Hotel 1898
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"Nice from far. Far from nice"
The check-in process was subpar, especially for early arrivals running on little sleep. The lobby had an unpleasant odor, and our room, located above the subway, shook every 10–15 minutes, making it difficult to relax or sleep. WiFi was inconsistent, and the gym was very small with poor air circulation. Despite these issues, there were positive aspects. The location was excellent, and the rooftop pool was a welcome retreat after a long, hot day. Food options at the rooftop were great, though some rude guests reserved cabanas early in the morning and left for hours, limiting access for others. The spa, next to the gym and pool, looked appealing, and free afternoon champagne was a nice touch. The taxi stand right outside made getting to the airport convenient. Overall, the hotel looks great from afar, but several practical issues make it less enjoyable up close.
"Fantastic"
By far the best hotel in Barcelona! We have had the pleasure of visiting this hotel for over 20 years, staying at least three times a year, and it never disappoints. We are always welcomed warmly, and our requests are consistently met. The reception staff are excellent, efficient, and attentive. The hotel exudes a wonderful aroma of wax polish upon entry, and both the property and rooms are spotless. The hotel features a rooftop bar with breathtaking views, a pool, and a well-stocked bar, with live music in the summer. The basement houses a gym, spa, and swimming pool, offering a wide variety of treatments. Breakfast is exceptional, with fresh fruit, juices, freshly cooked eggs, breads, and charcuterie options to suit all tastes. Ana and the entire breakfast team serve with warmth and a smile. We have stayed in the Colonial Room, an oasis in the heart of Barcelona, which was a highlight for my birthday with a wonderful setting for cocktails. The managers are accommodating, professional, and attentive, addressing any feedback efficiently while making guests feel valued. We cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. For location—right on Las Ramblas—service, and value for money, it surpasses all other hotels in Barcelona.
"Excellent location & spotlessly clean"
A very pleasant hotel with exceptional cleanliness—our room was spotless. However, street noise can be quite disruptive; despite good double glazing, I woke up several times (2nd floor), and the general noise levels in Barcelona, like late-night fireworks, are hard to control. The spa is wonderfully relaxing, and the rooftop area is perfect for catching some sun. The lifts can be frustrating, requiring a room card to operate and occasionally being temperamental, which is amusing at first but could become irritating. Breakfast buffet is wonderful, though the peak period around 10–10:30 a.m. can be busy, and some items like apple juice and bread may run out and take time to replenish. Overall, a very enjoyable stay with minor inconveniences.
"Ideal location, but a hotel that has lost its shine"
The main highlight of this hotel is undoubtedly its exceptional location. Despite ongoing construction in the area, our room on the quiet side allowed for peaceful nights. However, the property is showing its age. The television turned on and off randomly, the pipes were noisy, and there were traces of mold along the bathtub edge. While the room remained clean, maintenance issues were evident throughout. The rooftop offers magnificent views, but the pool water was unclean with visible dirt along the edges and ladder. The €38 sangria tasted overly diluted, which was surprising in Spain. The spa, housed under beautiful stone vaults, is a nice feature with a daily 30-minute booking included, but some showers are rusty and a hole in the tile of the hammam/sauna area caused water to stagnate. On the positive side, the breakfast was excellent, and the staff were exceptionally warm, kind, and professional, providing a very welcoming experience that balanced the overall stay.
"Hotel stay"
A lovely hotel perfectly situated near the main shopping and dining areas. The staff were attentive and welcoming, and the breakfast was absolutely amazing. Highly recommended for a comfortable and convenient stay.
"Disappointing Stay"
I really wanted to love this hotel, especially after booking based on its high TripAdvisor ratings. While most of the young staff were friendly, our front desk check-in experience was extremely disappointing. The staff member who assisted us was rude and dismissive. Despite having booked a double room, she informed us at 5:00 PM that no doubles were available and insisted that, because we booked through a third party, we had no “preference” for room type—ignoring the proof I showed her. She also failed to explain important room features. We weren’t told about the card slot needed to keep the lights on, which led to a sudden blackout, nearly causing an accident. She neglected to mention that dialing 9 reaches the front desk, and dismissed my concerns about powdered coffee in the room, insisting “everyone knows” all Spanish hotels use it. Her attitude was brusque and unhelpful throughout. Beyond the check-in, the gym was mediocre, parking in the garage felt unsafe, and the rooms were underwhelming for the price. Overall, it was an unhappy stay, made worse by staff who seemed indifferent to guest concerns.
"Great location, nice hotel."
The hotel is in a fantastic location, and our room on the 4th floor facing the courtyard was quiet. The pool and seating area were excellent, though a brief overview of hotel facilities at check-in would have been helpful. The room had a bath, but without a plug it was unusable. The shower isn’t very powerful, though the hand shower works better. It’s awkward to use the shower over the bath, requiring you to lean back. Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were provided, and the cleaning staff were fantastic. Breakfast was good with a wide variety, and the breakfast staff worked hard and were attentive. However, the pool bar staff were lazy and unmanaged, missing opportunities to serve more drinks. The pool is 1m deep, great for cooling off, and towels are provided. Overall, despite some minor issues, the location is excellent and we would return.
"Great location, but the little things added up quickly."
The location of this hotel is excellent—close to the market and within easy walking distance to upscale shopping. The room was clean, and the rooftop area is nice for relaxing. However, there were several drawbacks that bring this stay down to three stars. The lobby has an overpowering mix of potpourri, incense, air fresheners, and other strong scents, which can be very uncomfortable for anyone with smell sensitivities or asthma. At breakfast around 9:45 a.m., seating was limited because tables hadn’t been cleared from previous guests. While the food selection was good, many guests were handling breads and rolls with their hands, which was off-putting, and the oatmeal was hard. In the room, one bathroom sink was clogged; although we reported it and left a clear sign in Spanish, no one came to fix it. The room itself shows signs of wear, and the air exchange unit had a noticeable layer of dust. Staff were friendly at times, but often curt—I even witnessed an employee snapping at an elderly guest asking about the tea sandwiches. Overall, while the location and rooftop are highlights, cleanliness, maintenance, and inconsistent staff behavior detracted from the experience.
"Outdated, very cramped room, low water pressure, weak wif, no attention to details whatsoever"
We booked a superior room for our anniversary and notified the hotel in advance, hoping for a pampered experience. While we were assigned a high-floor room as requested, it did not match the hotel’s advertised superior room. The room was cramped, lacked the pictured bed-front bench, and the closet doors couldn’t fully open because of the bed. The desk was too close to the bed to be usable for seating. The hotel made no acknowledgment of our anniversary, which was disappointing. The room, towels, and furniture all felt tired and in need of renovation. To label this room (603) as “superior” and charge extra over the basic category seems misleading. Additionally, the WiFi was very weak, and the shower had almost no water pressure. Overall, this was an average hotel experience, and there are better options for rooms in Barcelona.
"Barcelona Best Kept Secret"
Located right in the heart of La Rambla, this hotel is perfectly positioned with everything you need nearby. The property offers excellent food, great drinks, and outstanding service. The rooms are good-sized, very clean, and the staff are extremely friendly, always going above and beyond. Highly recommended – this truly is Barcelona’s best kept secret, and you won’t be disappointed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Very Good Hotel in Convenient Location"
A very good hotel in a convenient location with helpful and friendly staff—special mention to Iris. The overall ambiance was lovely, breakfast was excellent, and the bar was a great spot for a nightcap. Our only minor issues were the air conditioning, which we couldn’t get to work (possibly our fault), and the shower, which is in a very slippery bathtub—caution is advised! Despite these small points, we would gladly stay here again.
"Cool hotel with front desk staff needing better training."
We stayed in the Colonial Suite, which was very spacious and included a wonderful outdoor deck and pool. The rooftop bar was excellent—the servers were attentive, the food was tasty, and the views were stunning. However, the room itself wasn’t as clean as expected and could use some updating. The main issue was the front desk. The staff we encountered seemed poorly trained, showing little knowledge of our room or how things worked. When the rooftop bar closed at 5 p.m. due to weather, the lobby bar wasn’t opened, leaving 10–12 guests waiting for service. The front desk staff were dismissive and even rude. Our ground transportation was mishandled: despite notifying the front desk of a time change two days in advance, the driver arrived an hour early. Similarly, a catamaran trip we asked to cancel wasn’t canceled, and the company called to confirm we hadn’t arrived. Attempting to reserve a table on the rooftop also met with rudeness, though the bartender happily assisted us and held a beautiful table. It seems the staff lack motivation or training, which significantly detracted from what could have been an excellent stay. While the rooms and rooftop bar were highlights, the inconsistent service left a disappointing impression.
Hotel 1898
A historic hotel located on La Rambla, offering elegant rooms and a rooftop pool.
Address
La Rambla, 109, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Website
https://www.hotel1898.com/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+34935529552