ME Barcelona

About

A few minutes after leaving the lobby, you are standing on Passeig de Gràcia, wandering through one of Europe’s most architecturally ambitious cities. Back at the hotel, there are no mosaics, no references to Gaudí and very little nostalgia. Instead, you find contemporary art, warm timber, soft lighting and rooms that feel closer to a creative apartment than a grand hotel. The hotel occupies the former headquarters of El Periódico de Catalunya, one of Catalonia’s best known newspapers. Today, the presses are gone, replaced by a rooftop pool, spacious suites and a clientele that seems to have packed more black linen than guidebooks. What makes ME Barcelona interesting is that it never tries to compete with the city around it. The architecture is competent rather than remarkable. The personality comes from the interiors. The curved wooden structure framing the bed gives the rooms a distinctive identity, while oversized photographic portraits add just enough attitude to keep things from becoming another exercise in beige luxury. The location does much of the heavy lifting. Plaça de Catalunya is around the corner, the Gothic Quarter is an easy stroll away and Barcelona’s restaurants, galleries and shops are largely at your doorstep. After a day in the city, the rooftop provides a welcome change of pace, with views stretching across the rooftops and a pool that feels particularly appealing during the warmer months. Travellers looking for a historic palace or a deep sense of place will find stronger contenders elsewhere in Barcelona. Yet that misses the point somewhat. ME Barcelona is not a hotel that helps you understand the city. It is a hotel that helps you enjoy it. For many visitors, that may be exactly what they are after.