Novotel Barcelona City

This hotel is very close to the Agbar Tower, with convenient access to the subway, train, and bus. You can also walk directly to Sagrada Familia. The downside is that there's a lot of construction in the surrounding area, making it a bit messy. The rooms lack design, and they don't provide facial tissues, only toilet paper in the bathroom, and no conditioner, which feels a bit subpar for a four-star hotel. However, the breakfast here is truly excellent and varied; it was the best hotel breakfast I had on my Europe trip. Overall, I recommend it. Waiting for the elevator was a bit of an experience, like doing a primary school math problem. 😵💫

The hotel boasts a pleasant surrounding in El Poblenou, a newly revitalized old district. The streets are clean, and the area feels very new with no old buildings in sight. According to a local taxi driver, it's also quite safe. There are several supermarkets and restaurants nearby, including a very authentic Sichuan hotpot place called 'Hao Tang Hotpot'. Our room was on the 8th floor, with windows facing southwest, offering a decent view. From one side of the window, we could even catch a partial glimpse of the Sagrada Familia. The family room had a sofa bed set up for the kids, but it felt a little cramped. Overall, the room was clean, tidy, and well-equipped, making it suitable for families traveling with children.

The hotel service was excellent, and the hygiene was impeccable. The front desk staff were very polite. The rooftop pool was beautiful with stunning sea views, and you could also enjoy a drink at the rooftop restaurant. Overall, I was very satisfied!

We were a family of three (two adults and one child) and booked a suite with two beds. The hotel is located near the Agbar Tower, not in the absolute city center, but it's about a 20-25 minute walk to Sagrada Familia and 20 minutes to the beach. The surrounding area is nice, though there's some road construction happening currently. Shopping and dining are convenient, with Westfield and Carrefour right next door. There are good Spanish and Italian restaurants nearby, as well as Chinese restaurants and hot pot places. The hotel facilities are good, and the front desk staff was very welcoming, offering candies and small gifts. Disposable toiletries and slippers were provided. One area for improvement: the water pipes in the bathroom were very noisy, especially at night when trying to sleep.

The hotel's rooftop offers panoramic views of Barcelona, beautiful in the morning, at dusk, and at night. The silhouette of the Sagrada Familia at sunset is particularly stunning. The rooftop is peaceful and empty in the mornings, but transforms into a lively bar at night. The hotel breakfast is excellent, with a wide variety of hams and cheeses. While the vegetable selection was limited, it was great to finally have leafy greens to make a salad. I finally got to try apple pie, a dessert I'd only heard about in American TV shows and movies until now. It was delicious, though a bit too sweet! The room facilities were complete and very comfortable. I noticed many Chinese guests staying here. The front desk staff spoke excellent English. My only minor complaint was the lack of a self-service laundry room, and the laundry service was quite expensive. So, I ended up hand-washing my clothes in the room. They dried slowly, but thankfully I was staying for three days, and there was an ironing board in the room, which helped at the end.

The staff were all very nice, and the breakfast was delicious. It's about a 30-minute walk to the Sagrada Familia and also a 30-minute walk to the beach. Walking that far in the hot summer heat was just too uncomfortable! My room was too close to the elevator and was noisy from morning till night. The room wasn't clean, and the shower leaked. For a European hotel, the room was quite spacious. The pool was very dirty and closed too early at 8 PM. I probably wouldn't choose to stay here again.