The Hotel Arts in Barcelona offers an ideal location on the beach and is close to the zoo. The welcome is warm and the wonderful stay begins with a glass of champagne at check-in. The luxurious suites are spacious and well-equipped, although you should try the exclusive Club Lounge with its high-quality service and excellent cuisine first – with at an extra charge. The hotel also has two outdoor pools, a well-equipped gym and a spectacular spa on the 43rd floor, including a private steam room and sauna. You should definitely try this too. Despite the high cost, the Hotel Arts is an excellent choice. But read for yourself why:
Table of contents
Location
The address of the Hotel Arts couldn’t be better. Not only is it right on the beach (although not with direct beach access), but it’s also right next to the city zoo!
Arrival
We arrived at the hotel from the LabTwentyTwo hotel by Uber. This was the best choice for us. Of course, you can also get here easily by bus or subway, but this was only possible from the previous hotel with several changes. That’s why we ultimately opted for Uber.
Check-in
So when you arrive at this 44-storey skyscraper of Hotel Arts, you are not yet in the actual lobby, but on the first floor. Our suitcases were kindly taken from us here. Then, accompanied by the bellboy, we took the elevator up one floor to the lobby. We found this service really good.
Once at the top, seen from the elevator, the actual reception is on the left and the concierge team is on the right. In the middle there is a mini seating area and behind it there was also a small couch area.
Welcome
During the actual check-in process, we were served a glass of champagne while all the formalities were clarified. As breakfast was not included in our room rate, we quickly booked the lounge visit. Because: strangely enough, despite the corresponding status at Marriott Bonvoy, there is NO automatic lounge access at Ritz-Carlton Hotels.
Hotel overview
Hotel Arts is 44 storeys high. And between the first floor, where there is a casino, and the top floor, where the spa is located, there are various different rooms, suites, lofts and apartment categories.
Suite
As the sea view was important to us in this hotel, we had already booked a panorama room. And due to our Bonvoy Titanium status & because we kindly asked for a suite upgrade via the Bonvoy chat beforehand, this was happily confirmed to us at check-in.
We always recommend making a chat request, as this way the hotel is already aware of your wishes and usually implements them if they are available and have the appropriate status.
For us it was therefore the Executive Suite with sea view with the number 2001, which incidentally has 72 m2. Above this category, there are “only” the Arts Suite, the Mediteranean Suite and the penthouses on the top floors.
Looking at the layout, you can see that we share half of the sea view front with Suite 2016. So on this floor there are a total of 4 suites and 12 rooms with different views.
Welcome
As soon as we had finished turning here, we received a handwritten welcome card and a welcome gift in the form of a white wine. Fantastic! And the room card also reflects the design of the hotel – we think that’s great.
Entrée
Just behind the entrance door on the right-hand side is a guest toilet and the Powder Room, where guests can quickly freshen up again without having to use the actual bathroom for hotel guests. It was similar to this at the Park Hyatt in Zanzibar. The video of this stay has of course already appeared on our channel. Just browse through our videos on YouTube or take a look at the Zanzibar/Tanzania playlist.
Living Room
In front of the Powder Room, a chic living room and a small shelf for various magazines and information about the hotel awaited us.
To the right is a long corridor. This is where the suite’s wardrobe is located. Of course, it contains the usual things such as an iron, ironing board, safe, a bathrobe (the second one was in the bathroom) and other small items.
Bedroom
Back in the hallway, the minibar with various cheaper and more expensive items is waiting a little further on in the bedroom. However, these are of course not included. You will also find the coffee machine here.
There was also a really comfortable king-size bed with a total of four pillows, two of which were a little softer and two a little more upholstered.
Turndown
There was also a turndown service with bedtime treats and goodnight greetings.
Bathroom
The bathroom in this suite is located between the living room and bedroom and is equipped with two washbasins. Care products are provided by Dyptique, very nice. There is also a bathtub on the right-hand side and another toilet on the left-hand side. A walk-in rain shower is also installed here.
View
We think that’s really great! The hotel has thought ahead and installed padding in front of the panoramic windows so that you can simply lie down in the window frame and enjoy the view. Phenomenal! But it’s best to take a closer look at this in the video, because it really doesn’t come across in the pictures.
And do you see the W Hotel at the back here? That’s our last destination here in Barcelona, which we’ll be presenting to you next Sunday, so stay tuned.
Lounge
So let’s take a look at the fantastic Club Lounge. As mentioned above, access does not automatically come with status. In order to enjoy the privacy, culinary delights and exclusive services, you need a corresponding club room or a club suite. Even a simple suite, like the one we had, is unfortunately not enough.
We therefore purchased access to the lounge at check-in, which costs 100 dollars per day and person for Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members of Marriott’s frequent sleeper program. The regular price without status is even higher. The benefits associated with Club access are described in more detail on the following two pages.
We really have to say that the privacy and quality here is a completely different level of executive or club lounge than what we have experienced and known before. From real Moet champagne to Iberico ham sandwiches and personal butler service. Really, really good.
Unfortunately, the big but is that at the evening hors d’euvres, a pot was only put out once and when it was eaten, it was gone. And one family alone managed to eat everything in the evening as if there was no tomorrow.
However, this not only disappointed other guests, but also us, so Karen had a moment and reduced the lounge charges to 50% after a little discussion. We don’t pay anything just to watch another family eat everything at the end. That was a bit annoying and a shame. But the staff took care of the matter and calmed us down.
Hotel Activities
Pool
Hotel Arts has a total of two pools, both of which are located in the outdoor area. The larger of the two is unheated. The smaller one is more of a whirlpool, but it is heated.
Gym
There is also a very well-equipped in-house gym. From cardio to weights and regular equipment, you have plenty of choice here. As in most hotels worldwide, the gym is open 24 hours a day.
Spa
And now we come to the real highlight of this hotel, namely the spa on the 43rd floor. Here you can rent a small separee for an hour for a fee. This includes a steam bath, a sauna, a whirlpool and a shower as well as a gigantic view over Barcelona and the beach! Everything can then be used exclusively by you alone. We think: how cool is that?
After the hour’s rental, you can also go down one floor and go to the hotel’s roof terrace. Here you can sunbathe with a little breeze. There are also small snacks and drinks, so it’s well worth during good weather.
Tours
You can also hire bicycles from Hotel Arts for a fee and explore the city.
Restaurants
Restaurant
Let’s take a look at the hotel’s most famous restaurant, the Enoteca Paco Pérez, which has been awarded two Michelin stars. In addition, there are other spots in the hotel that invite you to indulge, so take a look at the hotel’s homepage.
Bar
As a welcome gift, we were also given two vouchers to redeem in the bar, which we naturally took advantage of. The result? You can see it here:
Breakfast
As breakfast was not included in our rate anyway, as mentioned above, and cannot be selected as a welcome gift in Ritz Carlton hotels, the lounge access was of course also very profitable here. Of course, breakfast is also served here. The quality was great and the food was really very, very tasty.
There was also a special egg station, not bad!
Check-out
You can check out either downstairs at reception or in the Club Lounge. We opted for the latter, as it is much quicker and less stressful here than in the lobby.
Costs
The final amount of 510 euros for one night is made up of: two spa accesses for a total of 66 euros, plus a room rate of 276 euros and lounge access for two people reduced by 50% to 100 euros each. Taxes and fees are also included.
Departure and onward journey
We used an Uber to get to the W Hotel. The concierge kindly pointed out to us that we could walk the route, but that we certainly didn’t want to spend 45 minutes walking in 30 degree temperatures – with our luggage, mind you.
Conclusion
Can you go on vacation here? Definitely!
Is it a bit expensive? Definitely!
However, a status in the Bonvoy program is of course also worthwhile here and we would book the club and the spa again at any time. The sea view suite was, of course, also a blast. The service staff were always attentive and friendly, which is not necessarily a matter of course in Spain (don’t get me wrong).
Recommendation?
Is the hotel for families? Not necessarily! We think that couples and solo travelers might feel more comfortable here because it’s simply not the right environment and clientele for families with children. What’s more, there are no facilities such as a kids’ club for families.
Hotel Homepage
Rating
So today’s rating for the Hotel Arts is 9 out of 10 possible points. We deduct one point for the food situation in the lounge.
Go there?
Definitely! If you ever find yourself in Barcelona, then definitely give the Hotel Arts a try – you won’t be disappointed.
YouTube Review
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