A great hotel in the heart of Barcelona, Granados 83 did surprise us as a very nice four-star hotel for the price we paid. It is a bit on the small side, with 77 rooms only, a cozy check-in section and sit-in area in the lobby. The design features are refreshing, with a little bit of Hindu and Buddhist influence on the architecture and decoration pieces.

The Room:

Rather small but comfortable for two people. The space is clean, with a queen size bed, a large sofa and makeup desk. There is a flat screen TV fixed to the wall that you can displace to face the sofa or the bed as you wish. ( We spent quite a bit of time watching the reports on the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate while we were there.) The bathroom is also designed with straight minimalist lines and features a large shower, toilet and bidet. The ventilation system was poor in the washroom, the air was always very humid and there was some sign of mold starting to grow along the walls and sink area.

The bed, although with very nice bedding, was not comfortable. The mattress was sinking in some regions and you could feel the springs sometimes. One other thing is the mechanical blinds covering the patio door. The mechanism was so noisy every time we activated it that we were scared of disrupting the neighbours too early in the morning or too late at night.

The view itself is not too inspiring. From our room we could see only the rooftops of other buildings.

The Service:

The staff is pleasant, check-in and check-out was done efficiently and without problem. There were complimentary flowers upon our arrival which accented nicely the room. One small gesture that warms us is the chocolates they would leave everyday after housekeeping comes through…not a huge deal but greatly appreciated.

The Amenities:

Since the hotel is rather small, we did not expect a lot of amenities, but were pleasantly surprised. There are a few restaurants and a rooftop bar in the hotel. There is a nice outdoor pool next to the terrace, but it is extremely small. We heard there was a gym also, but did not have the time to experience it.

The Location:

Great! The hotel is a short walk to Diagonal subway station, and the Barcelona transit system is very efficient. We could reach all main attractions in the city very easily. The neighborhood around Granados 83 seemed also very safe, as we walked back sometimes late at night without any worries. There are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby and also a small supermarket across the street where you can buy snacks and fruits.

Overall, this is a very nice four-star hotel in the public areas and hallways, but not inside the rooms. We appreciated all the effort that has been put in to make the space zen and architecturally interesting but ultimately, the guests do place much more importance on their comfort inside the room. Maybe we needed to stay in a superior suite or deluxe room to experience the comfort of the hotel, but in our standard room, we definitely did not feel that way. The good location makes up for it a little bit, as everywhere is within convenient reach. The price (85 CAD$/night) is also another enticing motivator to revisit again.

Time of visit: April 2011. To read the blog post about Barcelona, click here.

Hotel Granados 83 [7/10]

Enric Granados, 83

08008 Barcelona, Spain

Tel.: +34 93 492 96 70 | Fax: +34 93 492 96 90