The 44-story Hotel Arts sits next to a sculpture designed by architect Frank Gehry for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Photo Credit: TW photo by Tom Stieghorst
While many of Barcelona's hotels are historical or nestled away in the narrow streets of the Barri Gotic, one of the top-rated hotels in the city is housed in what looks like a modern office tower.
The Hotel Arts was built in 1994, just two years after the city hosted the Summer Olympic Games, from a design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a firm known worldwide for its commercial structures.
A new design idea at the time was to support a tall tower with an external frame or exoskeleton. So the bracing for the Hotel Arts' 44 stories is on the outside, giving it a striking appearance.
After sailing aboard Silversea Cruises' Silver Muse from Genoa, Italy, to Barcelona last month, I was hosted at the property for two nights, taking in the tower's fabulous views of the beach, the surrounding cityscape and enjoying its first-class service. One could even see cruise ships come and go from the port several miles away.
The 455-room hotel, which has a spa on its top floors, has 28 stylish duplex suites, including the one I stayed in. It is well-suited for guests embarking or debarking a luxury cruise but would be an enjoyable splurge for the average cruise passenger, too.
The hotel's location is away from the main action of Las Ramblas but has excellent access to the beach and marina. The pool deck extends out toward the water, affording nice vistas and a particularly close-up view of architect Frank Gehry's golden fish sculpture, which is next door and looms 115 feet tall.
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Service at the Hotel Arts is a strength. A young bellman who couldn't have been more than 20 years old remembered my name by the second morning of my stay. Management is supplied by Ritz-Carlton, and the training and attention that comes with it is outstanding.
Tapas are served at the Hotel Arts in its Arola restaurant, which stuffed me full of tasty tuna tartare, a delicious oxtail ravioli, beef tenderloin with potato rectangles and a mouthwatering seafood salad.
Before dinner, I spent some time with the hotel's creative head mixologist, Diego Baud, who fixed me a mojito. Baud's version uses peppermint and comes served in a gourd, perched in a tiny wood chair.
Another Baud creation is a rum drink, bagged in plastic and served with a straw in a tiny shopping cart.
A second restaurant on property, which I did not try, is the pastoral, light-filled Enoteca, which earned two Michelin stars in 2013 and offers a wine cellar that houses over 700 labels.
I took advantage of the Club, a concierge lounge on the 33rd floor, where my check-in and checkout were seamlessly handled. Complimentary food and beverages are available in the Club throughout the day, including a continental breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
The Hotel Arts also offers a free coach, use of a lounge and discounts at La Roca Village, a high-end outlet mall on the outskirts of Barcelona.
Room rates for a weekend stay in June start at $459 for a standard room and $1,737 for a Penthouse duplex suite, double. Visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/spain/barcelona.