W Barcelona

Sun, surf and sand: to be frank, it’s not exactly the first set of images that normally comes to mind when one considers the Barcelona hotel scene. For that reason — and for the building itself, a sail-shaped glass-and-steel tower designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill — the W Barcelona’s opening caused a larger-than-normal stir.

The location is Barceloneta, by the port, which is what makes the W’s near-beachfront situation possible (this particular beach, incidentally, is known for a decidedly liberal philosophy about proper swim attire). And while many Spanish hotels hide away from the sun, the W embraces it, with full-length windows all the way up and an exterior finish that reflects the Mediterranean sky.

Rooms are more or less as we’ve come to expect from W: stylish and fun, not a little luxurious, with notoriously comfortable beds and spa-like bathrooms equipped with rain showers and plush bathrobes. The lighting is remote-controllable, and cycles through a variety of colors to match any mood — and the drapes, remarkably, are up to the task of blocking out that blazing Catalan sun. It’s not your typical Barcelona hotel, but with a restaurant by one of the region’s leading lights, and a location minutes from the Old Town, it’s still unmistakably local.