The Catalan city famed for its modernist architecture boasts a new monument to design: SLS Barcelona.
Virtually every part of the waterfront hotel is Instagram-worthy. Guests enter the lobby via a pink neon tunnel that looks like an immersive art installation. The lobby itself is decorated in SLS’s signature “playful” style, with inventive decor like a pearl-studded “flying” chandelier, tons of plush seating and a café that turns into a lounge with DJs and live music at night. It’s a social hub that draws a chic crowd.
It’s a welcome addition to Barcelona, which is celebrating “Gaudí Year,” in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. The renovation of his iconic Casa Batlló, a mosaic-covered UNESCO World Heritage Site on the famous avenue Passeig de Gràcia, was completed in 2025. A new contemporary art gallery will be unveiled this month in a previously shuttered second-floor space.
Another Gaudí masterpiece, the unfinished basilica Sagrada Familia, is a work in progress. The 564-foot-tall Tower of Jesus Christ is expected to be completed later this year, with construction on the edifice continuing through 2034. It is already the world’s tallest Catholic church.
On the sports front, the bustling city is hosting the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in July.
With so much going on, it’s a good time to book a trip.
SLS’s new property marks the brand’s debut in Europe, joining locations in Miami (South Beach and Brickell), Beverly Hills, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, the Bahamas, Mexico and Argentina, with Madrid and Punta del Este, Uruguay in the pipeline. The fast-growing lifestyle brand – an acronym for Style, Luxury, Service – is part of Ennismore, a joint venture between the U.K.’s Ennismore hospitality collective and France’s Accor group.
The Barcelona hotspot is located in the Port Fòrum district, a marina and entertainment venue on the northeastern edge of the city. It’s the official hotel partner for the June’s Primavera Sound festival, headlined by Doja Cat, The Cure, Gorillaz, Addison Rae, Massive Attack and others. Meanwhile, sea-faring visitors can charter boats and jet skis at the pier.
While SLS isn’t in the city center, it’s steps to the beach, a short stroll to the Diagonal Mar Shopping Centre and about 20 minutes by taxi or public transportation to major tourist attractions like the Picasso Museum and the Sagrada Familia.
More of a resort than a hotel, the urban retreat houses three seasonal pools (including two on a rooftop) and six restaurants and bars. A luxury spa is slated to open this winter.
Barcelona is known the world over for its fabulous restaurant scene, but it’s worth dining on-site. L’Anxova Divina, which serves delicious tapas in a colorful Gaudí-inspired decor, opens onto a terrace (the eatery is closed temporarily, but will reopen soon). Don’t miss the briny anchovies, crispy croquetas and homemade tortillas.
Mediterranean fare is on the menu at the elegant Lora, which achieves perfect char with its large wood oven and coal-fired grill.
For al fresco drinks, swing by rooftop bar and club Cosmico (open from May to September) or savor a conceptual cocktail mixed with unexpected ingredients at Kyara.
As for the accommodation, each of the sleek and spacious rooms and suites has a private balcony or terrace. The marble-lined bathrooms are particularly luxurious, with Venetian mirrors and Florio-scented amenities.
All of which is Instagrammable.
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