Mercer Hotel Barcelona

Walking the halls of the Mercer Hotel Barcelona is a bit like hanging out in a forward-thinking gallery of modern design, where the exhibits never close and management lets you stay the night — except here, the impeccable modernist furniture and glass partitions are housed in an ancient defense tower. This is Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, after all, where you’d be hard-pressed to find buildings that don’t reveal some aspect of the district’s Roman origins.

If the thought of all that history in the stones beneath your feet and the archways above your head gives you pause, rest assured that the archaeological treasures scattered throughout the twenty-eight guest rooms don’t make the place feel at all unwelcoming. The ancient elements are surprisingly well integrated for a hotel that’s working with stark design schemes — the exposed brickwork is never ponderous, and the ceiling beams are painted to fit right into the color palette, which relies most heavily on shades of cream to balance out the dark wood of the furniture. Hanging lamps resemble rope ladders, and give the open-plan bathrooms a bit of irreverence.

If you favor something a bit more vibrant, or simply need more space, the third-floor grand suite is a riot of deep purple furniture and crimson carpeting. Here, windows look out upon the Gothic Quarter and the hotel courtyard, where 17th-century columns loom over orange trees. The restaurant opts for full-on modernity, offering contemporary French-inspired cuisine. And the amenities only get dreamier as one ascends — there’s a fourth-floor terrace that provides sweeping views of the Gothic Cathedral, along with a bar and rooftop pool.