Casa Bonay

Rooms

The 67 rooms all share the same style: minimalist and airy, with high ceilings and splashes of colour from peacock-blue bedspreads and botanical-print cushions. Simple furnishings (a low-slung bed, a rail for clothes) focus your attention on the beautiful original features - perhaps a restored mosaic floor, a panelled door or an exposed-stone wall. They might seem a little basic at first glance, but the attention has been lavished on what really matters: extremely comfortable mattresses, powerful rain showers, smart TVs with Netflix, tea- and coffee-making kits, and minibars stocked with well-chosen local produce. You even get a few magazines from independent bookseller Blackie, which flanks the hotel entrance.

Categories differ in view and size. We stayed in a Gran Via room, which had a beautiful tiled floor and large windows overlooking the street. We loved the look of the Courtyard rooms, which come with private balconies or glassed-in solariums, and face a large interior courtyard with potted plants and laundry lines – a side of Barcelona that you never get to see unless you live here. Some of these rooms also have sofabeds for extra guests. For most space, bag one of the Courtyard Large Terrace rooms, which boast a private slice of sun deck with loungers and an outdoor shower. Note that the Passage rooms face a passageway and are a little darker than the others, though they’re handy if you just need a good-value place to lay your head. Top categories also come with a yoga kit, a nice touch.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Foodies will be in heaven here with a range of outlets on-site for all times of the day and mood, plus plenty of excellent eateries nearby. The varied breakfast buffet is served until a decadent midday and features the likes of granola, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

The in-house restaurant, Bodega Bonay, is open daily for dinner. It's a lively space with exposed-brick walls, an open kitchen and reclaimed tables, and Head Chef Giacomo Hassan is garnering rave reviews for his high quality pan-mediterranean sharing plates. Signature dishes include sea-urchin royale, glazed eel with coleslaw, braised pork jowl or artichoke filo pastry tatin based on a recipe by the chef's Tunisian grandmother. The extensive wine list is another delight, with a strong focus on varietals and new discoveries.

If you fancy something lighter, try the single-origin coffee (Barcelona's first speciality coffee) and tempting baked goodies at TosTao created by a leading pastry chef. And do make time for cocktails beneath the soaring columns and decadent chandeliers of Libertine. In summer there’s a second bar, Chiringuito, on the attractive roof terrace, which also plays host to barbecue nights complete with DJs.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Grab a bike from the hotel (they’re free for guests) to explore the city; we cycled up to Park Güell, which has incredible views over the entire cityscape, and then headed down to the beach for tapas and sundowners
  
• Borrow the hotel's boat or one of their paddle boards to explore the beautiful coastline
  
• Plunge into the nearby Barri Gòtic’s warren of atmospheric medieval alleyways, emerging onto leafy squares lined with alfresco bars and cafés, or the geese-filled cloisters of the city’s cathedral
  
• Or head in the other direction to the wide, boutique-lined boulevards of Eixample. This is also where you’ll find Gaudí’s most famous creations – the weird and wonderful Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera
  
• Make for the cooling green expanse of Parc de la Ciutadella, just a short walk from Casa Bonay. It’s a great place for a lazy stroll and a picnic, and is also home to Barcelona Zoo, the Catalan parliament and a lake where you can hire rowing boats
  
• Also nearby is the renowned Picasso Museum, which focuses on the artist’s formative years, and the Museum of Chocolate, whose enormous edible sculptures will make your mouth water
  
• Hit the beach: the sands of Barceloneta and Villa Olímpica are a 20-minute walk away

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Theatre

Kids

Children are welcome at Casa Bonay, and the staff are warm and friendly to families. That said, there aren’t any special facilities for kids, and most guests are couples or friends.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Some of the Gran Via Large and Courtyard Large rooms have sofabeds that can be made up for an extra guest. If you have more than one child, you’ll need to take an additional room. Baby cots can be added to all rooms.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Casa Bonay is located on Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, one of the main thoroughfares in the Dreta de l’Eixample neighbourhood of central Barcelona. The nearest metro station is Tetuan, just a minute’s walk away.

By Air:
Barcelona’s El Prat airport is served by numerous airlines. Regular trains and buses run from the airport to Plaça de Catalunya, a 10-minute walk from the hotel; alternatively, you can take a taxi.

By Train:
Barcelona has 2 main railway stations: Estació de França to the southeast of Casa Bonay, which is served by trains from France (and which has connections to London via Paris), and Sants to the west of the city centre, which is the main terminal for intercity services from elsewhere in Spain.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.