Soft sounds of Spanish guitar drift through the city streets of Barcelona, wafting through iron railings and coming to rest at my feet as I soak up the spring sunshine from my balcony at Hotel Praktik Rambla.
Ahhhh. So this is Barcelona.
It’s not only the street music and access to Spanish sunshine that fills this boutique hotel with Barcelona beauty.
Hotel Praktik Rambla
The property’s modernist building echoes familiarity to the nearby homes redesigned by architect Antoni Gaudí, and walking through the arched ceilings, sculpted pillars and intricately carved moldings of the hotel entrance feels a bit like a step back into Gaudi’s age, when imagination and elegance fused with rampant possibilities.
Inside, oversized lamps illuminate the space from overhead and large, antique-washed wooden doors loom fancifully at the end of hallways.
The contrast between modernity and days gone by is ever present, as posh couches, tables and beds blend softly with original 19th century tiled floors.
Step out onto the terrace, drenched in sunshine, which comes complete with a rock fountain, an emblem that is oh so Barcelona. Yes, the heart of Barcelona is seemingly dripping from every pore of the Hotel Praktik Rambla, making a stay here an immersion into Catalan architecture and culture.
And with a central location in the Eixample district, the hotel is also easily accessible to all the attractions that give Barcelona its unique sense of magic.
Located on La Rambla, one of the most frequented streets in Spain’s second-largest city, the hotel is less than a five-minute walk from Plaça de Catalunya and a short stroll to the pedestrian, tree-lined section of the street, Boqueria Market and beaches. One of Gaudí’s most famous houses, Casa Batlló, is just two streets away and his famous unfinished cathedral, La Sagrada Família is also within walking distance.
During my recent stay at Hotel Praktik Rambla I made one of the superior double rooms my temporary quarters as I enjoyed the city on a long weekend with my mom, who came to visit me from Maryland.
The room had plenty of space for two and we enjoyed the hotel’s accessibility to the major sights and enjoying the breeze of Barcelona’s nights from the balcony after a long day of sight seeing.
Since moving to Europe I have become a coffee addict, and so I really appreciated the hotel’s complimentary coffee bar.
For an additional fee, guests can enjoy a large breakfast buffet. The buffet comes complete with one of my favorite breakfast foods—scrambled eggs. I’ve been in Europe seven months now and you wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to find this American breakfast staple. After several months without, the scrambled eggs were a wonderful treat.
Another favorite feature of mine is the hotel’s large common area with a long wooden table and rows of books. The hotel has a healthy supply of guidebooks and free WIFI, and so I made use of this space at night to plan the next day’s itinerary.
Bright, airy and spacious, Hotel Praktik Rambla is an affordable luxury accommodation and will provide you with a stay that is quintessential Barcelona.
The Praktik family of hotels is opening another Barcelona property in April. Hotel Praktik Bakery, which incorporates a working bakery into the framework of the hotel, is now accepting reservations.
Note: I received a complimentary stay at Hotel Praktik Rambla. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
