Lay your head down here, folks...Hotel Market will treat you right.
I'm a big fan of this hotel: it's a boutique hotel, and caught my eye when featured in the NYTimes' "36 Hours In" feature. It deserves all the accolades it can get: it has an intimate feel, but is big enough to house a totally decent restaurant and bar; it is put together with a designer eye, but not with top designer prices; it is close to the centre of things, but tucked away enough to feel removed from the tourist throngs of Las Ramblas. Win on all fronts.
Free wifi, and my deal included a free (full) (hot and cold) breakfast buffet. Nothing like some fresh tart Spanish orange juice, hot eggs and crusty breads to start the day off right.
Due to really poor timing on the part of my immune system, I got sick during my stay in Barcelona, and can doubly attest to the skills and service of the staff, from pumping me with juices and teas at the restaurant, to making sure I have a seat where I don't get cold (muy thoughtful!) to enabling me to do a late check-out so that I could try to sleep off my fever.
It's charming, and the staff are amazing. Not only did they mark up my maps with all their must-dos in the city, but also helped me to find a pharmacy open on Sunday (no small task!) and pointed me to what has become one of my favourite restaurants of all time (Yelp review to come, friends).
Yelp note: the hotel bar makes a mean mojito. read more