There are few hotels in the world that become landmarks in their host cities. In those rare cases, such hotels become attractions for travelers whether or not they’re official guests.
The W Barcelona Hotel is such a destination. Sitting on reclaimed land as an extension of Barcelona’s port the W dominates the city’s skyline as it faces the Mediterranean sea. It’s an unmistakable presence and a modern architectural achievement.
Building off of its seaside location, architect Ricardo Bofill forged a complex reminiscent of a massive sailing ship. Naturally enough, the locals call the W Barcelona the Hotel Vela or Sail Hotel. A soaring tower of steer and glass, the structure itself is worth a stop even for those not calling it their traveling home or enjoying its bars and restaurants.
Also: It’s ‘Showtime’ in London for Cocktails at One Aldwych Hotel
Recently undergoing a major renovation of its accommodations, the hotel now includes 473 rooms and more than 60 specially designed suites. To celebrate what amounts to an up-to-date fine-tuning of an already modern hotel, the W Barcelona invited local artist Ricardo Cavolo to design special limited edition footwear for gifting to anyone who books one of the remodeled suites.
“I am very proud of Barcelona,” Cavolo said. ” I wanted to bring a sense of the city to my design and looked to its home on the sea for inspiration. Barcelona is a city of life and joy, and I wanted to share that.”
Beyond its updated suites, the W Barcelona offers six dedicated dining and mixology spots through the hotel. WAVE serves as the ground floor’s multi-purpose food and drink spot and an attractive meeting space. Bravo24 boasts an upscale gourmet dining experience led by Michelin Chef Carles Abellán, while SALT Restaurant & Beach Club takes the F&B scene outside. The ECLIPSE rooftop bar takes full advantage of the W Barcelona’s spectacular ocean and city vistas, while the Wet Bar and WOW Cabanas bring refreshments to the pool.
As if bucking full on resort status in what already serves as a top venue for leisure and business travel, the W Barcelona packs a full schedule of daily activities and access to sea-based recreation. The on-site Bliss Spa and Fit Gym are on station to keep guests fit and relaxed, while hotel staff offers outdoor fitness classes. Meanwhile, there’s beachside access to kayaks, paddle-boards and ocean yoga classes.
Finally, for those travelers eager to use the W Barcelona as a launching point to explore the city, the W Insider program offers local experts who know the scene away from just the major tourist attractions and internationally renowned dining spots. The Insider team at any W Hotel property is well-versed in the hidden bars, the smaller galleries and other part of town the locals turn to for culture and entertainment that the average tourist never sees.
