Room Mate Emma

A friendly, contemporary hotel with a great central location - ideal for exploring the Catalonian capital

Enrique Sarasola opened his first Room Mate hotel in 2003 and since then the chain has opened over 15 hotels worldwide. Emma, their Barcelona offering, is set in the heart of stylish Eixample, a stroll away from the designer boutiques and chic street cafes of Rambla de Catalunya, and a short walk from the city's main sights.

Behind a space-age façade dreamt up by local architect Nadal Moneo, a startlingly modern reception with pod-like sofas and Triffid-style lamps sets the scene. You're given a warm welcome by hip young staff, then a gleaming elevator whisks you to one of nine floors, where minimalist white rooms await.

Masterminded by top Madrid disco and restaurant designer Tomás Alía, the room decor is futurist and funky; bright purple throws across dais-style beds, low-key strip lighting, white leather modular furniture and curly-wurly decorative murals. Spaceship-style corridors lead down to the breakfast room, where lamps dangle low over white plastic bucket tables and chairs. The hot pink walls and a mosaic-style ceiling may startle tired morning eyes, but although it's all very trendy, it's a comfortable and relaxed hotel, too.

Highs

• If you book early, it's great value for money (rates increase in proprtion to occupancy)
• Excellent, friendly service - and you can ask staff for local restaurant recommendations
• Knowing whether to take out a brolly or sunhat, thanks to a daily weather report delivered to your room
• Having Passeig de Gracia and a cornucopia of great shopping on your doorstep, and Barri Gotic, Las Ramblas and Plaça de Catalunya an easy stroll away
• Lazing in bed because breakfast is served until 12 noon - a tasty and varied buffet that's well worth the small cost

Lows

• Having to keep the window closed due to street noise - if you want fresh air, ask for a high-up room or one that faces away from the street (although this might mean an 'internal window' and lack of natural light)
• Feeling overwhelmed by the swirly-whirly design and bright colours - keep the lights low and they lose their power to irritate
• No tea and coffee in your room, and no room service
• Hearing the rumble of the metro in ground-floor rooms
• Bathroom doors are glass, so you need to be comfortable around your room partner; no bathrobes or slippers, though you do get toiletries