Whatever the season, the Spanish city of Barcelona is always a delight to be in. From the amazing architectural façades in the city to buzzing eateries and expansive shopping options, a trip to Barcelona is one you will always feel that is too short.
Barcelona is also strategically located just along the coast, meaning that you can easily enjoy some fun in the city or relax on the urban beaches. A stay at Hotel Arts Barcelona by Ritz Carlton gives you the best of both worlds. A beachside resort towering 44 floors above the Mediterranean Sea with an outstanding beach view, Hotel Arts Barcelona boasts top-notch facilities and a two-Michelin-starred restaurant.
Options had the opportunity to spend a few days at the penthouse at Hotel Arts Barcelona, which offers spacious two-storey apartments on the top floors of the hotel. Launched in April 2022, each penthouse suite has furniture by designer Jaime Tresserra, direct access and a private reception area, delivering the comfort, spaciousness, and privacy of finely appointed, free-standing apartments or condos.
Perfect for family vacations or a getaway with friends, the 28 luxurious, serviced penthouses feature one- to three-bedroom layouts and an impressive roster of services, from transfers to and from the airport and exclusive shopping experiences.
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As you enter the penthouse unit, you are immediately welcomed by a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a breathtaking panoramic view of the beach.
The first floor of the penthouse suite also comes with a full dining area, study corner, kitchen and powder room.
Take the stairs up to the second floor, where you’ll find the spacious bedrooms. Each bedroom has a spacious walk-in closet, an en suite bathroom with a separate shower and bathtub, and a variety of bathroom accessories by Acqua di Parma.
Art is the hotel’s common thread: In every room and every hall, you will find an original piece of art, all by Spanish artists, many Catalan. The hotel has a collection that surpasses 500 art pieces and an art gallery that confirms its vocation to support art, creativity and multiple and diverse languages.
The hotel has also collaborated with the renowned Madrid art gallery WE COLLECT to create a space where local and national artists can display their work monthly. Art exhibitions are frequently held at the hotel to celebrate young, up-and-coming artists.
If you are at Hotel Arts Barcelona during the summer, do visit Marina Coastal Food. It is one of the hotel’s restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with a distinctive chiringuito (beach bar) flair. This restaurant is the epitome of summer “by the beach” dining. Enclosed by Marina’s pools and framed by palm trees, the spacious terrace reflects a distinctly nautical setting. Casual yet exquisite, Marina offers a wide variety of elegant seafood dishes inspired by the local Mediterranean culture of tapas, all of them designed to be shared.
Being close to the sea, it is no surprise that the highlight of the restaurant are its fresh seafood dishes. The restaurant serves dishes selected from coastal shores worldwide; the creative menu includes notes of Asian and Peruvian fare alongside local Mediterranean specialities. Some notable dishes include Jamón Ibérico Amb Pa Amb Tomàquet, Atlantic Salmon Tiradito, Razor Clams, Galician Octopus and more.
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Hotel guests can also have a delightful buffet spread at Lokal, a contemporary restaurant with a sun-drenched garden terrace for breakfast. The breakfast spread includes the usual finds at hotel breakfasts, such as an omelette station, bread and pastries. I enjoyed the variety of sun-ripened fruits at the juice and smoothie station, as well as Catalan and Spanish specialities.
Indulge in a meal at Enoteca Paco Pérez, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant led by renowned Catalan chef Paco Pérez. His innovative Mediterranean-inspired cuisine beautifully captures the essence of local ingredients. With a philosophy centred on quality, simplicity, and creativity, each dish reflects his culinary brilliance.
While there may be lots to do outside of the hotel, Hotel Arts Barcelona has much for you to engage in for the ultimate relaxing holiday. Apart from the food offerings, there is a rooftop spa with treatment rooms overlooking the beach, allowing you to sink further into that holiday mood as expert therapists knead your worries away. After your massage, soak those tense muscles in the jacuzzi rooms and melt into utter relaxation.
Hotel Arts Barcelona is the perfect spot for a luxurious vacation, where you can enjoy the amenities and spaces within the hotel and its proximity to several tourist attractions, such as the Parc de la Ciutadella and Arc de Triomf. The penthouse experience is available from US$2,760 (around $3,650) onwards.
