Ohla Barcelona
In a city of terraces, it’s hard to beat Rooftop at the Ohla. High above Via Laietana, close to the Palau de la Música Catalana, it features a glass-fronted infinity pool wrapped around a decked bar area. It’s a fashionable spot for a cocktail as the sun goes down. The terrace (but not the pool) is open to non-guests and booking is essential. That’s not the only thing this surprising hotel has going for it. At first glance the façade—it was originally Barcelona’s first department store—looks rather staid. Then you notice the work of the sculptor Frederic Amat, who has added a thousand ceramic eyes on stalks to the outside of the building. Inside, the guestrooms are models of restrained chic, with rug-covered cement floors and blond wood furniture. Some have enormous windows. A final surprise: the cuisine. The French head chef Roman Fornell runs three cutting-edge culinary spaces here, including the renowned Caelis restaurant, which offers exquisite tasting menus, including a vegetarian option, and a great value prix fixe lunch at 55€.
In a city of terraces, it’s hard to beat Rooftop at the Ohla. High above Via Laietana, close to the Palau de la Música Catalana, it features a glass-fronted infinity pool wrapped around a decked bar area. It’s a fashionable spot for a cocktail as the sun goes down. The terrace (but not the pool) is open to non-guests and booking is essential. That’s not the only thing this surprising hotel has going for it. At first glance the façade—it was originally Barcelona’s first department store—looks rather staid. Then you notice the work of the sculptor Frederic Amat, who has added a thousand ceramic eyes on stalks to the outside of the building. Inside, the guestrooms are models of restrained chic, with rug-covered cement floors and blond wood furniture. Some have enormous windows. A final surprise: the cuisine. The French head chef Roman Fornell runs three cutting-edge culinary spaces here, including the renowned Caelis restaurant, which offers exquisite tasting menus, including a vegetarian option, and a great value prix fixe lunch at 55€.
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