El Palace Barcelona

El Palace Barcelona opened in 1919 as The Ritz Barcelona and rebranded El Palace in 2005. The 5-star Leading Hotels of the World member, with around 120 spacious rooms and suites near Passeig de Gracia, is known for its glass-domed Palm Court lobby, Belle Epoque interiors, the Mayan Spa and a rooftop pool.

"The 1919 former Ritz Barcelona, a Belle Epoque grande dame near Passeig de Gracia with spacious rooms, a rooftop pool and the Mayan Spa."

Aggregate 9.4/10 on our editorial scale (Room & Design, Service, Location). Independently scored; see our methodology. This is our opinion, not an aggregate of user reviews.

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from bookings at no cost to you. We never accept payment for placement. Facts verified against official sources and the 2026 Michelin Guide in July 2026.

What makes El Palace Barcelona special?

El Palace Barcelona stands out for old-world grandeur and heritage in the city centre. It opened in 1919 as The Ritz Barcelona in the Cesar Ritz tradition and was rebranded El Palace in 2005, and that history shows in a landmark glass-domed Palm Court lobby and Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau interiors. For guests who want classic luxury rather than contemporary minimalism, this is the central appeal. Space is a real point of difference. With around 120 rooms and suites among Barcelona's more spacious, the property suits travellers who value generous rooms, and its Gran Via address sits close to Passeig de Gracia shopping. Facilities blend heritage with a rooftop scene. The Mayan Spa offers Mayan-inspired treatments, and a roughly 1,500 square metre seventh-floor Rooftop Garden holds an outdoor swimming pool, giving a central rooftop pool that many heritage hotels lack. Dining includes Amar Barcelona, a seafood-led modern Mediterranean restaurant by chef Rafa Zafra. To be clear, the hotel has no in-house Michelin star, so it is chosen for grandeur, space and setting rather than a starred restaurant.

Which room should you book?

Space is the headline reason to book here, since the rooms are among Barcelona's more spacious. Across around 120 rooms and suites, generous size is a genuine differentiator versus city hotels where rooms run tight, so travellers who want room to spread out are well served even at lower categories. The main choice is aspect. The hotel sits on the busy Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, so street-facing rooms can pick up traffic noise. Light sleepers should request a quieter, interior-facing room, while those who prioritise light and the avenue outlook can take a front room with that trade-off in mind. Style is worth setting expectations on. The interiors are classic, with Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau character, and some guests find the decor and room styling dated compared with modern-design competitors. Guests who love traditional grandeur will appreciate it; those wanting contemporary minimalism may not. For heritage-minded travellers wanting space near Passeig de Gracia, a well-placed room delivers, with suites adding still more room for longer stays.

Where should you eat and drink?

Dining centres on Amar Barcelona, a seafood-led modern Mediterranean restaurant by chef Rafa Zafra. It is the hotel's main table and the focus for guests wanting quality seafood on site. To be clear, Amar is not Michelin-starred, and the hotel has no in-house Michelin star. Above, the roughly 1,500 square metre seventh-floor Rooftop Garden serves Mediterranean food and tapas by Jesus Caballero alongside the outdoor pool, making it a relaxed spot for meals and drinks with a view. It is a strong warm-weather option and a draw in its own right. The hotel also leans into its heritage with afternoon tea in the Grand Hall, fitting the Belle Epoque setting, and the Bluesman Cocktail Bar and Cigar Lounge for evening drinks. Between a seafood-led restaurant, a rooftop garden, classic afternoon tea and a cocktail and cigar lounge, the on-site range is broad and geared to grandeur and atmosphere rather than a starred tasting menu, with Passeig de Gracia's wider dining scene a short walk away.

What is the spa and pool like?

Wellness pairs the Mayan Spa with a rooftop pool on the seventh-floor Rooftop Garden. The Mayan Spa offers Mayan-inspired treatments, giving the hotel a distinctive spa identity and a dedicated space for massages and relaxation within a heritage building. It suits guests who want treatment time without leaving the property. The Rooftop Garden is the standout wellness and leisure feature. At roughly 1,500 square metres on the seventh floor, it holds an outdoor swimming pool with garden space, giving a central rooftop pool that many classic city hotels lack. It works well for warm-weather relaxation and doubles as a dining and drinks spot. Set expectations on setting: this is a city hotel, so there is no beach access, and the rooftop pool is an urban feature rather than a resort pool complex. For guests wanting a spa and a central rooftop pool near Passeig de Gracia, the combination is a real strength; for beach or extensive pool facilities, it is not a resort.

Where is El Palace Barcelona, and how do you get there?

El Palace sits at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 668 in the Eixample, close to Passeig de Gracia. That central position is a core strength, putting the city's main shopping avenue about 2 to 5 minutes' walk away and keeping guests within easy reach of the Gaudi landmarks and flagship stores. The historic centre is also close on foot. Placa de Catalunya and the top of Las Ramblas are roughly 10 minutes' walk, connecting to the Gothic Quarter and old city, which makes this one of the more central bases among Barcelona's luxury hotels for combining shopping and sightseeing. The main location trade-off is the road itself. Gran Via is a busy thoroughfare, so street-facing rooms can pick up traffic noise, and the setting is more about central convenience than a quiet retreat. There is no beach access, so the coast requires transport. For travellers who want space, heritage and a walkable central position near Passeig de Gracia, the location is a strong fit.

What do guests consistently say?

Guests come for grandeur, space and the central location, and most praise reflects those. The 1919 heritage, glass-domed Palm Court lobby and Belle Epoque interiors draw admiration from travellers who want classic luxury, and the rooms, among Barcelona's more spacious, are a frequent high point for those tired of tight city hotels. The rooftop pool and garden earn praise as a rare central feature. Dining and atmosphere add to the positive feedback, with Amar Barcelona's seafood, the Rooftop Garden, afternoon tea in the Grand Hall and the Bluesman cocktail and cigar lounge all contributing to the old-world experience. Leading Hotels of the World membership sets a service standard guests generally note favourably. The recurring caveats are about style and noise. Some guests find the decor and room styling dated versus modern-design competitors, which is a matter of taste, and street-facing rooms on busy Gran Via can pick up traffic noise. Travellers who love traditional grandeur and central space tend to rate it highly.

Honest cons: who should skip it?

The main drawbacks are aesthetic taste, traffic noise and the lack of a beach. The classic, traditional style and older building mean some guests find the decor and room styling dated compared with modern-design competitors. This is a matter of preference: travellers who love Belle Epoque grandeur will value it, while those wanting contemporary minimalism may not. Noise is the second point. El Palace sits on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, a busy thoroughfare, so street-facing rooms can pick up traffic noise. Light sleepers should request a quieter, interior-facing room when booking to reduce that. The third consideration is setting. This is a central city hotel with no beach access, so guests wanting the sea will need transport to the coast, and the rooftop pool, while a genuine plus, is an urban feature rather than a resort complex. Note too that the hotel has no in-house Michelin restaurant. For heritage and classic-luxury lovers wanting central space, these trade-offs are modest; for beach or modern-design seekers, they weigh more.