This sleek boutique hotel has a cool European vibe, a splendid rooftop terrace and a great location at the heart of the city.
Although this is a larger-scale boutique hotel (with 91 rooms), the cool, indie vibes are strong there. From the designer furniture to the promotion of slow food and the plant-lined rooftop terrace hosting DJs and aperitif sessions, the Pulitzer is hip with a capital H. The bedrooms are light and have a cosy European loft vibe, with fittings made from natural materials and elements in bright colours to keep things interesting. Freebies in all the rooms include WiFi, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and bottled water, while additional services include personal yoga sessions, in-room massages, and access to the nearby Holmes Place gym and pool. The Greenhouse Restaurant is bright, and decorated with wooden furniture and large plants; its innovative, appealing dishes are made using local, seasonal produce. At lunchtime there’s a good value set menu, while in the evening you can choose between á la carte and a tasting menu. If you’re in the mood for a drink, either head to the Lobby Bar or to the rooftop Pulitzer Terrace; both offer drinks, snacks and great music.
Location: Cunningly located on a small street that gives onto Plaça Catalunya, at the Pulitzer you can enjoy the buzz of being in the city centre but slip away from the serious crowds to get to the hotel. It’s easy to walk to many of Barcelona’s sights and while you’ll find a lot of familiar high-street shops in the immediate surrounds, you can also head quickly to more individual areas such as El Raval and Sant Antoni.
Nearby:
La Esquina: The name of this café-restaurant means ‘The Corner’ in English, and it sits just on the corner to the left of the hotel. It’s a great place to while away the time, people-watching as you snack and sip your way through gourmet coffee, top-notch cocktails, home-made cakes and meatball sandwiches. Open for breakfast, lunch and supper, the dishes are made with care using excellent products and can be accompanied by biodynamic wines or craft beers.
Sephora: If you have any kind of penchant for beauty products, you doubtless already know this line of shops. This particular Sephora was recently subject to a transformation that is the first stage in a redevelopment of all the company's European stores, making it even more of a temple for worshippers of cosmetics and skincare. As well as new audiovisual and digital elements facilities, you can get your shopping experience off to a novel start by taking a slide down to the lower ground floor premises.
Chök: With a full name of 'Chök, The Chocolate Kitchen', this is a place that wears its sweet heart on its sleeve. For churros, hot chocolate, doughnuts and the like that are made without additives and only quality, natural ingredients, this is the place to head in Barcelona.
Urban Outfitters: One of the official clothes stores for the young and trendy has its Barcelona branch just a minute's walk from the Pulitzer. For Levi's, Maison Martin Margiela, BDG and Adidas, among numerous other popular brands, you don't have far to go.
Good for: The unashamedly cool and hip: that’s you if you love contemporary European style, vermouth, live DJ sessions, riding a Brompton bike, and you always travel with your dog. And even if you don’t really fit that profile but do enjoy staying in places that focus on comfort, design and living well, the Pulitzer fits the bill.
Amenities: Minibar, Bars, Room Service, Free WiFi, Brompton bike rental, Restaurant.
Time Out tip: While El Corte Inglés is not everybody’s cup of tea, this rather old-fashioned department store has recently renovated its ninth-floor restaurant, which now includes numerous ‘stands’ where you can get dishes such as freshly made paella, pad thai cooked up in front of you, or create your own healthy salad. Pay for your food, grab a window table and admire the city from a new perspective.