Chic & Basic

Fun and frivolous hotel in El Born, with a playful LED light system and a mischievous charm...

This hotel does what it says on the tin: 31 chic white rooms in the centre of Barcelona. But it’s got a funky edge too - and that's what makes it stand out from the crowd. Each room has a remote-controlled LED light system; spin the dial and transform your white space into disco land. Feeling cheeky? The in-room showers, just feet from the bed, have a crystal effect LED curtain for ‘modesty’. Spin again and the shower curtain transforms into a colourful, shimmering showcase. It’s not for the fainthearted, but extroverts will love it.

Instead of in-room tea trays, there’s a sociable 'help yourself' drinks area, where you'll find a coffee machine, blended teas and mineral water, all on the house. The building itself is over 200 years old and features a fabulous sweeping staircase and the groovy Karma restaurant, where Med cuisine and cocktails are served until late. And best of all, you’re in the trendy Born area, surrounded by great bars, boutiques and restaurants.

Highs

• Fills a conspicuous gap in Barcelona's chic-but-cheap hotel scene
• Hands on manager Stephan and his young team are always around and happy to help
• A perfect pied-a-terre for the modern traveller: free WiFi throughout, mineral water and gadgets galore
• The cool restaurant and cocktail bar is reasonably priced

Lows

• Rooms are small and there's no wardrobe to speak of, just some hanging space
• Hi-tech can mean high-drama when things don't work - we witnessed a few guests having key problems on our visit
• This is a quirky hotel with its own flamboyant style - if you like a proper bathroom, look elsewhere