Postcards from... Booklet 2022

In a tranquil setting in the upmarket residential area of Sarriá- Sant Gervasi, and just 100 metres fromAvingudaTibidabo FGC Station, which connects guests to Plaza de Catalunya in 10 minutes., ABaC will appeal to couples looking for a sophisticated boutique retreat. Housed in a building dating back to 1920 and renovated in 2008, this historical design hotel comprises a total of 15 rooms as well as one of the very best restaurants in Barcelona. The hotel has a beautiful garden and a spa with Cleopatra Stone Heated Lounge Chairs, hammam and a pool with water jets. There are 2 treatment cabins, 1 of which with tatami. Cotton House Hotel, one of Marriott’s Autograph Collection properties, is one of the most exciting new properties in Barcelona.The hotel sits on Gran Via, one of the city’s most popular streets.The focal point of the landmark building is a stunning 1957 spiral staircase that is suspended via a metal frame from the ceiling.This was once a building where Catalan bourgeois would come to get their clothes tailored. Now, you can luxuriate in the modern rooms, relax in several stunning outdoor areas and dine well at the splendid restaurant. Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is an exclusive hotel located right on Passeig de Gràcia, the most exclusive shopping boulevard in the heart of the city, also home to historical modernist sights and Gaudi's architectural gems. All of the unique rooms and suites offer an exquisite interior design by Patricia Urquiola while The Spa, is a sanctuary where guests find relaxation and harmony. Carme Ruscalleda, one of the most awarded female Chefs in the world and champion of Catalan gastronomy oversees the culinary operations. The best rooftop terrace in the city centre with sweeping views including the Sagrada Familia. One of the impressive façades of the Neri, tucked away in the heart of the romantic Gothic district, gives onto Sant Felip Neri square, a magical place with Gothic edifices and the church where Gaudí used to come to pray every day. This hotel was created when, in the 18th century, two mansions merged – one dating from the Middle Ages. It boasts a delightful décor, blending period features with ultra-modern design. A gourmet retreat, chef Alan Guisard creates a Mediterranean cuisine with a seasonal menu based on sharing. At the top of the building, “Roba Estesa”is an oasis in the city, where you can enjoy vistas of the city at nightfall, while trying delicious tapas. NewAgeCooking - it’sscientific! Barcelona caneasily compete for the titleofworld capitalofgastronomy with22Michelin star restaurants.Fora3-starultimateadventurewhy notbooka cutting-edgegastro tasting journeyat JordiCruz’sAbaC restaurant. Itwillmakeyou think twiceaboutwhat’sonyourplate! Ina tranquil setting in theupmarket residentialareaofSarriá-SantGervasi,and just100metres fromAvingudaTibidaboFGCStation,which connectsguests to Plaza de Catalunya in 10minutes.,ABaCwill appeal to couples looking for a sophisticated boutique retreat.Housed in a building dating back to 1920 and renovated in2008, thishistoricaldesignhotel comprises a totalof15 rooms as well asoneof the verybest restaurants inBarcelona.Thiehotelhas abeautiful garden and a spawithCleopatraStoneHeated LoungeChairs,hammam and a poolwithwater jets.Thereare2 treatment cabins,1ofwhichwith tatami. AvingudaDelTibidabo,Sarria UltimateFoodieRetreat Passeigde JoandeBorbó BeachfrontWOW Shaped like a billowing sail,with floor-to-ceiling views of the city and the Mediterranean, this sleek and sumptuous cityhaven,designedby the Spanish architectRicardoBofill, isanarchitecturalmasterpiece.Following the ‘W’ ethos of thisworldwidebrand, thehotel delivers thewow factor from thebeachfront SALT Beach Club, Restaurant & Lounge up through 26 floors of sleetk contemporaryarchitecture (473 rooms including67 sumptuous suites) to one of the city’sberybest rooftopbars. Getwith thegroove... Gaudi’sunfinished masterpiece Despite constructionbeginningmore than130yearsago, Barcelona'smost famous landmark isuniquepartly fornot beingfinished.Gaudí's crowningmasterpiecehadonlyone facadewhen thearchitectdied ina tramaccident,but the church-in-progress isalreadyamind-blowing fantasiaof sculpturaldetail.Eachgeneration's contribution iseasily discernedby the lighteranddarker tonesand subtly different styles.SagradaFamiliawillbefinished in time for the centenaryofGaudí'sdeath in2026. Platillos&Tapas - TheLegendofElQuim WhenvisitingBarcelona’smain foodmarket,LaBoqueria, make sure tovisitand sample thedelicaciesatElQuimde la Boqueria.Experience the ‘ArtofEatingon aStool’,butyouwill have tobequick togetyour spotas thereareonly22. Sample froman impressive rangeofplatillos (littledishes)asveteran stallowner,QuimMarquez, transforms the freshproduceof the market toheavenlyheights.withdishes likehouse speciality,2 friedeggswithbaby squid. ABaCRestaurantHotel WBarcelona Hotel Neri (Relais & Chateaux) ABaC Restaurant Hotel Cotton House Hotel Autograph Collection One of the impressive façades of the Neri, tucked away in the heart of the romanticGothicdistrict,givesontoSantFelipNeri square,amagicalplacewith Gothicedificesand thechurchwhereGaudíused tocome toprayeveryday.This hotelwascreatedwhen, in the18thcentury, twomansionsmerged–onedating from theMiddleAges. Itboastsadelightfuldécor,blendingperiod featureswith ultra-modern design. A gourmet retreat, chef Alan Guisard creates a Mediterraneancuisinewithaseasonalmenubasedonsharing.At the topof the building,“Roba Estesa”is anoasis in the city,where you can enjoy vistasof the cityatnightfall,while tryingdelicious tapas. ThePickofBarcelonaHotels Highly recommended luxuryhotelswithverydifferentappeal inprime locations SantFelipNeriSquare,BarriGotic HistoricalBarriGoticBoutique PasseigdeGràcia Classic Sleek MandarinOriental, Barcelona is an exclusive hotel located right on Passeig de Gràcia, themostexclusiveshoppingboulevard in theheartof thecity,alsohome tohistoricalmodernist sights andGaudi's architecturalgems.Allof theunique roomsandsuitesofferanexquisite interiordesignbyPatriciaUrquiolawhileThe Spa, isasanctuarywhereguestsfind relaxationandharmony.CarmeRuscalleda, one of themost awarded female Chefs in theworld and champion of Catalan gastronomyoversees theculinaryoperations.Thebest rooftop terrace in thecity centrewith sweepingviews including tehSagradaFamilia. It is thewayofBarcelona that itsprosperityhasebbedand flowedover thecenturies sinceRoman times (4km 2 of the ancientcityofBarcinocan stillbeviewedbeneath the moderncity).At the turnof the20thcentury it witnesseda timeofgreataffluenceaschange swept throughCatalunya. Thecityunderwent rapid transformationaspeoplemoved from thecountryside to thecity inhopeoffindingwork in thenewlyopened factories.As livingconditions deteriorated, the localauthoritieswereurged to takeaction anddecided togive thecityanextension– eixample in Catalan–giving rise to the large,grid-patterned neighbourhoodof the samename. At the same time, inspiredby thewaveof socio-reform sweepingEurope,aculturalmovementemergedwhich hadat itsheartadesire tomakeCatalan societyamodern society,and therewasanelementofCatalannationalismat theheartof themovementaswell.Rejectingbourgeois, traditionalismand theoldguard, the socialistmovement gatheredmomentum inartisticcircles,amongpoets, writersandartists,butalsowith thosewhowished to take amorehands-onapproach to thisnewvision for society. ModernBarcelona’s identity is fundamentally linked to this period,and inno smallpart to theworkofoneman in particular,architectAntoniGaudí.Hisdesigns,more than anyoneelse’s,havebecome someof thebiggest tourist attractions in thecityandhaveevenbeenawarded UNESCOWorldHeritage status. Catalan Style Catalansareveryproudof their region, languageand lifestyle.Barcelona is theexciting epicentreofaseriouslydeterminedpeoplewho certainlyknowhow toenjoy life’spleasures from relaxed fashion trends,greatstreetcultureand amazinggastronomy. Mandarin Oriental,Barcelona HotelNeriRelais & Chateaux B arcelonahas somuch to tempt the senses. Withabackdropofbothgothicandorganic Gaudiarchitecture frontedbywarm Mediterraneanwatersalong5kilometresof beachfront, it isacity that is simultaneously brimmingwithmodern shopping,nightlife,world-class dininganda senseof identitydeeply rooted inCatalan culture. Itall startedgoing rightagain forBarcelonawhen ithosted theOlympics in 1992.Thisheraldedamuch-neededclean-upof theCity.AsNelsonMandela once said, "Sporthas thepower to transform theworld." In thecaseof Barcelonabeacheswerecleaned,newparkswerebuilt,public transport toall areasof thecitywasnotably improvedandaonceugly industrialzoneon the seafrontwasdemolished tohouse thenew,OlympicVillage.Thisarea isnow knownas thePobleneudistrict,achic residentialarea righton theedgeof thecitycentre.The regenerationofBarcelonahasbeen so impressive that it re-established itselfas thepowerhouseofSpain,andyou wouldbe forgiven tobelieve that it is the realcapitalof the nation,andnodoubta reason thatCatalans feel that they shouldbe theirownmasters. Mandarin Oriental Barcelona