Chic & Basic Born

Rooms

Chic & Basic Born offers minimalist, monochromatic rooms: white bed, white walls and dark wood floors. It all seems rather anaemic - until, that is, you start playing with the LED remote control which bathes the room in racy red, calming blue, vivid green or mellow yellow. Or set it to play a rainbow of colours if you can't decide - endless fun.

The larger rooms which we saw were more than spacious enough for a 2 people on a short break, though the smaller rooms might be a bit cramped, especially if you have lots of shopping. That said, a large, comfy bed takes centre stage in every room and we slept very soundly.

But it's the bathroom - if you can call it that, since it's actually an integral part of the bedroom - which is the piece de resistance. Roll out of bed, slip through another fibre optic curtain, and you're in the shower. Off to one side is a glass basin, while a separate cubicle houses the loo. It's fun and unusual, if not for prudes or traditionalists - though the beautiful Moorish tiled floors should please everyone. Slippers and a hairdryer are provided in all rooms.

You won't find a wardrobe, but there is a hanging rack for most of your clothes. A goodie bag contains honey and almond soap, shower gel, a notepad and a free cocktail voucher, plus some lollipops (yes, lollipops). Nothing is taken too seriously here, but you should find everything you need, presented in a quirky style.

Standard and Superior rooms have tiny balconies overlooking the street - more for the pigeons than for you to sit out on the stools. The road is noisy with the windows open, but you can close the doors and chill out with in-room air-conditioning.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is the usual fare of cereals, juice, bread, pastries and ham and cheese, plus the option to try to traditional pan tomat - a Catalan breakfast staple. It is served in the dining area, just off the lobby. Drinks are also served here throughout the day.

The local area is teeming with fantastic places to eat and drink, covering every budget. Cafe Kafka is a great option - its chef trained in a famous cookery school and turns out modern Catalan food with a twist. We also like Salero for curry, La Cuina de Santa Catalina for sushi, and Kitchen for a lovely environment. For cool modern Catalan fare, try Comerc 24, just 5 minutes away. Va de Vi on Caller Banys Vells is a well-known wine bar, stocking over 1000 different bottles, many of which you can sample by the glass. Try Gimlet (Caller Rec) for old fashioned cocktails, open until 3am daily.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• The Parc de la Ciutadella is situated at the end of the street. You can explore the Parc Zoologic and the arboretum amongst other things
  
  
• You can't visit Barcelona without seeing some of Gaudi's incredible buildings - Park Guell and the iconic La Sagrada Familia are easy to get to
  
  
• Visit the markets - Santa Catalina is the nearest to the hotel but the world renowned Boqueria is also easy to walk to
  
  
• Pop into the chocolate museum over the road for all things cocoa-related, or walk to the Picasso Museum but make sure you go early - this one is always packed
  
  
• Shop in any of the boutiques in the Born or the more glamorous designer stores on Passeig de Gracia
  
  
• Relax at the newly restored Arab Baths - steam baths, hammam and massages are available (22 Passeig Picasso, 902 555 789)
  
  
• Visit the magic shop on Calle Princessa - established in 1890!
  
  
• For decadent desserts and chocolates, head to Bubo on Calle Caputxes
  
  
• Hit the beach - Barceloneta is only 15 minutes away

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures

Kids

Children 12+ are welcome at the hotel but it does not provide any babysitting or other child services. There are a couple of rollaway beds which can fit in the larger rooms

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is located on Calle Princessa in the trendy Born district of Barcelona, Spain. It's a 15-minute walk from Las Rambas and Playa Catalunya, and just steps from the Old Port.

By Air:
Fly into El Prat (15km), which is served by many international carriers, see links below.

By Train:
For a more eco-friendly trip, take the mid-afternoon Eurostar from London Waterloo to Paris, then transfer to the overnight sleeper to Barcelona.

From the Airport:
You can take a taxi straight to the hotel or jump on the Aerobus at the airport. This takes you to Plaça de Catalunya, and from here you can catch a taxi which will drop you 100m from the hotel.

By Car:
It's unlikely you'll need a car in Barcelona, but if you want to hire one to explore the surrounding countryside, see our car rental recommendations. There is public parking near the hotel.

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

More on getting to Barcelona and getting around.