Page 54 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)

BARCELONA

GU IDE

TH E G UIDE STEP 1
Pick a Base

Selecting a hotel off the beaten
track allows for some mystery. I like
places with a sense of history, hence
the Cotton House Hotel, Autograph
Collection (hotelcottonhouse.com)
is my recommendation. It occupies
an iconic building that was formerly
the headquarters of the Association
of Cotton House Manufacturers. The
stunning vestibule at the Cotton
House Hotel is covered in mirrors,
thus ensuring that you look your
best on arrival. You can reach the
upper levels by either a grand
marble staircase or an architecturally
marvellous spiral staircase. The
historic public rooms include an
elegant library, several lounges, a bar

and a restaurant located in a luminous Clockwise: Casa Batlló is one of the
glass conservatory, and a 300-square- marvels on Passeig de Gràcia;
metre terrace with lush vegetation. STEP 3 Picasso Museum is one of the many
art hubs at the El Born district; the
Pick Your Sin historic Cotton House Hotel. CLOCKWISE: MIQUEL BENITEZ/CONTRIBUTOR/GETTYIMAGES; ROSAIRENEBETANCOURT 10/ALAMY; COURTESY OF COTTON HOUSE HOTEL

PRIDE WRATH

In a city as beautiful as Barcelona, The world today is full of wrath.
where you’re surrounded by And any travel comes with its own
beautiful people, it’s natural to frustrations. So I needn’t furnish
indulge in some vanity and stop any more shortcuts. Instead, I’ll
at one of the many magical sights recommend an antidote to this
on Passeig de Gràcia for a selfie or sin, which I’m sure you’ll commit.
some luxury shopping. For truly The Spa at Mandarin Oriental,
creative pictures, though, head to Barcelona (mandarinoriental.
El Born neighbourhood, which com) is magical. In the belly of the
offers designer boutiques, cafes, hotel, an oasis of calm awaits you.
art galleries, and cocktail bars. From their signature massages to
the unique manicure-pedicure by
SLOTH

On every corner and in every plaza,
there is at least one open-air coffee
STEP 2 shop, opening up the possibility
Repent of lazing the day away people-

watching and coffee-guzzling.
Some of the best ones are in the
Before you commit your sins, it’s neighbourhoods of El Raval, Barri
good to pre-empt punishment and Gòtic, Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la
repent in advance. Head to the iconic Ribera, and La Barceloneta, which
La Sagrada Família Basilica—Antonio make up the old city, and also on
Gaudí’s greatest project that’s been the Rambla de Catalunya, which is
under construction since 1882. parallel to Passeig de Gràcia.

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