Spanish Design: Hotel Alexandra Barcelona

So if you follow me on social media, you’ll know that I’ve recently returned from a Spanish Design Tour, travelling through Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. It was pretty mind-blowing, I have to say, and the design, food and company were spectacular. I’m planning a series of posts to showcase some of my favourite finds but to begin with I wanted to show you the wonderful hotel where I stayed in Barcelona. This one is a real peach, and has the perfect combination of original features and contemporary design that I love.

Welcome to the Hotel Alexandra Barcelona, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels.

It looks like a little boutique hotel from the outside, nestled in a bustling part of Barcelona, between shops and busy streets, and certainly the reception area is contemporary and chic. But stepping inside my room I found some incredible architectural features like the detailed ceilings, and the glorious tiled floors. Oh my. There were beautiful tiled floors everywhere we went on the tour, and the hotel room didn’t disappoint.

The huge King sized bed overlooked the balcony (more on that in a moment), but was positioned in the middle of the room. Behind the headboard was the desk working area with full network and hub connectivity – a godsend for working bloggers! Stunning lighting everywhere, very contemporary and in striking contrast to the original features. But wow I’m sure you’ll agree this works so well.

Huge wardrobes, and stunning bathroom with walk in shower (multiple shower heads) and double sinks, and a long corridor made this truly one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve stayed in. I do believe that many of the Hotel Alexandra rooms are quite different and not all of them have tiled floors or balconies so worth checking when you book.

But there was more… the view from the balcony was something else. Taking in the busy Barcelona streets, the beautiful architecture and of course, the sunny blue skies. I spent a leisurely half hour reading my book and soaking up the sun one afternoon. Hmmm shall I tell you how much work we did on this tour?! Seriously though, it was really jam-packed and that was actually the only time I had to enjoy this little beauty. Little blue chair, I shall return.

Now the hotel has lots of hidden treasures to discover, and next up was the pool and terrace; well designed, wonderfully chic and very contemporary. I took this shot below when meeting some of the junior Spanish designers which will come up in a later post. But doesn’t it look inviting?

Clean, clear and crisp you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, yet you’re just a few steps away from designer shops and high street finds, as well as all the sightseeing attractions.

Anyone fancy a dip in the pool? Again, there was no time for me to enjoy this, not helped by the fact I joined the tour a day after everyone else. I must go back and put this right.

Restaurant Solomillo:

The latest addition to Hotel Alexandra is Restaurant Solomillo, a Charcuterie only just opened in June 2016. I was lucky enough to enjoy a lunchtime meal here with the #SunnyDesign press team and some of the junior designers showcasing their products that day.

Restaurant Solomillo is in stark contrast to the rest of the hotel, and certainly to the terrace and pool area. It’s dark, moody and full of atmosphere. It feels decadent and mysterious in many ways, which perfectly complements the food as I was to discover.

Now I didn’t actually catch a photo but this restaurant is about the meat. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the food and not worry about taking pics for the blog and instagram, and this was so delicious I was too focused on eating.

The meat is carefully selected and the guest chooses the breed, the sauces and of course how it is to be cooked. But, it wasn’t just the meat, look at the side dishes. There was everything from potato dauphinoise, to pasta, to vegetables and so much more. It was truly a gastronomic delight.

I guess I couldn’t finish a post about a restaurant without showing you dessert. And yes it tasted as good as it looked.

The sign of a good meal? Empty plates and glasses plus very happy, chatty people. Thank you Restaurant Solomillo. I’m longing to return.

So, feeling inspired to discover a new hotel on your next break to Barcelona? I would highly recommend Hotel Alexandra and if you want to take a further look then do check out the website HERE.

I experienced Hotel Alexandra and Restaurant Solomillo as part of the #SunnyDesign Spanish Design Tour 2016. All comments and opinions are genuine and honest.