Have a Monumental Luxury Experience at the Monument Hotel in the Heart of Barcelona, Spain

The incredibly renovated 1896 building maintains the impressive character and pre-modernist style of its original incarnation, Enric Batlló House. Beautiful brickwork, ceramic accents and wrought iron decorate the facade, catching the eyes of passersby.

Set in a 19th-century mansion just off the Passeig de Gràcia, the Monument Hotel is a chic hotel in a fashionable location.

To see reviews of the Monument Hotel, check rates and make reservations at TripAdvisor CLICK HERE!

1. Location

Located in the heart of Barcelona, on the fashionable Paseo de Gracia, within 5 minutes’ walk from both Gaudi’s masterpieces Casa Battló and La Pedrera.  Monument Hotel is a 10-minute walk from Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas; regular trains to Barcelona El Prat Airport leave from Paseo de Gracia Train Station, located 1,000 feet away.  Amazing attractions are close by and an easy walk for active travelers like us, including Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Palau de la Música and Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.

2. Check-in

We were greeted as at our arrival car by two members of the staff who greeted us with directions to the check-in area.  Check-in is a restful process at a desk with complimentary cava, and comfortable seating.  The staff was extremely polite, explaining the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts amenities and walked us to our room.

Rx Tip:

Pickpockets are very common when going to a crowded market in Europe.  The market in Valencia was not crowded when we were there, but we experienced VERY crowded markets in other cities like Barcelona where attempts were made on our secured belongings.  One person in our tour group pictured here had their cell phone stolen in Barcelona.  LTD can't stress enough the importance of antitheft bags and vigilance!  We recommend the Sherpani AT sling bag for men or women.  It is lightweight, comfortable and looks great!  This is especially good for persons with back pain to minimize pressure on the spine.  The anti-theft features include zipper locks, anti slash bottom and strap, chair loop lock system and RFID protection.  Click the photo to learn more at Amazon and support our blog!  Thank you so much!!!

3. Rooms

The rooms were large by European standards and decorated to reflect the beautiful area of Barcelona in which it is located. For example, the tiles in the bathrooms mimic those lining the streets of the Paseo de Gracia.  The room fit the historic but updated facility with exposed brick, light colored ash wood, large windows and high ceilings.  We were upgraded to a junior suite with a king bed, providing us more space which we needed since we were traveling with more luggage than usual.

Sufficient amenities in the room are provided including:

• Nespresso maker
• Tea kettle
• Complimentary shoe shine
• Robes
• Slippers
• Bottled water (Evian still, other still and sparkling)
• Turndown service
• Unlimited mini bar including candy (excluding energy and alcohol)
• Complimentary welcome bottle of wine and fruit basket

The bed was comfortable with crisp sheets and down pillows.

The view from the window was upon the courtyard.

4. Bathroom

The bathroom was lovely. Immediately noticeable is the mosaic floor matching the tiles along the elegant Paseo de Gracia. A double sink and separate bath and walk-in shower with rain shower are present. Products are by Jo Malone London.

5. Fitness

There is a fitness room on site which is small but adequate to meet the frequent traveler's needs.  The roof top pool is one of the reasons we chose this hotel so we could train for the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim but unfortunately an unusual cold snap hit the city two days before our arrival making the unheated pool unusable. The temperature of the water was 54 degrees Fahrenheit and without a wetsuit there wouldn't be much swimming done!

Courtesy of Monument Hotel

Retreat to the lower level of the Barcelona property for a massage, steam bath or dry sauna at Valmont for Monument Hotel. Wellness and beauty treatments by this renowned Swiss brand are also available in-suite for optimal comfort and privacy.

6. Dining

The Monument Hotel shines with its dining options.  Helmed by renowned Basque chef Martín Berasategui, the contemporary Lasarte is the crown jewel of Monument Hotel’s culinary offerings. The toque’s imaginative menu and exemplary wine list make this recently refreshed restaurant a dream destination for foodies.

RxTIP: For a truly exclusive experience, the private dining room at Lasarte may be reserved for four to eight people. It overlooks the impeccable kitchen through floor-to-ceiling windows.

You can also savor Berasategui’s creations at the hotel’s more spacious Oria. The renowned Mediterranean restaurant serves afternoon tea and late-night snacks in the lounge in addition to the customizable lunch and dinner menu.  We opted to use our food and beverage credit provided by FHR here since we arrived late to the hotel and plans with friends every other night.

Breakfast is included with FHR, so we started day on the rooftop terrace at Glasss, a bright and airy space with walls of windows bringing the outside in. If the extensive breakfast buffet doesn’t meet your needs, the menu should satisfy your cravings -- all included.  There were plenty of fresh options including meats, fruits and breads.  Gluten Free options were clearly marked.

Or for lunch try the rooftop Verbena restaurant to enjoy the fabulous Barcelona weather or while you are at the pool.  During the summer, there is no better place to spend some leisure time than on the sixth-floor rooftop terrace that makes the most of Barcelona’s balmy weather.

RxTIP:  Local Spanish and Catalan bands bring live music to Monument Hotel’s lounge Oria every Thursday. In the warmer months, these jazz-filled nights move to the airy rooftop, where you can listen poolside. 

For a fun evening nearby, consider scheduling a paella experience with TravelBar.  We had a great time and made new friends!  

7. History

With over a century of history, this is a great hotel for history buffs like us!

The hotel is housed on Enric Batllo’s house, an architectural jewel of 19th century that constitutes one of the characteristic works of the Eixample Quadrat d'Or and which gives it the Specialty Monument status.  The building was a Neo-Gothic palace on Paseo de Gracia, formerly the house of the industrialist Enric Batlló.

The building was built between 1895 and 1896, commissioned by Batlló and designed by the premodernist architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, who also created the Arc de Triomf for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair.

The Eixample Quadrat d’Or building is defined by its combination of various materials such as exposed brick, stone, ceramics and wrought iron. The stunning hotel has a rich heritage dating back to the 19th century, when after being a private home, it operated as part of Hotel Condes de Barcelona. In 2014, architect Oscar Tusquets worked alongside Carles Basso, Tote Moreno and interior designer Mercè Borrell to renovate the space, which debuted in 2016 as the luxe Monument Hotel, preserving the noble character of the building.  The original facade of the building was carefully restored along with the wrought iron staircase and inner patio.

Courtesy of Monument Hotel

Bottom Line:

To see reviews of the Monument Hotel, check rates and make reservations at TripAdvisor CLICK HERE!

Modern luxury meets Old World elegance at the sophisticated Monument Hotel. Centrally located on Barcelona’s upscale shopping street, Passeig de Gracia, the property not only sits near exclusive shopping but also is within walking distance of renowned Gaudí masterpieces such as Sagrada Familia and Casa Battló.

The exquisite mix of modern and traditional decor makes this hotel a star player in popular central Barcelona. What really makes it stand out, however, is the amazing attention to detail and service that ensures a memorable stay.  The only disappointment was the fitness options, but for the average traveler this may not be a negative attribute.  Certainly much fitness can be had simply by walking to the many attractions that Barcelona offers!

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