The welcome
The exterior comprises four impressive carved stone columns, beyond which is a gently sloping, carpeted ramp leading to gold lattice screens at the lobby entrance; it gives a great sense of glamour. My wife and I have booked one of 18 new suites, each of which comes with a private butler. Our butler meets us at reception, takes our bags and leads the way. Quick, efficient and friendly.
The neighbourhood
The hotel is on the central Passeig de Gràcia in the heart of the Eixample district, known for the famous “melting” buildings designed by the local modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. It’s a perfect place for architecture fans. It’s also great for shopping and dining, because the area is home to high-end brands and good restaurants.
The room
Our room is a deluxe suite: 78 square metres of space divided into a bedroom (king bed, writing desk, designer chairs), a bathroom (dressing area, his-and-hers sinks, a large bathtub, separate rainforest shower and toiletries by Acqua di Parma) and a living room (designer chairs, lamps, sofa and chaise longue, a wooden dining table for up to six guests, Nespresso machine, fridge and TV with international and Arabic channels). Our suite faces the road, but others have quieter terraces overlooking the beautiful Mimosa Garden. The suites have been cleverly arranged so large families can block off a “wing” of the hotel and live in several adjacent suites with a common hallway.
The scene
At breakfast, I meet a Norwegian family, Americans celebrating a wedding anniversary and an Emirati couple from Sharjah on a shopping expedition. Middle Eastern guests are attracted by the Suite Temptations package: guests can enjoy 24-hour private halal Arabian dining prepared by a Lebanese chef with years of Gulf experience, plus prayer mats, qibla, copies of the Quran, Arabic-speaking staff, shisha on request and personal shopping in Chopard, Loewe, Brioni, Tiffany’s and more.
The service
The butler delivers mocktails promptly on arrival, unpacks for us efficiently, delivers a good shoeshine and has information on restaurants at his fingertips. The doormen do well, on a wild and wet weekend, to ensure everyone is supplied with umbrellas.
The food
Breakfast in Bistreau, the glass-ceilinged dining room, is superb, with a good mix of European and Middle Eastern flavours, including excellent halal cold cuts and Lebanese spiced chicken with coriander. During the day and evening, Bistreau is a seafood restaurant. We only eat light, but the brown prawn tortillita (€10 [Dh41]) and the mackerel cured in salt with harissa and seaweed emulsion (€12 [Dh49]) are both delicious. In summer, guests can dine under the stars at the poolside rooftop restaurant Terrat. There’s also the two-Michelin star restaurant Moments. It’s insanely popular, so book well in advance.
Loved
The immaculate interiors, by the Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola; and the excellent butler service.
Hated
The glass doors leading to our suite’s balcony seem to be poorly sealed, meaning we hear a fair amount of noise from the street.
The verdict
A perfect luxurious Barcelona stay.
The bottom line
Deluxe suites at the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona (www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona; 0034 93 151 8888) cost from €2,600 (Dh10,610) per night, including taxes, Wi-Fi and breakfast. Deluxe garden rooms cost from €375 (Dh1,530) per night, excluding taxes, Wi-Fi and breakfast.
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