El Palace Barcelona

Barcelona's original grand hotel, opened in 1919 with César Ritz himself involved — the grande dame where Dalí, Hemingway, and royalty stayed, recently renovated with the original glamour intact. Request a room in the original building for the period details; the rooftop pool and terrace are the modern highlights, and afternoon tea in the lobby and the old-school bar carry the heritage. It works year-round in central Eixample. The history here is genuine rather than manufactured — over a century of grandeur, refreshed with care, in the hotel that effectively defined luxury in the city.