Clarion Pulitzer Hotel, Barcelona

Writing this review here in wet and windy Wales, it seems hard to believe that barely 2 weeks ago my wife and I were enjoying the sun of Barcelona. Its a wonderful city and our weekend there went far too quickly - in fact I think we spent more time picking a hotel than we did in Catalonia itself!

As I mentioned on a previous hotel review, choosing a hotel in a major city centre can be something of a lottery and can make or break a ...
...not above a nightclub which closes at 5 am. It helps to be near train and bus links, but not overlooking a station! By the time we'd finally chosen the Pulitzer Hotel, I felt I had a PhD in Barcelona and had seen more city centre maps than its mayor!

The Pulitzer has a great location, just off Placa Catalunya which is Barcelona's main square. Its been called Barcelona's version of Times Square or Trafalgar Square but I can assure you ... more

Writing this review here in wet and windy Wales, it seems hard to believe that barely 2 weeks ago my wife and I were enjoying the sun of Barcelona. Its a wonderful city and our weekend there went far too quickly - in fact I think we spent more time picking a hotel than we did in Catalonia itself!

As I mentioned on a previous hotel review, choosing a hotel in a major city centre can be something of a lottery and can make or break a holiday. You need to be near the amentities, but not above a nightclub which closes at 5 am. It helps to be near train and bus links, but not overlooking a station! By the time we'd finally chosen the Pulitzer Hotel, I felt I had a PhD in Barcelona and had seen more city centre maps than its mayor!

The Pulitzer has a great location, just off Placa Catalunya which is Barcelona's main square. Its been called Barcelona's version of Times Square or Trafalgar Square but I can assure you that its nothing like those two - its far quieter, more green and pedestrianised with large gardens and fountains in the centre. It also links on to the top of the famous Ramblas, the streets where it all happens in Barcelona.

The hotel is tucked down a quiet side street off the square. When you arrive, the first thing you notice is the cool decor. There's a lot of monochrome, black walls offset with white sofas and modern art on the walls. The friendly reception staff (who all speak excellent English if your Spanish or Catalan is rusty) are all clad in stylish black suits.

A glass lift takes you to your floor, and then its on to the room. Our room was spacious which is an unexpected bonus in a city centre hotel. The black and white theme is continued here although the monochrome is diluted with a bit of magnolia! The bathroom (which is usually very small in such hotels) was well designed and large, all black tile and floor, with a funky rectangular sink. Bathrobes and flip-flops were supplied if you really wanted to get into the holiday mood!

The bed was huge (much wider than king size beds back home) and very comfortable. Perfect for relaxing and watching the mini-flat screen TV on the wall opposite (although I did get bored of Sky News after a while and watched 'The Simpsons' in Spanish).

Theres an electronic safety deposit box, which saves carrying your valuables down to reception, and a small balcony which although is not large enough for table and chairs, has enough room to stand on and watch everyone heading for work before you go down for breakfast!

The breakfast room/restaurant is light and airy, with attentive staff supplying endless tea and coffee. Theres a wide choice - mostly continental breakfast (a wide range of pastries, cereals, cheeses) but also a selection of cooked food such as bacon, potatoes and scrambled egg. Its a very relaxed atmosphere, and the fact that it is served from 7-11 on weekdays (until noon on weekends) adds to this. Several tables outside allow you to enjoy your breakfast in the warm morning air. The food is excellent, although we didn't dine there in the evening, preferring to explore the city.

Next to the breakfast room is the large bar and lounge area - very comfortable white leather sofas around a small but well-stocked bar. There are also several bookshelves stuffed with books about art and the city. There is also a lovely roof terrace, with numerous sofas and chairs - although this was being renovated while we stayed there so we didn't get to use it!

The Pulitzer is an excellent base for exploring the centre - the nearest Metro station (Catalunya) is barely a 5 minute walk from the hotel door, and this is a major station that is on most of the Metro lines. You can also get an Airport bus or train from here (although don't ask me how, because we got mixed up and got on the wrong train - me being a typical bloke and not asking for help, etc).

You can also get to the top of La Ramblas in just under 5 minutes, and begin a leisurely stroll down one of the most famous streets in the world. Its quite an experience, a huge pedestrianised area lined with trees, packed with mime artists, souvenir shops and buskers. Plus you'll find every shop or restaurant you could ever need here. From here its just a short walk to the city's beautiful Gothic Quarter, all narrow streets and medieval buildings.

So, are there any negatives to this hotel? To be honest its very hard to find fault. I suppose the monochrome decor may not be to everyones taste - the room may look a bit cold to those who prefer cosy, traditional hotels, but we loved it.

Also, if your room overlooks the bar area, you may hear a bit of noise early in the evening, as both this and the restaurant are open to the public. However we didn't hear any music (only talking) and by the time we returned from our night out, the bar was empty - its obviously a meeting place for early evening before people dine there.

The Pulitzer is without doubt one of the best hotels that we've ever stayed in - spotlessly clean (I think the cleaners seemed to be working all day while we were there!), modern and very welcoming. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and the breakfasts were great.

We paid around 500 Euro (around £350) for a 3 night stay, including breakfast. This was an internet rate, and included a Saturday night which increased the price. However this was great value for money given the high standard of accomodation.

We were very impressed with the Pulitzer and would definitely stay there again, recommending it without doubt.

 

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