depart every 5 minutes and the journey takes about 35 minutes.