Astoria

The 114-room Astoria Hotel is a splurge-worthy pamper palace that often has surprisingly great deals. It’s a real treat, and one of the top three-star hotels we’ve seen, with great extras like a fitness center and rooftop swimming pool.

All guest rooms at the Astoria Hotel are decorated in browns and creams and have a modern, elegant style. They offer all the amenities: air conditioning, soundproof windows, a phone, minibar and zippy flat-screen TV. Most rooms have views of neighborhood residences (mainly buildings from the early 1900s) or of the large, quiet interior patio.

Bathrooms are sleek and spacious, with inviting bathtubs, fluffy towels, a hair dryer, shampoo, gel and soap.

The Astoria feels like a hotel gone to finishing school. A member of Derby Hotels Collection, it has the efficiency of a chain hotel with some unique touches, like its impressive art collection. In addition to a ground-floor Opisso Museum dedicated to the works of Ricard Opisso (former apprentice to Gaudí), the hotel boasts a collection of 20th-century posters, many of which are displayed in the restaurant.

The Astor Restaurant serves breakfast for a very pricey €16.50 and a more reasonable set menu lunch. But the real, um, high point of the Astoria is its roof terrace. Besides the pool (an uncommon bonus at a Barcelona three-star), the inviting area also offers several private tables for terrace lunches in the sun.

Wi-Fi is available throughout, free for the first hour each day, and then a 24-hour fee applies. There is also a free Internet station.

Location

Near the Astoria, you’ll find three fun areas. The first is Carrer Enrique Granados, a café-lined street perfect for a morning croissant. The second is Gracia, a trendy Catalan neighborhood chock-full of bohemian bars little known to visitors—and well worth the five-minute walk from the hotel. And finally, about three blocks from the Astoria is Pssg. de Gracia, a transportation hub and home to Barcelona’s most high-end shops. The nearby concert venue Luz de Gas offers music most nights.

Transportation

Subway: The Astoria’s Metro line is the Green Line/L3 and its closest stop is Diagonal. From Diagonal, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the hotel.

From the Airport: To reach the Astoria Hotel from the airport, take the Areobús to Plaça Catalunya (the last stop) and catch the Green Line/L3 to the Diagonal stop. You can also take the RENFE Cercanías train from T2. At the Passeig de Gracia stop, transfer to the Green Line/L3 Metro to Diagonal.