Hotel Arts Barcelona: A New Era of Art & Design
In 2025, Hotel Arts Barcelona was reimagined by design and architecture powerhouses Meyer Davis and GCA Architects. Constructed in 1992, the year Barcelona held the Olympic Games, the 44-storey building is a landmark of the city’s skyline. Its distinctive steel exoskeleton remains untouched, but the hotel’s interiors have been entirely upgraded. We stayed in one of the new Club Suites during Barcelona Gallery Weekend, one of the many cultural highlights of the city’s busy calendar, and found the renovated Hotel Arts to be a true oasis.
Exterior view of Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
The designers have drawn inspiration from the sea, with accents of deep Mediterranean blue amongst primarily calm, neutral tones. Greco-Roman architecture is another key influence, with abstract marble sculptures by Alberto Peral set against undulating marble walls on every landing. The hotel has a long history of artist collaborations and an impressive collection of Catalan and Spanish art. In line with this ethos, local artisans were heavily involved in the renovation, particularly in the guestrooms. As they enter their room, guests are greeted by a bespoke, ceramic-glazed mirror that pays tribute to Catalan modernism. Adorning the beds are custom headboards created by local textile designer Lorena Canals and layered with textures and natural fibres that echo both the ocean and the silhouette of Frank Gehry’s El Peix (fish) sculpture in front of the hotel. Bespoke sculptures by Catalan ceramicist Rosa Cortiella, many inspired by the local landscape, are a delightful touch, while Nani Marquina’s wool, felt and cotton rugs are a nod to ancestral weaving craft. All of these small details combine to create a calming, luxurious, and yet unique experience for guests. These interiors are a testament to Catalan craftsmanship, the hotel’s setting, and its rich cultural history.
Here’s the FLOdown on what to expect if you book a stay at Hotel Arts (which you should).
Rooms
Hotel Arts has 432 guestrooms and suites, starting from a generous 45sqm in size. The building’s unique architecture ensures every room has floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the ocean, the city, or both if you book a corner room. We stayed in one of the hotel’s expansive Club Suites.
Bedroom suite living room, Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
These suites consist of a large living room with a lounge area, minibar and high table for eating and working. The bathroom has both a bath and a shower, and the toiletries and amenities are top tier, including Dyson hairdryers.
View from suite bedroom, Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image credit MTotoe. Courtesy FLO London.
The beds are extremely comfortable, and the combination of blackout blinds and thinner curtains enables guests to fully control the light levels to suit their preferences. Tasteful details such as a well-curated selection of books and magazines add a personal, homely touch.
Dining
Dining is treated as an art form at Hotel Arts. Gastronomic travellers need not leave the building to experience Michelin-starred tasting menus, sea-front seafood, and more casual samplings of local cuisine. At the two-Michelin-starred Enoteca Paco Pérez, a seasonally inspired menu matches flavours from the sea, the farm and the mountains with an impressive list of over 700 wines.
Sunset view at Enoteca Paco Pérez, Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image credit MTotoe. Courtesy FLO London.
Guests who book Club-tier rooms also have access to the Club Lounge, which offers expansive sea views, a permanent selection of alcoholic and soft beverages, and five different buffet servings each day.
Club lounge at Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image credit Sofia Carriera-Wham. Courtesy FLO London.
An oasis often referred to as “a hotel within a hotel”, the Club is highly recommended.
Wellness Facilities
Hotel Arts has two waterfront swimming pools, one set aside exclusively for adults, while the other welcomes all ages. The pools have unrivalled views of the ocean and Barcelona’s famous seafront promenade, with easy access to the hotel’s outdoor tapas bar, Marina Coastal Food. Currently undergoing renovations, the spa offering is set to be one of the best in Barcelona when it reopens, if not the best.
Marina Coastal Food at Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
In the meantime, a temporary location within the hotel offers massages and treatments, as well as access to the facilities at the neighbouring W Hotel.
Pool view at Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image credit MTotoe. Courtesy FLO London.
Likewise, the gym is in works, but temporary cardio, yoga and weight training areas have been set up with top-tier equipment, and guests have complimentary gym access in the local area. From our sneak peek, the new wellness centre will certainly be worth the wait.
Location
The hotel is positioned directly on the coast, ideal for seaside walks, visits to the beach, and a sense of serenity that you cannot find elsewhere in the city. It is, however, very well connected to the main tourist attractions and can be reached in roughly 30 minutes from the airport by car.
Image courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
It also makes an excellent base for the many cultural events that take place in Barcelona throughout the year. We stayed at Hotel Arts during Barcelona Gallery Weekend (17 - 20 September), and enjoyed a range of perks as a result, including priority access to exhibitions, artist meet and greets, and curated art experiences. Additional autumn arts events worth visiting include SWAB art fair (8 - 11 October), Barcelona Design Week (14 - 25 October) and Art Week Barcelona (27 November - 4 December). In the summer, Hotel Arts is ideally positioned for the many international music festivals that take place in the city, including Primavera Sound, Brunch Electronik, Sónar and Festival Cruïlla.
Service
The service at Hotel Arts is impeccable, in line with the standard you would expect from a five-star hotel in the U.S. The staff are highly attentive without being overbearing, and the knowledgeable concierge team can advise on and organise experiences across the city, including bespoke private tours of the city’s food and art scenes. In-room requests are met swiftly, and room service is available 24/7.
Art Collection
The art collection at Hotel Arts is extensive. The collection focuses on Catalan and Spanish artists, and successive curators have strengthened and expanded it since the hotel’s founding in 1992. Today, it is a cornerstone of the Barcelona art network, supporting a wide range of local artists through both acquisitions and commissions. Art infuses every corner, from large-scale paintings to ceramics, textiles, murals and, of course, Frank Gehry’s monumental sculpture located directly in front of the hotel.
Diadas V, Alberto Peral, on display at Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
Catalan art is renowned for its material diversity and its craftsmanship, and this is especially evident in the curation of the recent renovation. Staying at Hotel Arts is therefore an opportunity to dive into the region’s rich art history, adding a layer of cultural nuance to the institutions, foundations and galleries that draw so many visitors to the city.
Diadas V, Alberto Peral, on display at Hotel Arts Barcelona. Image courtesy of Hotel Arts Barcelona
Rooms at Hotel Arts Barcelona start at around £430 a night and go up to about £1,100 for a suite depending on the season. The hotel is located at Carrer de la Marina 19-21, 08005 Barcelona, with bookings through ritzcarlton.com.
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Our aprons have been named after markets in Ghana and London. This apron has been named after street food hub Maltby Street Market.