El Palace Hotel Barcelona
El Palace Hotel Barcelona
El Palace opened in 1919 as the Barcelona Ritz, a neoclassical grande dame on Gran Via designed by Eduard Ferrés i Puig. 120 rooms. It's an independent Leading Hotels of the World member with a Forbes Four-Star rating and a Les Clefs d'Or concierge team. Amar Barcelona, from chef Rafa Zafra, is the in-house restaurant; there's also a rooftop pool, a spa, and a signature bar.
Background
About El Palace Hotel Barcelona
El Palace opened in 1919 as the Barcelona Ritz, the city's first grand hotel in the Ritz mold, and it still reads as a neoclassical grande dame on Gran Via. Eduard Ferrés i Puig designed the building; it runs 120 rooms today. Unusually for a property of this vintage it's stayed independent, and it's a member of Leading Hotels of the World with a Forbes Four-Star rating and one of Barcelona's larger Les Clefs d'Or concierge teams. The kitchen carries real weight: Amar Barcelona, from chef Rafa Zafra, anchors the food offer, and the hotel was named Hotel Gastronómico at the 2025 Premios Condé Nast Traveler España. Rooftop pool, spa, signature bar round it out.
Dining
Restaurants in the hotel
Amar Barcelona, chef Rafa Zafra's Mediterranean seafood restaurant, holds 1 Repsol Sol and anchors the dining here with a menu built around premium raw ingredients and whole fish. Up top, the rooftop restaurant (Winter Garden in cold months) serves a rotating seasonal menu under chef Daniel Padró with pool and skyline views, while El Jardín handles breakfast and the Grand Hall hosts afternoon tea.
Nearby
Eat nearby
Facilities
Amenities
Consensus
El Palace Hotel Barcelona Ratings & Reviews
Details
Good to know
- 5-star Gran Luxe; opened 1919 as the Barcelona Ritz
- Independent, member of Leading Hotels of the World; Forbes Four-Star
- Named Hotel Gastronómico at the 2025 Premios Condé Nast Traveler España
- In-house restaurant Amar Barcelona by chef Rafa Zafra
- Rooftop pool, spa, signature bar; Les Clefs d'Or concierge
Location
Where El Palace Hotel Barcelona is
El Palace occupies its original 1919 building on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, designed by Eduard Ferrés i Puig as the Barcelona Ritz. The hotel's own site describes it as steps from Passeig de Gràcia, and the rooftop looks out toward the Sagrada Família. That combination, a grand 1919 shell close to the main Eixample avenue, with the skyline as backdrop from the roof, is the core of the location.
Carrer Gran Via Corts Catalanes 668, 08010, Barcelona
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the history of El Palace Hotel Barcelona?
- It opened in 1919 as the Barcelona Ritz, a neoclassical grande dame on Gran Via designed by Eduard Ferrés i Puig. It operates today as El Palace, an independent 5-star Gran Luxe hotel and a member of Leading Hotels of the World.
- Does El Palace Barcelona have a notable restaurant?
- Yes. Amar Barcelona, from chef Rafa Zafra, is the in-house restaurant. El Palace was named Hotel Gastronómico at the 2025 Premios Condé Nast Traveler España.
- Where is El Palace Hotel Barcelona located?
- On Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in the Eixample district of central Barcelona, near Passeig de Gràcia. The hotel has 120 rooms.
- What amenities does El Palace Barcelona offer?
- 120 rooms, a rooftop pool, a spa, and a signature bar. It has a Les Clefs d'Or concierge team and holds an environmental certification.
Ranked #4 of 43 Barcelona hotels by Guidavera's independent consensus methodology. Data verified 2026-06-20.