We arrived in Barcelona, ready to discover the long list of restaurants, bars and other places we had set up. Until we stepped into the oasis called Hotel Brummell, it was 30+ degrees outside and after seeing the roof terrace with splash pool and sun beds we kind of forgot about the list and the rest of Barcelona. All we wanted was to hang out, rest, and to indulge ourselves. And so we did.

 

Brummell is situated in the up-and-coming area called Poble Sec, a non-touristy neighborhood with an artsy vibe, away from the busy city center (within walking distance), but with enough interesting places around to discover. If you still want to though. Carrer de Blai with all its pintxos bars and Albert Adrià’s Tickets bar are just around the corner. It’s also next to Montjuïc, the green gem of Barcelona with botanical gardens, many historical monuments and an amazing view over the city.

Owner Christian gave us a little tour through his hotel and told us a lot of inspiration for the design came from Sri Lanka, particularly from Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa and his ‘tropical modernism’. As this was just three days before my trip to Sri Lanka I was getting more and more excited for that after seeing the stunning interior of Brummell. The Sri Lankan objects mingle well with the European antiques, Nordic Design, Moroccan items, lots of plants and contemporary artwork from local artists, including Christian himself, cause next to setting up this beautiful hotel he’s also a very good photographer. You can see everything is either designed or chosen with attention and a keen eye for the aesthetic. And the good thing is that you can buy some items in the shop next door where you can also rent a classy Brompton bike to explore the city.

The hotel is a laid back, intimate (with just 20 rooms) and casual place. Perfect to hang out and relax after a day of wandering through Barcelona. Or, like we did the first day, relax there all day cause the comfort of the hotel amenities and services might make you not want to leave at all.

C/ Nou de la Rambla,174, Barcelona, hotelbrummell.com