Miramar Barcelona

Hotel Miramar Barcelona: A Serene Luxury Retreat with Panoramic Views

Hotel Miramar Barcelona, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, consistently garners high praise for its breathtaking views, elegant design, and exceptional service, positioning it as a luxurious urban resort offering a tranquil escape from the city's bustle.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Miramar Barcelona enjoys a strong "very good" to "excellent" overall rating from guests, with scores frequently around 8.0/10 on various platforms. The Michelin Guide also reflects a highly positive "Overall Experience" at 18.8 out of 20. The prevailing sentiment highlights a truly special experience, with many guests eager to return and recommend the hotel.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the hotel for several standout features:

• Spectacular Views: Perched atop Montjuïc Hill, the hotel boasts unparalleled panoramic vistas of the Mediterranean Sea and the vibrant city of Barcelona, a recurring highlight in guest feedback.
• Exclusive Location & Tranquility: The Montjuïc setting provides a peaceful and serene environment, offering a quiet retreat away from the city's constant activity while remaining conveniently close to key attractions.
• Elegant Design: The hotel seamlessly blends the historic grandeur of a 1929 Art Deco palace with sophisticated, modern, and avant-garde interiors, surrounded by lush, manicured gardens.
• Exceptional Service: The staff is frequently commended for being attentive, friendly, professional, and exceptionally accommodating, often going above and beyond to ensure a memorable stay.
• Luxurious Amenities: The property offers an impressive array of facilities including both indoor and outdoor pools, a modern gym equipped with Technogym, and the indulgent Spa Terracalma (Spa By L'Occitane) offering a range of treatments.

3. Room Quality

The 75 guestrooms and suites at Miramar Barcelona are described as spacious, clean, and comfortable, featuring a luxurious and modern aesthetic. The design incorporates sleek wood and metal furnishings, often in soothing grays and creams. Many rooms benefit from spectacular views and some include private balconies or terraces. Guests appreciate thoughtful touches such as heated floors in some rooms, exclusive Natura Bissé amenities, and luxurious Bassols Egyptian cotton bedding. Bathrooms are typically well-appointed with large freestanding tubs and separate glass showers, though some noted that the placement of tubs by the bed could be a privacy concern. Minor criticisms include occasional noisy air conditioning on lower floors and a perceived lack of storage space in some rooms.

4. Dining Experience

Dining at Hotel Miramar Barcelona is a significant part of the guest experience. The Studio restaurant (previously Le Forestier) offers refined contemporary Mediterranean and Catalan cuisine, with Michelin-starred chef Nando Jubany contributing to private events. Guests can also enjoy botanical cocktails and locally sourced dishes at the Pool Club, and signature cocktails at the exclusive speakeasy. Breakfast is served buffet-style, garnering a guest review score of 6.8. Overall, the food receives high praise, with one guest declaring it "some of the best I have ever tasted." However, it's worth noting that the main restaurant may be closed on Sunday and Monday nights.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Miramar Barcelona consistently receives glowing reviews. The staff is repeatedly described as "amazing," "attentive," "courteous," "respectful," "friendly," "personable," and "professional." Guests have shared experiences of staff going "above and beyond," such as proactively opening car doors, arranging transportation, and engaging in friendly conversation about their day. Specific team members, like Muhammad and Raul, have been singled out for their exceptional hospitality.

6. Location & Accessibility

Situated on Montjuïc Hill, the hotel offers a uniquely serene and exclusive location with unparalleled views of Barcelona and its harbor. While providing a peaceful sanctuary, it remains conveniently accessible to various cultural and historical attractions, including the Magic Fountain, MNAC Museum, and Poble Espanyol. The cable car from the beach has a stop directly at the hotel, facilitating easy transportation. Public transport options are also readily available for exploring the wider city. However, guests should be aware that while a walk down to the city center takes approximately 10 minutes, the return journey up the steep hill can be challenging for some, making taxis a common choice. Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter are about a 25-minute stroll away.

7. Value & Pricing

As a luxury five-star property, pricing at Miramar Barcelona reflects its high-end offerings. While some guests acknowledge that the hotel provides good value for a luxury experience, a recurring sentiment among a few reviewers suggests that the cost can be high for perceived lack of updates over time and additional charges for items like in-room bottled water and parking. Prices will naturally vary depending on the season and specific room type.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, guest feedback occasionally includes a few points of criticism:

• Additional Fees: Charges for in-room water bottles and daily private parking are noted as areas where guests feel "nickel-and-dimed."
• Hillside Location: The steep ascent back to the hotel from the city center can be physically demanding for some guests.
• Room-Specific Issues: Some reviewers have mentioned noisy air conditioning in certain rooms, insufficient storage space, and the design choice of having bathtubs positioned openly near the bed, which some found lacking in privacy.
• Dining Availability: The main restaurant's closure on Sunday and Monday evenings has been a point of complaint.
• Spa/Pool Facilities: Isolated incidents of spa facilities not being fully operational or construction noise in the pool area (e.g., a sauna being built) have been reported.
• Wi-Fi Connectivity: One guest experienced difficulties with Wi-Fi access, requiring a room change.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. booking.com
3. michelin.com
4. tablethotels.com
5. preferredhotels.com
6. iprefer.com
7. youtube.com
8. oyster.com