Ohla Barcelona

The façade of Ohla Barcelona blends seamlessly with the Catalan Gothic architecture that surrounds it, obscuring the fact that the interior takes its cues not from the spires and stone but from the clean lines of modern hotel minimalism. Ohla Barcelona brings ultra-personalized service and impeccable design to one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods, the Gothic Quarter.

Despite occupying the building that housed Barcelona’s first department store, Ohla Barcelona is mercifully free of creepy vintage mannequins, restored art objects, or antique furniture within. This is a hotel for people content to let the neighborhood evoke the old days while they kick back beneath a private canopy next to the rooftop pool.

While the guest rooms vary in size, they tend to adhere to the same contemporary color palette of black, white and charcoal. Purple rugs and oak floors keep things from feeling overly serious, while bathrooms are suitably spacious, with freestanding tubs and strategically placed windows overlooking the city. But the truly memorable offering isn’t an aesthetic one: Ohla Barcelona is all about personalization, right down to the softness of your pillows and the scent of your linen. This kind of modular hospitality might strike you as a gimmick, but it’s hard to roll your eyes at the opportunity to create your own design hotel experience.

The same degree of choice applies to the cuisine: Ohla Barcelona has two restaurants (one a Michelin-starred gourmet affair, the other a bit more casual) and two lounges. The rooftop terrace hosts one of the latter, along with a pool, and rounds out the laid-back sophistication with a row of cozy outdoor sofas, perfect for sipping a drink and taking in the view.