Rooms

Lifts open onto bright, copper toned corridors. Open the door to your room and the contrast couldn't be greater: oceans of natural light wash over you, and rooms at the front (looking out over the Passeig de Gràcia) point towards the midday sun.

Rooms are priced according to size, with minimalist design running throughout: funky beds, contemporary chairs, walls of glass and pale oak floors. The feel is smooth and cool, bright and breezy. Sleek cabinets form a wall between the bathroom and bedroom onto which TV is projected at the flick of a button; there’s concealed lighting underneath, and the odd cubed light box on the floor.

Comfortable kingsize or twin beds come well-dressed in crisp linen, and some rooms have bay windows housing daybeds or tables and chairs. The spacious, stylish bathrooms have Grohe power showers, natural light and Desea toiletries - plus square porcelain sinks, wrap-around mirrors and all the bits and bobs you could want (fluffy towels, bathrobes and slippers).

Sir Supremes, Sir Suites and the Sir City Suite are vast, with leather sofas and walk-in showers or bathtubs, but we thought that the standard Sir Boutiques and slightly larger Sir Deluxes were big enough, so you don't have to splash out. Sir Petit doesn't have natural light, but what it lacks in external illumination it makes up for in charm. All rooms have the usual array of hi-tech gadgetry - but the mini bar drinks trolley steals the show. Rooms on the upper floors get more light and some have views of Gaudí’s La Pedrera.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Bluetooth sound system
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

First breakfast. Expect warm croissants and good coffee, home-baked pastries fresh from the kitchen, carrot juice or carrot cake, freshly-squeezed OJ, home-baked scones and bowls of fruit. Scrambled eggs are also available. In short, a feast (though as with many hotels in Barcelona, it's not included in the room price).

A steak restaurant called Mr Porter has opened since we last visited, and we can't wait to go back and try it out. There's a selection of carpaccios (meat, fish or veg) to start, along with fresh salads. Then for the main event: beef cooked any way. Cocktails and snacks are also available on the roof terrace, or you can venture out to good restaurants on your doorstep - see our destination guide for suggestions. We liked Lolea for tapas.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Passeig de Gràcia - Barcelona’s premier shopping street - is just outside the front door. You’ll find designer labels coming out of your ears. For smaller boho boutiques, head for the narrow streets of the trendy El Born district
  
• Explore the otherworldly Gaudí buildings which dot the city. The nearest is La Pedrera, just a block from the hotel, with its undulating roof terrace, tangled wrought-iron balconies and recreated turn-of-the-century apartment. Further down Passeig de Gràcia is the shimmering blue-tiled Casa Batlló, while the soaring Sagrada Familia is a short walk west
  
• Stroll down the city’s most famous avenue, the lively tree-lined boulevard of La Rambla, thronged with tourists, artists, musicians and stalls selling everything from flowers to caged birds. Then head into the surrounding Bari Gòtic to see the magnificent cathedral with its stone-laced façade, gothic gargoyles and gaggle of geese guarding the leafy cloister
  
• Book a pampering massage, facial, or even get a whole new look with a haircut at the spa and hair salon
  
• Browse Barcelona’s many museums and galleries - the Picasso Museum, the Joan Miró Foundation and the sleek MACBA (contemporary art museum) are among the best
  
• Head to the beach - about 20 minutes by metro (10 by cab)
  
• The football-obsessed can head to Nou Camp for a tour of FC Barcelona’s stadium. A cab will get you there in 10 minutes, but you can take the metro, too
  
• After a hard day's sightseeing, chill out at the hotel. The decked roof terrace has a bar, loungers and a small pool, while the fabulous spa has a steam room, sauna, ice fountain and a heated indoor pool with a Jacuzzi - ideal for when shopper’s shoulder strikes (note there’s a charge for entry as well as for treatments)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being

Kids

This is an adult-orientated hotel, although children are welcome, but there are no special facilities for them. Cots are available at no extra charge and babysitting can be arranged on request. We'd say it's best for babies overall.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Sir Family suite is made up of 2 interconnecting rooms (1 double, 1 twin) and can sleep up to 6 guests (using 2 sofabeds) so is the best option for families. Extra beds are also possible in the Sir Supremes and Sir Suites (not in the Sir Boutiques or Sir Deluxes), but children aged 2+ are charged a hefty rate for them, so it gets a bit pricey.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 30 minutes
• Hospital: 6 minutes
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Sir Victor Hotel, part of Sircle Collection (to use its full name) is located on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia and carrer Rosselló in the Eixample district of central Barcelona. It's just across the road from the Diagonal metro stop (on lines 3 and 5) and a 15-minute walk from Plaça de Catalunya.

By Air:
Barcelona airport (16km away) is served by many international and budget carriers.

From the Airport
You can take a taxi straight to the hotel or jump on the train to Passeig de Gràcia. From there, it's a 5-minute walk or a 1-stop hop on metro line 3. There's also an airport bus to Plaça de Catalunya, 2 metro stops from Diagonal.

By Train:
For a more eco-friendly trip, take the mid-afternoon Eurostar from London to Paris, then transfer onto the overnight sleeper to Barcelona.

By Car:
It's unlikely you'll need a car in Barcelona, but if you want to hire one to explore the surrounding countryside, see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has secure parking for a daily charge - please enquire when you book.

Getting Around:
The hotel is just across the road from the Diagonal metro stop on lines 3 and 5. It's also a few minutes' walk from the tram services which travel along Avinguda Diagonal to the sea and the suburbs.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.