Hotel Murmuri

Chic boutique hotel in the Eixample district, with lovely rooms to lay your head

This place oozes with Kelly Hoppen’s distinctive interiors style. Tucked behind a traditional 19th-century stone façade in elegant Eixample, Hotel Murmuri's location is superb - a mere skip from hip Rambla de Catalunya, and within easy walking distance of Gaudi's main gems. But it's the sleek interiors that really impress.

Step inside and you’re instantly soothed by natural hues and bold splashes of colour, setting the scene for an understated deco of dark-wood furniture, gleaming mirrors and striking light fittings - with draped linen and velvety fabrics lending a sensual twist. Sweeping you to the reception, a marble floor decked with a VIP-friendly red carpet, past Restaurant Murmuri serving Med-Thai fusion food, and the Marfil bar, where you can lounge on cherry-red sofas and snack on sushi.

Step inside the gleaming glass lift and you’re swished up to 58 light-drenched rooms and apartments, whose savant mélange of classic and modern design make the words ‘plush’ and ‘comfort’ spring to mind. And to top it all off, a solarium on the rooftop - a perfect place to laze in a deckchair and top up your tan.

Highs

• Stylish (if small) rooms and apartments, with comfy beds and spoiling details; lots have balconies, too
• Great for a girls' weekend; designer shopping on your doorstep and the buzzy Marfil bar attracts a lively crowd...
• ...Plus you get free access to the pool and spa next door at sister hotel, The Majestic
• Soaking up the atmosphere on the Ramblas, or gawping at Gaudi's wonders without needing to take a cab

Lows

• Slow, sloppy service on the restaurant terrace when we stayed - and other feedback suggests the service at reception is mixed
• Some 'doubles' are just 2 single beds pushed together, with nothing securing them
• Housekeeping is a bit lacklustre, and there's mould in some showers
• Breakfast not included, and quite expensive as an extra - head for a nearby cafe for your churros and hot chocolate