American style with passion of the Spanish
I n the middle of Barcelona, next to its cathedral, this hotel is one of the most luxurious places to stay in the city. It offers an amazing location to sample all of the delights of the surrounding area.
How do you get there? There are daily flights from Bristol International Airport to Barcelona. Easyjet flies into the main Barcelona Airport, while Ryanair flies to Girona, which is about 40 miles away. Buses, trains and taxis take you into the centre of the city from both airports, taking between half an hour and an hour.
First impressions: Superb. The hotel has the appearance of an American apartment block and the bilingual reception staff are friendly. The interior is very chic but understated – your room key is needed to operate the lift.
What are the rooms like? Much like a swish American apartment in design. All of the fixtures and fittings are of very high quality, from the solid wooden floors to the extremely efficient power shower, which was separate to the bathroom – a great design touch. A flat-screen TV and an electronically operated blind for your window were welcome, as was a DVD player and free minibar, replenished daily.
What else can you do? The jewel in the hotel's crown is undoubtedly its rooftop swimming pool. Temperatures hit about 80F when we were there, so a stroll to the roof for a jump in the pool was very welcome. It has the most amazing view and was a perfect place to watch a Spanish sunset.
What's on the menu? The restaurant is home to Actual by Avalon, award-laden chef Ramon Freixa's cosmopolitan eatery. Like Britain's Blumenthal, Freixa has a wizard's touch with unexpected flavours, fusing traditional Catalan cuisine and seasonal produce. We both had potato raviolis with blood sausage and white beans, but weren't brave enough to try the codfish with pork feet and snails.
Any gripes? My other half wanted a boiled egg for breakfast but was told that the chef couldn't do it, and then she was told it would take 20 minutes. Apart from that, there was nothing else, really.
How much does it cost? Rooms cost from £110 a night. To book, visit the website at www.mrandmrssmith.com or call the Mr & Mrs Smith travel team on 0845 034 0700.
The verdict: I can't wait to go back. It's so easy to get anywhere in the city, and the rooms are amazing and silent.
JC
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