Secrets of Barcelona: Hotel Arts

This week my book The 500 hidden secrets of Barcelona gets released. In the next couple of blog posts, I’ll expand on some of the book’s entries. Today: more about Hotel Arts and its restaurants (featured in the guide as secrets number 19, 144 and 422). 

The friendly universe 

The oddest thing happened during my visit to Hotel Arts (Carrer de la Marina 19-21, +34 932 21 1000, www.hotelartsbarcelona.com). There were people at the door, greeting me. There was a girl at the elevator, greeting me. There was a staff of four people, waiting at the reception desk, and all of them noticed me at once. When I said I came to see Laura, one of the men shook my hand, and I heard myself joking: ‘But you’re not Laura, are you?’ He thought that was funny and I found myself thinking: ‘Hang on... I’m not nearly that funny. Or noticeable. What the deuces is happening here?’ 

Then there was more joking, this time about my last name, and Laura was called, to give me the hotel tour. 

All in all, it didn’t come as a complete surprise, when Laura later told me the distinguishing feature of Hotel Arts is friendliness. 

Hotel Arts is a Bruce Graham-designed, 44-storey skyscraper by the beach that seems to be wearing a metal harness, consisting of horizontal, vertical and crisscrossing bars. The inside looks just as futuristic, and yet there’s nothing imposing about it. The large and, indeed, friendly staff knows how to complement this building. 

Of course friendliness is not the only distinguishing feature. There are fresh, beautifully presented flowers everywhere. The spa area of the hotel is located on the top floor, overlooking beach and sea. The hotel has rooms and suits, as well as private apartments. 

All of this comes at a price; count on € 300 or € 500 per night, for a room or a suite. If you’d like to have a look around the hotel without bankrupting yourself, you could book a table at Enoteca, one of the hotel’s in-house restaurants. Chef Paco Perez’ kitchen is famous, taking quality ingredients and morphing them into new creations. Enoteca will also confront you with the most extensive wine list (700 bottles) of Barcelona. 

A second reason for visiting is Arola. It may be best known as a restaurant; few people know that it's also home to one of Barcelona's most luxurious cocktail bars. Enjoy the mouth-watering creations of master mixologist Diego in the chic bar or outdoors on the stylish terrace (weather permitting), with a view across the Mediterranean, while local DJs spin their tunes. 

On either side of the first floor reception area, we find another restaurant, both with full view of Frank Gehry’s majestic ‘Pez’ sculpture: Bites on one side (for small meals), Frank’s on the other (for drinks). The Café Veranda, finally, is where breakfast and brunch are served. 

I’ve probably read too many books, seen too many movies and tv-series... but the entire place is like a self-sustained universe, waiting for someone to start a story. Or just to stay for a while, and watch the people. What actually happens in those suits? What deals are made? What goes through the mind of the man enjoying a steam bath while overlooking the Mediterranean? What’s the story of the elderly woman in the Enoteca? There must be so much to see and imagine here. And isn’t that, at the end of the day, the basic idea of being a tourist? Imagining life in far-away places?