Accommodation - The Rough Guide to Barcelona - page 255

MesónCastilla c/deValldonzella5 933182182, www.mesoncastilla.com ; Universit-
at; map . Acuriousthrowbackto1950sruralSpain,everyinchofthistwo-starhoteliscarved,
painted and stencilled, from the grandfather clock in reception to the wardrobe in your room.
Thelargerooms(somewithterraces; €22extra)feature country-style furniture,there'savast
rustic dining room (buffe t bre akfast included) and - best of all - a lovely tiled rear patio on
which to read in the sun. €143
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SANT PERE AND LA RIBERA
Chic & Basic Born c/de la Princesa 50 932 954 652, chicandbasic.com ; Jaume I;
map . Fromthebabblingblurb(“it'sfresh,it'scool,it'sfusion”)totheopen-plan,all-in-white
decor,everythinghereispunchilyboutiqueandin-your-face.The31roomsmixglamourand
comfort with laugh-aloud conceits like adjustable mood-lighting, sashaying plastic curtains
and mirrored walls; larger rooms cost €25 more. Chic, certainly; basic, not at all, though the
concept eschews room service, mini-bars and hordes of staff at your beck and call. There are
other Chic & Basic outlets in the Raval, one on c/Tallers (near Pl. Universitat), one near the
zoo and the other off the bottom of the Ramblas, and some Barri Gòtic apartments too (de-
tails on the website). €100
Equity Point Gothic c/dels Vigatans 5 932 312 045, equity-point.com ; Jaume I;
map . OfBarcelona'sthree EquityPoint hostels,thisisthemostbackpacker-orientated,which
might or might not be a good thing, depending on your view, age and capacity for company.
Multi-bunk rooms have an en-suite shower-bathroom, each bed has its own bedside cabinet
and reading light, and there are lockers, left-luggage and tour services, and an old -town roof
terrace. Winter prices go as low as €15. Open 24hr. Includes breakfast. Dorms €25
GrandHotelCentral Via Laietana 30 932 957 900, www.grandhotelcentral.com ;
Jaume I; map . It might be on one of the city's noisiest thoroughfares, but the soundproofing
does its job handsomely in this wham-glam designer hotel beloved of all the style mags.
Spacious, ever-so-lovely rooms hit all the right buttons - hardwood floors, Egyptian cotton
sheets,high-endtoiletries-andupontheroofthereareamazingviewsfromthesundeckand
infinity pool. Meanwhile, the fab hotel r estau rant and café, Ávalon , showcases the new-wave
Catalan cooking of chef Ramón Freixa. €185
Hostal Nuevo Colón Av. del Marquès de l'Argentera 19, 1º 933 195 077, hostal-
nuevocolon.com ; Barceloneta; map . In the hands of the same friendly family for decades,
thiswell-kept pensión sports24spaciousrooms,paintedyellowandkittedoutwithdirectors'
chairs and double glazing. Sunny front rooms, lounge and terrace all have side views to Ci-
utadella park. You'll save around €20 in a room with shared facilities; there are also three
self-ca teri ng apartments available (by the night; €155) in the same building, which sleep up
to six. €70