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Chic City Barcelona
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By: Sarah Han, Issue 41 – Summer 2010
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(Barcelona, Spain)
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AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR CITY DESTINATIONS, BARCELONA IS ABLE TO ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT TO ALL KINDS OF TRAVELLERS.
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Whether your design preference is classic or contemporary, your desires are luxe or ultra luxe or your interests are sporting or cultural, there are chic places to stay, eat and see in the capital of Catalonia.
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LUXE CITY
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Stay
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For a lavish stay in Barcelona, consider the five-star Le Meridien Barcelona, which has hosted Michael Jackson and Madonna. Its ideal location on the renowned Las Ramblas, an iconic boulevard in central Barcelona, ensures instant access to the Gothic Quarter, museums and restaurants.
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www.starwoodhotels.com
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Dine
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Torre d’Alta Mar is in the premium location of Barcelona, 75 metres above sea level in one of three former watch towers. The private glass elevator brings diners up to the restaurant, affording a magnificent 360-degree view of Barcelona’s city and sea. The firstclass location complements the top-quality menu of traditional Mediterranean cuisine. With its avant-garde design, formidable wine list and dazzling panorama of Barcelona, Torre d’Alta Mar is the most incredible dining experience in Barcelona.
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www.drolmarestaurant.cat
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See
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For luxury shoppers, the Passeig de Gràcia in L’Eixample must not be missed. It is now considered the most expensive street in not only Barcelona but in all of Spain. The finest luxury stores like Chanel, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Caroline Herrera pepper the street. Indulging in luxury goods is a pleasure that cannot be missed in Barcelona.
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ULTRA LUXE CITY
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Stay
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Located in Masquefa, inland of Barcelona, the Can Bonastre Wine Resort offers a “Winestyle” hotel stay. The hotel’s main building is a restored 16th-century manor dwelling in a 100-hectare country estate of forests and vineyards reaching the Monserrat mountains. Although the hotel has 12 lavish rooms, stay in one of the suites for an ultra luxe experience. It also holds wine tastings, winery tours and helicopter tours. Alternatively, unwind at the Acbua Spa in the sauna or the Turkish bath.
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www.canbonastre.com
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Dine
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Torre d’Alta Mar is in the premium location of Barcelona, 75 metres above sea level in one of three former watch towers. The private glass elevator brings diners up to the restaurant, affording a magnificent 360-degree view of Barcelona’s city and sea. The firstclass location complements the top-quality menu of traditional Mediterranean cuisine. With its avant-garde design, formidable wine list and dazzling panorama of Barcelona, Torre d’Alta Mar is the most incredible dining experience in Barcelona.
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www.torredealtamar.com
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See
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Appoint a personal shopper through Barcelona Luxury, who will take you to exclusive boutiques on a shopping trip. Other luxury tours on offer are gastronomy and wine tours. Barcelona Luxury can also custom-make tours of the city and arrange private gallery and museum visits.
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www.barcelonaluxury.com
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CLASSIC CITY
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Stay
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A classic hotel since 1919, the Hotel Palace Barcelona endured wars and the fall of a dictatorship. The Duke of Windsor and Salvador Dali have stayed at the former Hotel Ritz; it was renamed in 2005. Set on a tree-lined boulevard in L’Eixample, it has recently undergone a 20-million Euro overhaul, and officially reopened in January, unveiling a fresh look but retaining its timeless sophistication.
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www.hotelpalacebarcelona.com
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Dine
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For a cultural feast, dine at La Dama in L’Eixample. Serving traditional Catalan cuisine, the restaurant is one of the few in Barcelona that have been honoured with a Michelin star. Joseph Billich oversees the kitchen that dishes up fine cuisine in a house dating back to 1915. Taste the food that defines Catalan culture.
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www.ladama-restaurant.com
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See
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Situated in Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), the historic centre of Barcelona, the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona exhibits the beginnings of Barcelona. Explore the impressive museum, housed in various locations around the city, including the King Martin watch tower and the Saint Agatha church. The museum entrance is in the 16th-century Casa Padellàs. Exhibiting the remnants of the ancient Roman city of Barcino, the museum also encompasses the former Royal Palace.
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CONTEMPORARY CITY
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Stay
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Open since 2002, ultra-modern Hotel Omm shows off its designer luxury in a minimalist style. Located in Barcelona’s city entre, the hotel’s rooftop terrace and pool have spectacular views of Gaudí’s Casa Milá. It was designed by architect Juli Capella and interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel López. The building’s limestone façade gives an impression of peeling, which has a functional purpose – to allow sunshine in while simultaneously preventing uninvited views from the outside. The height of luxury can be experienced in one of the Passeig de Gracia suites.
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www.hotelomm.es
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Dine
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Moo in Hotel Omm serves up modern Mediterranean cuisine. Create your own menú de degustación or savour the set menu “Joan Roca”, which presents five dishes matched with wine chosen by the restaurant’s sommelier. The décor follows a mostly black and white theme, augmenting the contemporary feel of the restaurant.
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www.hotelomm.es
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See
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The Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) is a great place to get a feel for Barcelona’s contemporary art culture. Only open since 1995, the museum’s collection is of diverse origin but the bulk of it is Catalan and international art from the 1950s and 1980s.
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ART CITY
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Stay
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The Hotel Claris in L’Eixample features a combination of classical and contemporary art throughout its interiors. Presenting Egyptian carvings, Indian sculptures and Roman mosaics, the hotel also exhibits original lithographs by AndyWarhol. Its 124 rooms are individually decorated with striking artworks.
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www.derbyhotels.com
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See
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Open since 1963, the Museu Picasso displays works specifically from Spanish artist Pablo Picasso’s Barcelona periods. The museum features more than 3,800 of his works, illustrating his rich relationship with Barcelona. Picasso himself donated approximately 2,500 of his own paintings, engravings and drawings in 1970, and other works were donated by Jaume Sabartés y Gual, a lifelong friend of the artist. The extensive collection presents Picasso’s work up to the Blue Period. A highlight of the museum is Picasso’s prints collection. The museum occupies five medieval mansions on the Carrer de Montcada.
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www.museupicasso.bcn.es/en
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CULTURE CITY
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Stay
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Barcelona’s cultural character can be explored at Barri Gòtic, situated east of La Rambla. The area contains a labyrinth of twisting streets, quaint plazas and buildings from Medieval and Roman times. It’s a quarter of hidden secrets, where strolls down the narrow streets unravel to squares and lovely surprises like churches, the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Eulalia and vintage clothing stores. Situated in the heart of Barri Gòtic right near the cathedral is Neri Hotel & Restaurant. Housed inside an 18th-century palace, the hotel combines antiques with avant-garde style. The first floor adheres to a theme of Renaissance style in gold leaf and silver, the second floor has a floral theme, and the third floor, a horizons theme. The historic elements of the palace have been preserved, but a modern design upgrades the hotel to a more luxurious standard. Also at the hotel are a lounge library, a Mediterranean restaurant, a relaxation room and a rooftop terrace overlooking the roofs of Gothic Barcelona.
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www.hotelneri.com
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SPORT CITY
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Stay
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Constructed in 1957, FC Barcelona’s stadium Camp Nou (Catalan for “new field”) is a UEFA five-star rated stadium. It is the largest stadium in Europe with its capacity for 98,787 people. It also contains El Museu del Barca, exhibiting the history of FC Barcelona. The museum receives almost 1,200,000 visits a year. For the ultimate soccer experience, stay at the five-star luxury hotel Princesa Sofia Gran Hotel, which is only minutes away from the Camp Nou.
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www.princesasofia.concorde-hotels.com
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