Hotel 1898

Hotel 1898, a Michelin Key Selected property in Barcelona, Spain, consistently garners high praise for its luxurious ambiance, exceptional service, and prime location. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century colonial-style building that once served as the headquarters of the General Philippines Tobacco Company, the hotel offers a unique blend of historical charm and modern comfort.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Hotel 1898 generally receives "Very good" to "Exceptional" ratings from guests, with scores often around 8.9 to 9.1 out of 10 on major booking platforms. The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests describing it as a wonderful and impeccable place to stay. The hotel is celebrated for its comfortable atmosphere, cleanliness, and the high quality of its offerings.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of Hotel 1898:

• Service & Staff: The staff are frequently described as exceptional, friendly, helpful, polite, courteous, and accommodating, making guests feel valued.
• Location: Its central position on La Rambla is a significant draw, offering unparalleled access to Barcelona's main attractions.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's colonial heritage is beautifully preserved through its opulent interiors, featuring rich wood, exposed brick, plush leather, and marble. Guests often note the pleasant fragrance throughout the hotel, adding to the luxurious experience.
• Amenities: The highlight for many is "La Isabela" rooftop terrace, boasting a heated outdoor pool, sun loungers, and magnificent 360° panoramic views of the city. The "Spa Siargao," located in the historic underground vaults, offers a tranquil oasis with an indoor pool, hydromassage, dry sauna, steam room, and a fitness area.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Hotel 1898 are described as spacious, very clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. They feature an elegant design that blends modern amenities with a warm, classic aesthetic, sometimes including colonial-era maps. Each room typically comes equipped with comfortable king-size beds (with a pillow menu available), state-of-the-art marble bathrooms, bathrobes, eco-friendly toiletries, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air conditioning. The rooms are also noted for being soundproofed, ensuring a "dead quiet" and restful stay despite the central location. Some superior and deluxe rooms offer private terraces or city views, with exclusive Colonial Suites even featuring private pools.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Hotel 1898 is highly regarded:

• Breakfast: Guests consistently praise the breakfast as excellent and sumptuous, offering a wide variety of options including continental, full English/Irish, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, American, buffet, and à la carte choices.
• El Nido Restaurant: The main restaurant, El Nido, serves traditional Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine, with dishes prepared using fresh ingredients from the nearby La Boquería market.
• La Isabela Rooftop Terrace: This popular spot also functions as a bar and restaurant, offering house-made tapas, original cocktails, and Mediterranean-inspired light dishes, all complemented by breathtaking panoramic views. During the summer, hotel guests can also enjoy breakfast on this terrace.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Hotel 1898 receive glowing reviews. Guests frequently highlight their exceptional, friendly, and helpful demeanor. Staff are often described as efficient, courteous, and highly accommodating, contributing significantly to a positive guest experience.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel 1898 boasts an unbeatable and "perfect" central location directly on Barcelona's famous La Rambla. This prime spot allows guests to easily explore many of the city's main attractions on foot, including Plaça de Catalunya (just 200 meters away), the Gothic Quarter, and La Boqueria Market. Its central position also provides excellent accessibility to public transport like the metro and taxi services, making it an ideal base for sightseeing.

7. Value & Pricing

While Hotel 1898 is an opulent property, guests generally consider it to offer exceptional value for money. The average room price is approximately $331, which is higher than Barcelona's average of $218. However, guests feel that the level of luxury, comfort, and service provided justifies the cost. While the rooftop bar and restaurant can be on the more expensive side, the quality of the food, drinks, and the stunning views are often deemed "worth every penny." The breakfast, while excellent, has been noted as potentially pricey.

8. Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, some minor recurring issues have been mentioned by guests:

• Noise: Some rooms, particularly those located near elevators, have been reported to experience noise from the corridor due to less effective soundproofing.
• Staff Engagement: A few guests have noted minor issues with staff engagement, which slightly detracted from their overall experience.
• Breakfast Coffee: One specific complaint mentioned the breakfast coffee machine being unable to prepare cappuccino.
• Pool Crowding: The indoor pool area can occasionally become crowded with non-guests, especially on weekends.
• Room Views: Some rooms may lack desirable views.
• Bathroom Design: One guest felt the bathroom design was less modern than it could be.

Sources

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