Hostal Orleans

A stay at the two-star Hostal Orleáns is like a visit to a friendly aunt’s house. In this case, that aunt would be Fina Ibañez, proprietor of the comfortable, family-run abode, where the price is right and the “frills” are found in pink lacy bedspreads and a simple television lounge.

Señora Ibañez has outfitted each of the 27 rooms at the Hostal Orleans in a style all her own—one that could shock a color-sensitive person. Silk floral arrangements cheerfully clash with moody, gold-framed seascape paintings. Rooms vary in size, and all are equipped with a television, desk, safe and air conditioning.

Balcony rooms look onto the train station and bustling Avenida Marqués de Argentera. Bathrooms are all private, spic-and-span and new. They have small tubs and offer basic extras like a hair dryer, soap, and shampoo.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and there is an Internet station (for an additional fee) in the family-style lounge area. There isn’t an elevator, so be prepared to lug your bags up two flights of stairs.

Location

The Hostal Orleáns is located in the Ribera, a fantastic zone for sightseeing and nightlife. Within a few blocks of the hostal are the beach, port, Ciutadella Park and Picasso Museum, plus many excellent restaurants and cafés. Head around the corner to one of our preferred haunts, Café Borne (Pl. Comercial 10), for a morning coffee or an afternoon tea and brownie combo.

There are lots of options for eating and drinking in this neighborhood but choose carefully, as some are more tourist-focused than others. We like Salero (Carrer del Rec, 60) when we’re in the mood for something nice, and head to Pizza Paco (Allada Vermell, 11) or Mosquito (Carders, 46) when it’s casual time. Another fab choice on a nice day is to get take-away from Pim Pam Burgers (Bigai, 1) and eat your lunch/dinner/whatever in Ciutadella Park.

Transportation

Subway: The Hostal Orleáns is located between the Juame I and Barceloneta Metro stops, on the Yellow Line/L4 (one of the best lines in the system for visiting sights).

From the Airport: The RENFE Cercanías train departs from T2 (about every 20 minutes) and gets you to Barcelona in about 35 minutes. To get to the Orleáns, take the train to Passeig de Gracia and transfer to Yellow Line/L4 to Juame I or Barceloneta.