Make a beeline for the W Barcelona

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  W Barcelona

  © Starwood

Western Europe’s first W certainly is a dramatic scene-stealer on the Barcelona coastline and amazingly, it’s the city’s only hotel with direct beach access.

In the planning stages for many years, the W Barcelona has been crafted by renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, making its 26-story sail-like debut last autumn and sitting at the vanguard of an urban renewal plan for Barcelona’s coastline.

From my nose-bleed, 19th-floor room, I could see the rather more unattractive side of the coastline, however, looking out over ferries, freighters and ships coming in and out of the port and a rather uninspiring view of some car parks. But waiting for the lift, the view was more savory, with a vista of Nova Bocana and a sun-kissed Barceloneta beach boardwalk and the sparkling Med beyond.

The hotel is bound to attract a jet-setting European and international crowd, but its success also relies on buy-in from the local market and the public spaces seemed peppered with people who, shall we say, are not your usual W guests; the locals were definitely out in force for a ‘nosy’ round. Judging by the overall ‘hhmmms’ from the locals, it has met with approval.

But I’m not so sure, maybe I’m getting old and jaded, but dramatic architecture aside, the yawning lobby left me cold, there was quite a wait to check-in, and not quite a lot in the shell of a room, as the fixtures felt budget and the bathroom was just an uninspiring open space. I didn’t like having to shout to check in either – there’s lobby music, and there’s feeling like you’re in a club in the middle of the day. God, I definitely sound too old for a W - how depressing.

The W has a whopping 473 guest rooms, including 67 suites – the most impressive is the WOW suites and one Extreme WOW suite, which live up to their names.

As well as having that direct access to the beach in its favour – the hotel also has a Bliss Spa so if you are craving a mix of some chic city and seaside pampering, look no further. But – it is a bit of a walk to get to the heart of the city and other design and luxury hotels are better located. Although, it is still a little closer to the action that the city’s other big hitter – Hotel Arts.

When it comes to food, the W’s signature restaurant comes courtesy of Michelin-rated Catalan chef, Carles Abellan, and there’s the Wave Restaurant, when you’re not feeling as flush.

And after dark – which is Barcelona’s favourite time – it’s the W bar that’s the place to head to for cocktails, and the highlight for me was Eclipse. This 26th-floor bar has irrefutably impressive vistas over Barcelona and was designed by Ignite Group, who brought us the now famed London nightclub, Boujis.

www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels

By April Hutchinson

Location: Barcelona