Eurostars BCN Design

Class: Deluxe

Style: Cutting edge

Rooms: 70

The Eurostars group operates several successful luxury hotels in Barcelona; their latest additions, notably the new BCN Design, have been attracting more and more style-conscious travelers. BCN Design enjoys a prime location on the Passeig de Gràcia, and occupies an antique building that was gutted and redesigned as an ultra-contemporary boutique.

The 70-room hotel is anything but minimalist — with eye-popping colors, futuristic furniture, and asymmetrical shapes, BCN Design is like a microcosm of Barcelona itself. Artistic flair (think abstract wall murals, decorative chrome fixtures, and retro-Japanese lanterns) adds personality to the bold black and red palette. The public spaces, in particular, are a feast for the eyes, including a lounge with space-age chairs, like giant cushioned eggshells, and a gracefully illuminated terrace dotted with immaculate white umbrellas shading tables for four.

Guest rooms, though standard in proportion, are stylish, equipped with gleaming hardwood floors, large LCD televisions, and décor in inviting shades of white, charcoal, burgundy and black. Nine of the rooms also feature balconies; an additional suite comes with a private terrace overlooking the city’s premiere shopping district. Downstairs, the plush BCN Design Bar serves (what else?) tapas and Spanish wines. A brand-new fitness center and an outdoor jacuzzi are thoughtful touches, but it's the style and the neighborhood that appeal — few guests will be tempted to shut themselves in, luxury-resort style.