Hotel Cotton House Barcelona, the expert opinion

The fiercely passionate and extraordinarily hospitable Catalonians make Barcelona what it is; a vibrant, pulsating city that interlaces historical wonderment with a seamless, modern charm. Choosing a temporary base in this city of contrasts is not easy, as you're genuinely spoiled for choice. Frankly, we have heard about the Cotton House Hotel, located in Barcelona's original Cotton Textile Foundation headquarters; a nineteenth-century, neoclassical relic that is an attraction in itself. Despite the hotel's hype, it's safe to say we weren't disappointed during our stay. Here's an overview of our experience at one of Barcelona's most prestigious boutique hotels.

Cotton House Barcelona

Where is the hotel located?

​The Cotton House Hotel is located on Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes [Gran Via for short]. The neighbourhood is populated by several high-end and boutique hotels, but you aren't spoiled for choice in the hotel's immediate surroundings if you're looking for quaint Catalan eateries and sought-after points of cultural interest. That being said, the hotel is 300 metres away from Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona's luxury shopping hub boasting retailers like Armani, Chanel, and Versace, to name a few. A ten-minute stroll will take you to La Pedrera and Casa Batllo, two of Gaudi's most awe-inspiring creations. La Rambla, Barcelona's world-renowned promenade, is a brisk five-minute walk from the front door of The Cotton House. As one of the many hotels that constitute the Eixample district, The Cotton House Barcelona is ideally located to serve as your temporary Catalan base.

What can guests expect from the hotel décor?

Being housed in a nineteenth-century neoclassical building, the resplendent interior within the Cotton House doesn't condemn its exterior. Lazaro Rosa-Violan has worked his rococo magic within the walls of the former Cotton Maker's Guild and created a chic, artistic interior, combining design features from the 1950s to the present day. My favourite area within the Cotton House, however, is the library. The bookshelves are filled from floor to ceiling with artistically bound volumes that no doubt contain stories and poems from great Catalan writers such as Caterina Albert and Salvador Espriu. As we were too busy exploring the city to dive into the literature, we wouldn't know, but sitting in the library with a cup of freshly brewed coffee was a delightful experience. Like Barcelona itself, the interior of the Cotton House Barcelona will capture your imagination.

What are the rooms like?

During your stay at the Cotton House Barcelona, you will be housed in one of their seventy-eight tastefully decorated rooms, or you could opt for one of their five spacious suites. The rooms have been individually decorated but are casually based on the theme of cotton and everything it evokes: delicacy, softness, and comfort. We stayed in an Egyptian room with a fabulous view down onto the spacious 300 m2 terrace with lush vegetation below. The WIFI in the room was great, and we enjoyed luxuriating in the bathroom thanks to their signature products from the Italian brand Ortigia. For the ultimate experience, you could elect to stay in the luxury Ottoman, Damask or Vichy suites located on the first floor of the building's former public area. With intricately designed, coloured frescos on the ceilings and a king-sized bed topped with a Naturalmat mattress, your stay in one of these opulent suites will no doubt enhance your overall experience of the wonderful city of Barcelona.

What services are offered by the hotel?

We were particularly impressed by the attentive staff that went above and beyond to welcome guests during our stay at the Cotton House Hotel. The concierge was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly and offered a great insight into where best to visit and where to eat. As well as the aforementioned library, the hotel has a small gym with ample exercise equipment to keep you active during your stay, and you can cool off in the rooftop pool after wandering the city's streets in the midday sun. You can also book yourself in for a range of spa treatments in the individual massage cabins, although I didn't treat myself. The on-site bar and restaurant are tastefully proportioned, and the latter serves up a range of delectable fayre—more on this in the following section.​

How is the food and drink?

The restaurant at the Cotton House is called Batuar and doubles up as a cosmopolitan cocktail bar. The Catalan-inspired menu comprises tapas, entrees, and sharing plates, and locally sourced and market-bought ingredients are used by head chef Eva de Gil. On our first night at the Cotton House Barcelona, we indulged in a divine two-course treat. we started with a smoked eel salad served up with pancetta and plankton, followed by a perfectly prepared Italian Friesian beef sirloin steak. It wasn't easy to choose a wine given their extensive cellar, but we found the Arenegui 2016 was the perfect accompaniment to our steak. Batuar is also the site of the generous buffet breakfast served up in the morning, which was highly varied and of exceptional quality.​​

How do you get there?

Boasting a central location on Gran Via, you'll have absolutely no issues finding the Cotton House Hotel. The hotel is a twenty-minute taxi ride from Barcelona's El Prat airport and a fifteen-minute journey from Barcelona's cruise port, at the far end of La Rambla. If you prefer to use public transport, you can get the metro to Sant Gervasi metro station, which is just over 500 metres from the hotel entrance. Nearby parking is available if you're renting a car.

Is the Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona good value for money?

Given its location, stunning interior, and the exceptional service offered by staff, we would have to say that the Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona represents good value for money. 289EUR per night to stay in an Egyptian room, which included breakfast and city tax. Staying in a Panama room is your cheapest option, with rooms going for 205EUR per night. If you want to treat yourself to a night in the Ottoman or Damask suites, you will pay 753EUR, and the exclusive Vichy suite is 871EUR per night.

VISION Destinations | July 21

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