Why book?
In a city with as much going on as Barcelona, you cannot overstate the value of a truly great location. And nowhere competes with shiny new ME Barcelona in the convenience stakes.
Set the scene
The first word that springs to mind when you step over the threshold at ME Barcelona is cosmopolitan. This is an urban hotel, with an ultra-chic vibe, frequented by modern urbanites from all over the world. Eyewear is trendy, luggage is compact and convenient, shoes are designer but comfy enough to spend the day walking around a city. Also, we could murder a Cosmopolitan right about now.
The backstory
Part of leading Spanish hotel group Meliá, ME Barcelona belongs to stylish ME by Meliá lifestyle brand “that seeks to fuse innovative style with local tastes.” At ME Barcelona, this translates into a contemporary city hotel with plenty of social spaces to attract both visitors and the local community, and a real focus on personalized service, where the guest’s individual interests—be it in music, art or popular culture—are a priority.
The building used to be the “Teatro Novedades”, a theater and cinema space that opened in 1869 and was a major social and cultural epicenter in the city until it closed in 2009. ME Barcelona chose it for its unbeatable central location on the corner of Passeig de Gracia and Casp, one of the quietest, most upscale streets of the Eixample district, and because of its historic and cultural significance.
The rooms
Me Barcelona has 164 modern and spacious rooms. Decorated in neutral tones with yellow hues, the rooms are stylish, with clean lines, and large windows illuminating the space, accentuated by the bright open-plan bathrooms.
The Superior ME Terrace room offers city views showcasing the hotel’s unbeatable location and a private terrace that opens the doors to Barcelona. It also features a small creative studio, a king-size bed and an open-plan bathroom with a glass partition.
If you prefer the comfort of a suite, the Studio ME+ Suite Plaça Catalunya offers stunning views of Plaça de Catalunya and bespoke artworks. It has a king-size bed, a lounge area with books and magazines, and a bright open-plan bathroom.
Food and drink
The food here is by the Barcelona-based Belbo collection of restaurants. Tierra restaurant serves contemporary, healthy Mediterranean cuisine across an indoor and outdoor space, while Terrenal specializes in Mediterranean-North African dishes. There’s also the more upscale Italian Fausto and Luma cocktail bar. The real draw here is more than 100,000 square feet of outdoor terraces, with plenty of greenery and tunes from a resident DJ.
The neighborhood/area
It’s a point that bears repeating: this is the best location in town for easy access to everything Barcelona has to offer. You will never be more than a 10-minute walk from El Born, the Barri Gòtic or the Gaudí masterpieces that line Passeig de Gràcia. Even la Sagrada Familía can be reached on foot in only 30 minutes. You can also access every form of public transport (including the bus to the airport and trains to the beaches north of the city) in Plaça de Catalunya. And while the plaça itself can get a bit sketchy at night, the entrance to the hotel itself is set on the quiet, elegant Carrer de Casp, on the posh right side of l’Eixample.
The service
The notion of personalized service gets bandied about a lot in the hospitality industry but sadly doesn’t always translate to the customer feeling personally valued. At ME Barcelona it does. Don’t be surprised to discover small personal touches based on your likes and dislikes or staff who know what your interests are before you tell them.
Eco effort
ME Barcelona takes sustainability seriously, opting for energy self-sufficiency and renewable sources. The only five-star hotel in Barcelona certified by LEED International, the energy used to heat the sanitary water supply and the rooftop pool in winter is obtained via heat recovery of the air conditioning. Solar panels are installed to reduce environmental impact and minimize carbon footprint.
Accessibility
ME Barcelona is fully adapted to fulfill all ADA standards throughout the lobby, restaurants, rooftop, and public spaces. In addition, six rooms offer extra facilities and services, following ADA standards.
Anything left to mention?
ME Barcelona is a great hotel that you’d probably choose first and foremost for the location. Once here, you’ll appreciate all the other touches that make it stand out: the vast outdoor spaces, the impressive level of personalized service, the comfort and beauty of the design. The ONLY thing I’d change—and it’s a personal gripe I have with modern hotels that others might love—is the open-plan bathrooms, which might be sexy if letting it all hang out is your thing, and less so, if it isn’t.
C. de Casp, 1-13, Barcelona 08010
Spain
https://leedinternational.co/