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Every good lover of Barcelona knows it: its leisure agenda never disappoints, festivals, fairs, exhibitions, concerts and gastronomy (among many other things…). And that’s why when visiting the city, many of us opt for a strategically located accommodation that offers an authentic, personalized and immersive experience, in order to connect with the lifestyle of the city. This is precisely the raison d’être of the ME Barcelona hotel, which is located in one of the most iconic areas of the city (next to Passeig de Gràcia and overlooking the iconic Casa Rocamora) and is also a true cultural and social epicenter where art, design, elegance, fashion, music and gastronomy come together.
The avant-garde brand ME by Meliá opened its doors just over a year ago, but it has already positioned itself as one of the best openings in the contemporary luxury hotel sector. And there are plenty of reasons: it is the first newly built five-star hotel to open in Barcelona in recent years; designers such as Jaime Hayón, Ramón Úbeda, Otto Canalda, Antoni de Moragas, Ronan and Ewan Bouroullec have designed the furniture and decoration; and it features three different gastronomic concepts, a swimming pool on the top floor and a large interior garden that functions as a green lung, with large spaces for events.
Its design, a work of art
A source of inspiration and creativity for everyone who visits it, the hotel combines contemporary art and avant-garde thanks to the architectural work of the renowned Barcelona studio FITARQ and the development of interior design concepts by Mur Arquitectos and ASAH. After six years of renovation of the building, each of the spaces breathes the DNA of the ME by Meliá chain, but this time with a much more evolved look. Its 164 rooms and suites (distributed over 14 floors), as well as the common areas, are the result of a design exercise designed to offer the highest quality and a modern experience that connects with culture. The result? Very relaxing and inspiring rooms.
To this end, both local and international suppliers and manufacturers, as well as renowned firms and designers for furniture, fabrics, lamps, coverings, glass and lighting, have been used to convey to guests the essence of the city from a modern perspective. The glass bottles by Josep Mª Jujol, Gaudí’s collaborator; the tables by Oscar Tusquets; the Roll Club armchairs by Patricia Urquiola; and, in the corridors, a signage that pays homage to Barba Corsini, the city’s famous architect who designed the attic apartments of La Pedrera, are just a few examples. Just to mention a few examples.
Three different gastronomic concepts
As it could not be otherwise, ME Barcelona has not forgotten the gourmets with a fine beak… and that is why it offers three very different culinary spaces. The Belbo Collection group manages two of them: Belbo Terrenal, which advocates contemporary Mediterranean cuisine and has the sea and the land as its backbone; and Belbo Fasto, an Italian restaurant with a rogue touch that exudes elegance and sensuality. The experience is rounded off by Luma, a cocktail bar that pays homage to the Mediterranean origin of the art of distillation, with more than 1,000 square meters of garden terraces.
It is worth mentioning that as a novelty, and in line with the brand’s commitment to the environment, the hotel has its own urban vegetable garden that supplies its restaurants with the best raw materials.
Its plus points: a rooftop with a heated pool and a spa to unwind.
But that’s not all. Because on the eighth floor (and, therefore, with the best views of Plaça Catalunya) is located the Rooftop ME Barcelona terrace, which has (to make matters worse, if possible …) with a heated pool. A place with spectacular views that offers as a backdrop of exception the skyline of Barcelona.
In addition, in the wellness section, the commitment of the accommodation is to offer a true oasis of health and a wide range of treatments that combine ancestral traditions and the most sophisticated techniques. All in collaboration with Manuel de la Garza, founder of Égoïste Spa (winner of eleven “Best Luxury Hotel Spa” awards at the prestigious World Luxury Spa Awards). Personalization, pampering and luxury are the common thread that sustains the proposal, with two massage cabins open to both guests and external clients, where the most exclusive treatments are proposed. The hotel also has a spectacular gym equipped with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment.
In short: more than a hotel, ME Barcelona is a home.
