Hotel Arts calls itself an urban resort, and that is fair: it sits on the beach beside Port Olímpic, under Frank Gehry’s bronze fish sculpture, with two outdoor pools (one family, one adults-only infinity pool) and a spa on the fourth floor. Enoteca Paco Pérez holds two Michelin stars and is worth booking even if you are not staying. The old city is a taxi ride away, so this is a hotel for people who want the sea first and the sights second.
Address: Carrer de la Marina, 19-21, 08005 Barcelona
Neighbourhood: Port Olímpic
Good for: Stay, Dinner
Perfect for: Two or three slow days by the sea before or after a cruise