Hotel Regina Barcelona

The busy blocks around Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya are jam-packed with hotels, but few are as historic — or as refined — as the Hotel Regina. The original hotel dates back to 1917, and many of its details remain intact, from the glamorous arched entryway with stained glass paneling to the Art Deco-style spiral staircase with hairpin-like wrought-iron railings. But the hotel was revamped in early 2024, its guest rooms refreshed and its ground-level salon and petite interior patio turned into a stylish all-day café and tapas bar.

In its current form the Regina strikes a careful balance between preservation and modernization. With their high ceilings, large windows, fine wooden furnishings, and elegant white drapery, the rooms have a timeless look. One suite, occupying the old ballroom, features century-old columns and parquet flooring, while corner rooms have French doors opening to private balconies overlooking the city’s domes and spires. Standard rooms are compact, which is standard for the neighborhood, but even the smallest single room has a relatively spacious white-tiled bathroom with an inviting walk-in shower.

Café con leche, vermouth on the rocks, and everything in between are served in the utilitarian ground-level lounge, which offers indoor and outdoor space to eat, drink, and relax. Also catering to guests and locals alike, located just around the corner, is Bar La Esquina, a buzzy bistro specializing in local wines and Catalán-inspired cuisine. It’s the ideal stop before or after exploring the Gothic Quarter, El Raval, and Eixample, all at the hotel’s doorstep.