Words by Lauren Murphy
Flying into Barcelona, even from the aeroplane, it was clear that the impressive Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower hotel was going to be a luxurious experience. The remarkable architecture, designed by renowned architect Richard Rogers, is an avant-garde architectural icon boasting a futuristic oval glass dome that offers guests the best 360-degree panoramic views of the city.
We recently had the pleasure of staying at this hotel for two nights before going on to our seven-night Mediterranean cruise, and oh, what a treat that was.
Located on the exclusive Gran Via de L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, it is the perfect location for guests looking to access the main attractions the city has to offer, while still enjoying the peace and serenity away from the hustle and bustle – the city centre can be reached within 15 minutes. It’s only eight minutes from El Prat de Llobregat Airport. We chose the location of the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Hotel as we wanted the best of both worlds: close to the city centre, airport, and cruise terminal, whilst still being far enough away that we could switch off and relax in the evenings. Being close to both the city centre and the cruise terminal allowed us to squeeze in as many sights and attractions as we possibly could in our brief 48-hour visit.
Hotel
The first thing you notice when entering the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower’s lobby is the vast, elegant and contemporary space they have created. The soft, colourful furnishings and beautiful botanic plants create a soothing and welcoming environment that takes your mind out of the city and transports you to a tropical relaxing paradise.
Complete with various comfortable lounging and work areas, there is space for everyone to get on with their day in a relaxed and bright environment.
Our check-in experience was seamless, and within minutes, Rodger, the hotel’s very own guest relations expert, welcomed us like family and proudly provided an excellent tour of our beautiful duplex suites.
Rooms and suites
The hotel boasts 280 exclusive rooms, including 41 suites, 12 duplex suites and a presidential suite. All rooms and suites are decorated and furnished to the highest standards with plush bedding and luxury amenities; we immediately felt at home. The vast floor-to-ceiling windows in our duplex suites were the star attraction, which offered stunning views of the city, with the in-suite Jacuzzi bathtubs being a close second star, as well as the perfect way to soak tired limbs after busy days spent exploring the city.
The rooms come well equipped with the latest technology to meet the needs of guests of all ages. Our tween and teen boys especially appreciated the streaming TV with Chromecast for on-demand entertainment, which meant they could keep up to date with their favourite shows and movies and provided a little bit of ‘peace’ for parents at the end of a busy day.
Guests needn’t worry about forgetting to pack toiletries as the hotel offers a wide range of high-quality, sustainable, yet luxurious amenities such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, face washes, and loofah sponges, to mention a few.
If you want the ultimate personalised sleep, the hotel also offers a pillow menu to ensure you are well-rested and ready to embrace the day as you wake, allowing even your sleep to be luxuriously tailored to your needs.
Exclusive spaces
One of the perks that came with our duplex suites was access to the hotel’s Regency Club, an exclusive and luxurious space built with class and sophistication in mind. The Regency Club offers guests exclusive benefits, such as access to the exclusive lounge, which serves a range of high-end food and drinks all day, private check-in and check-out and efficient work areas and private meeting rooms. We enjoyed stopping by the lounge to relax on the comfortable sofas while indulging in pre-dinner canapes.
Although for us this was a family stay, I could see the appeal of the Hyatt Regency Barcelona for those travelling for work purposes – with quiet, bright spaces, scenic views, and a range of conference rooms and facilities; it had something for every business traveller.
Food and drink
We started our day in the bright and vibrant Azimut Restaurant, which offers a wide range of delicious breakfast choices with a diverse buffet of locally sourced healthy offerings such as homemade smoothies, fresh fruits, porridges and yoghurts. Hot breakfasts were available, sweet pastries, and even a robotic-like pancake machine – that’s how to impress my kids!
That evening, exhausted from our first day exploring the city, we decided a pyjama party and room service was the best option, so we ordered from a wide range of in-room snacks and meals. We opted for pizzas, and they were delicious!
For guests looking to kick back and relax in a more informal setting, Axis Bar Lounge and Terrace offers a cosmopolitan and chilled space, serving up a wide range of signature cocktails created by the hotel’s mixologist. You can order authentic Spanish Tapas and snacks from their extensive menu if you’re feeling peckish.
On our final evening, we dined at the beautiful Terrum Restaurant. The sumptuous and inviting décor instantly wowed us as we were seated near the impressive, regularly updated wine cellar, which holds more than 70 varieties of wine.
The boys opted for steak and pizza, whilst Colin and I opted for the tempting tasting menu. Our experienced server guided us through a culinary journey of authentic, wholesome cuisine. Our favourite dish had to be the burrata with the freshest tomatoes and onions I’ve ever tasted. It was delicious, and the smoke-filled klosh it arrived in was impressive, too. My youngest commented that it was like ‘a magic show’, and I agree that the entire experience was mesmerising.
The star of the show of all the food and drinks offerings at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower has to be the Skyfall Cocktail Club, which truly transcends the luxury travel experience. Situated in the glass dome at the top of the hotel and designed by the accomplished architect Richard Rogers, the exclusive cocktail club offers arguably the best 360-degree views over the city of Barcelona.
The unique club comes alive in the evenings as guests take in the twinkling lights of Barcelona around them, in style. The botanic greenery and James Bond-inspired drinks menu come together to offer an intimate and unique experience. My favourite was the ‘Cosmopolitan Royale’ vodka, triple sec, lime juice, crème de cassis and champagne; I felt like a real-life Bond Girl, call me Luxury Galore.
Wellness
For guests looking for some rest and relaxation during their busy city break, the outdoor Sunset Pool is the perfect place to escape and unwind. Complete with relaxing sun loungers, an outdoor seating area with nifty hanging seats and a fabulous snack and cocktail menu, you’ll want to stay forever. The boys were so excited to splash around the pool as Colin and I sat back and indulged in a delicious cocktail as we watched.
If you are seeking something more energetic, you can use the hotel’s brand-new, fully-equipped gym, which can be accessed 24/7, so no need to break the gym streak while you’re away.
To do
Barcelona is a vibrant, bustling city, truly a city that never sleeps. Whether you’re looking for culture and history, family fun and adventure, or a little bit of local colour, there is something for everyone. We enjoyed the breath-taking architecture and work of Gaudi, the famous football club, local festivals and family attractions, such as Zoo de Barcelona and L’aquarium, which were great for keeping the kids engaged and happy. You could fill endless days in the city exploring, and it’s all within easy reach of the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower.
In a nutshell
The hotel was the perfect base for our city break and pre-cruise stay. We were able to reach all of our destinations with ease whilst being able to return to the luxury retreat of the hotel. Getting to our cruise terminal on check-out day was seamless. We left the hotel with a personalised map from Rodger at guest relations, which again was a lovely, personal touch and allowed us to get to our destination with no stress or fuss. We left feeling relaxed, pampered, and like we had truly made the most of our 48 hours in Barcelona.
Factbox
Address: Avinguda de la Granvia de l’Hospitalet, 144, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 934 13 50 00
Website: hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/spain/hyatt-regency-barcelona-tower/bcnrb
Image credit: Lauren Murphy Photography for Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower (unless stated otherwise)
