Hotel of the Week: Grand Hotel Central Barcelona

Barcelona offers a vibrancy, energy and enduring charm that is hard to beat. With a plethora of hotels, old and new, it’s vital to pick the right one and make the most of this incredible city. Our Hotel of the Week, Grand Hotel Central Barcelona, ticks both the new and old boxes. My stay could not be faulted. The location is ideal. The gorgeous, refurbished rooms are just a stone’s throw from Barcelona Cathedral and the chic shopping district, and the rooftop pool and bar boast one of the best views of the city.

For those who haven’t visited Barcelona recently, 2026 is the year to go. After 144 years of construction, Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Família is set to be completed, a century on from his death. As one of the most recognisable buildings in the world, blending traditional Gothic architecture with geometric and natural accents, its most anticipated construction timeline marks a historic moment for the city. After the Notre Dame, this should be on your all-time cultural shopping list.

If you’re going to witness the final realisation of this masterpiece, you’ll need to base yourself nearby. Enter Grand Hotel Central Barcelona, founded in 1926 by Francesc Cambó, a politician and patron of the arts and the innovative Noucentista architect, Adolf Florensa. At the time, it was the tallest building in Barcelona, which, for a luxury hotel, was revolutionary, as typically the bourgeoisie would reside on the first floor. The forward-thinking of the founders, over a century later, continues to pay off as the rooftop remains an alluring feature of the hotel. It has had a total makeover, completed in 2024.

The Rooms

The 2024 renovation has been sensitively accomplished, and the hotel has most certainly retained its historic sense of Noucentisme and Catalan creativity. Throughout, the nod to 1920s glamour is obvious but not overstated. In the suites themselves, parquet floors are paired with wood-panel walls to ground the space in its heritage, while colourful ceramic lamps, geometric-patterned rugs and a minimalist bed frame add a modern edge.

The colour palette in my room mirrors the city’s terracotta rooftops and blue skyline with flecks of orange, teal and rust. All the details feel considered, comfortable yet never fussy. The crisp, 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and a more-than-generously sized bed make for the perfect refuge against the bustle of the Gothic Quarter. As does the relaxed dining area, perfect for a quiet coffee in the early morning Mediterranean light.

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In the bathroom, there’s a sleek separate bathtub and a rain shower, accompanied by angular double sinks with ample space for all your travel lotions and potions. For all we heavy-packers, there’s also a walk-in dressing room area to house the essentials and non-essentials. I was in Barcelona attending a Luxury Summit and also for some downtime, so the capacious closet was perfect!

The Rooftop Terrace with Pool and View

The rooftop at Grand Hotel Central Barcelona is the piece de resistance. I defy any hotel in Barcelona to claim they have anything like La Terraza del Central. It sits atop the historic building as the eighth-floor crowning glory. Here you can perch on a Balinese sun bed, in between lush greenery, soaking up the climate, on the edge of the stunningly blue infinity pool and the Balearics not far away. If you’re partial to a sauna, La Terraza has a one poolside, inviting guests to partake in a dry-heat and cold-water combination.

I was most impressed by how the sun loungers convert neatly into bar sofas for the evening. At 6 pm on the dot, a team emerges and you can witness a transformation before your eyes. Shed your swimwear and don your cool cocktail attire. Anything goes. As the sun sets, you’ll see the illuminated sgraffito mural from the 1920s by Oleguer Junyent – only visible from the rooftop (and the secret private apartment, see below). The space transitions from a daytime urban oasis to an exclusive evening spot for dining or enjoying a curated soundtrack from local DJs. It’s cool, chic and atmospheric, as you can see with pictures of me accompanied by the Creative Director Marie Karlsson.

Food and Drink

On the rooftop Terraza itself, you can take a gastronomic tour of the Mediterranean coast without leaving your sunbed. The menu here is casual, offering everything from fried Cypriot halloumi and Greek salad to Burrata and Italian Pizzeta.

For something a little more sophisticated, head to the ground floor and sample the stylings at Can Bo vins & tapas. Marie and I had a fantastic meal, supervised by the knowledgeable sommelier Amador Marín. Under the culinary guidance of Chef Oliver Peña, who brings experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, and Lorenzo Cavazzoni, Executive Chef of Grand Hotel Central, Can Bo vins & tapas offers a concept focused on tapas and shareable small plates, with top local ingredients and seasonal cuisine, complemented by the pairing possibilities of its extensive wine cellar.

The engaging Marín has curated a list of over 100 labels from diverse wine regions, featuring local and national vineyards as well as international selections, with a particular focus on French and Italian wines. We loved his recommendation of a 2022 Rioja Alavesa from the Basque Country.

Who's Who

Alongside the lovely Marín, Chefs Oliver Peña and Lorenzo Cavazzoni, it was brilliant to meet the dynamic General Manager Maria Contreras Palmada. She’s been with the Grand Hotel Central Barcelona since 2022 and before that, spent eight years with Soho House, so she has a sense of what is cool and what works. She has overseen the transformation and is fantastically down-to-earth and charming to boot. I kid you not, this GM walked me up the road a few hundred metres spontaneously to hail a taxi due to roadworks to get to my Luxury Conference on time and gave me a hug.

Exclusive Secret Apartment and Garden

I was incredibly lucky, due to my innate curiosity, to have a sneak peek at a hidden apartment and garden above the hotel, which is likely to be the next phase of the renovation. Marie and I had spotted this gem and asked if we could have a look around. It was the private residence of the founding family and is quite extraordinary, from the wood panelling and mosaic floors to the book collections and private garden.

The garden itself is immaculate, since it is meticulously cared for by a skilled gardener, who considers it a treasure. The Secret Garden! If and when this project comes to fruition, it will be the most special address in Barcelona.