Soho House Barcelona
Barcelona is an easy city to love. The kind of city that you can arrive at - plonk your bags down and head out on foot and spend a few hours happily wandering the labyrinth of streets soaking in the architecture, popping into little boutiques or stopping for a glass of something and a bite to eat. Even without recommendations, it is a city that unfolds and allows you in.
If you are heading to Barcelona, I can highly recommend a stay at Soho House. I have a soft spot for all Soho House properties - they always ooze a sophisticated, cool but approachable atmosphere. You are greeted informally, like you already belong in this foreign city - staff are friendly and knowledgeable, they are often on the younger side of the ledger and you get the impression they actually live and enjoy their city so their recommendations are often fun and hit the mark.
Set on pretty Plaça del Duc de Medinaceli the property is also just across the road from Port Vell with bobbing boats and palm trees viewable from the narrow balconies. It is the perfect location for wandering the old streets and also hiring bikes or scooters to explore the waterfront and beach area.
The on site dining and bar options are so good that you barely want to go elsewhere - from the rooftop pool and bar that serves ice cold drinks and small tapas bites, the House Kitchen - an informal dining and lounge area - to Cecconi’s - a beautiful grand Italian restaurant that is at once stunning and relaxed. It is all exceptional.
Soho House properties are always impeccably styled and their Barcelona property is no exception - plush, comfortable and layered with gorgeous fabrics and details. Rooms are not huge but they pack a punch with additions like an exceptionally stocked bar area off the main bedroom.
WHERE WE WENT AND WHAT WE DID
EAT: Canete for tapas at lunchtime. This was recommended by the staff at Soho House (who kindly got us a table). It was jam packed with locals and was well worth a visit.
VISIT: La Sagrada Familia Basilica. We walked here from Soho House. We didn’t get tickets beforehand (which was a fail) because they had all sold out for the day, so we only saw it from the outside. It is still impressive. The lesson here is, book tickets.
Fundacio Joan Miro. A wonderful museum located a short taxi ride away with lovely views. Housed in an architecturally beautiful building the museum has a great collection of Miro’s work. An accessible museum to enjoy even if you’re not particularly into that kind of thing.
Park Guell: A must visit to see some of Gaudi’s work. We went in the afternoon and took our time just wandering around leisurely and then walked down the cobbled streets and ate an ice cream on the way back.
PLAY: Barca football game at Camp Nou. This was an exceptional football experience - we were lucky to catch Barca v Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Semi Final (when we knew we were heading to Barcelona my husband looked straight away to see what games might be on - so we had the tickets booked in advance). The whole area near the stadium was pulsating with football fans, flares were being let off, police were in protection gear and the atmosphere inside the stadium was mind blowing. Well worth trying to watch a football game here if you can.
Segway’s around Port Vell and the beach. On our last morning, we hired Segways around the corner from Soho House and spent a couple of hours happily zooming around the port and beach area - stopping for an ice cream along the way.
