Classic Update: Barcelona Benchmark

"Chef Carme Ruscalleda provides one of the city’s finest gastronomic experiences."

For many years, Barcelona’s grand hotels tended to be inconsistent, and their reputations waxed and waned with lunar regularity. Since its debut in 2009, however, my affections have been captured by the 98-room Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona (96). Perfectly situated on the Passeig de Gràcia near Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and just a short walk from the Barri Gòtic and La Rambla, it is housed within a former bank building converted by noted Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola. The airy guest rooms and suites, some with balconies or terraces, feature sleek interiors 
with white leather furnishings, rugs on warm wood floors, and tall windows that overlook the boulevard or a landscaped interior garden. Glass-encased baths contain freestanding oval tubs and large walk-in showers. The hotel’s principal restaurant, Moments, offers traditional Catalan cuisine. Chef Carme Ruscalleda boasts two Michelin stars and consistently provides one of the city’s finest gastronomic experiences. Other attractions include a rooftop pool with 360-degree views, plus 
an 11,000-square-foot spa with its own lap pool and fitness center.