Grand Hyatt Barcelona hotel review: a landmark five-star perfect for foodies
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Score 8/10The sharp, art deco feel continues in the 465 rooms, which swing from fresh, good-sized Queens (making space for desks and cosy seating corners) to palatial upper-floor suites where freestanding bathtubs sit in the window. Expect calming cream palettes, exposed wood, gold trim and angular-shaped furnishings, and lots more colour, character and views of Barcelona sprawling below in higher categories such as Premium.
Thoughtfully partitioned bathrooms have walk-in rain showers, oversized mirrors and a stash of full-sized products by the beloved Barcelona brand Natura Bissé. For anyone travelling with children, King rooms have the option of an extra bed and dogs are also welcomed with furry-friend kits that include beds, bowls and snacks.Score 8/10The excellent on-site dining scene is one of the hotel's big attractions, pulling in a well-heeled local crowd alongside business types and holidaying guests. The creative Peruvian Maymanta restaurant sweeps across the indoor-outdoor rooftop up on the 19th floor. It's a smart-casual spot specialising in sharing-style menus made with local ingredients, such as zingy fresh-catch ceviche, and its original cocktails can be sipped on the alfresco deck overlooking the city.
There's a more relaxed all-day tapas bar for croquettes, patatas bravas and decadent breakfasts with Catalan flair, along with a laid-back, garden-fringed pool bar and a library-themed café serving beans from the Barcelona-based shop, Hidden Coffee Roasters. But the big ticket is the plush steakhouse Leña, the work of superstar Andalusian chef Dani García and known especially for its grilled meats and vegetables (perhaps fresh leeks or Malaga-grown avocado).
• Discover our full guide to Barcelona• Best restaurants in Barcelona
Score 9/10 Barcelona's urban buzz feels worlds away from the chic adults-only Oasis Spa, which is run by Natura Bissé and has a sprawling thermal circuit surrounded by smoked-mirror walls and lush greenery. Laze away an afternoon in the metallic pool, steam room, sauna, hot tub, ice room and cold plunge pool, or try one of the treatments, including soothing vitamin C facials and body wraps. A long, sparkling turquoise pool hidden out the back provides a green haven for switching right off. There's also a well-stocked 24-hour gym.
Score 7/10You're in Les Corts, a smart and green part of western Barcelona, best known as the home of Camp Nou, FC Barcelona's stadium. There aren't any other major sights on the doorstep, and staying in this business-orientated pocket of town means swapping city-centre crowds for a quieter setting and more local-focused bars, restaurants and markets. The Monastery of Pedralbes, a jewel of Catalan gothic architecture, is a 20-minute walk away, and the surrounding area has a string of untouristy gardens to explore. There's even a small taste of Gaudí at the landmark Pavellons Guell gateway, just five minutes from the hotel. Efficient metro and bus links zip into Barcelona's historic centre in about 20 minutes — or take a 15-minute taxi.
Price room-only doubles from £175Restaurant mains from £22Family-Friendly YAccessible Y
Isabella Noble was a guest of Grand Hyatt Barcelona (hyatt.com)
• More great hotels in Barcelona• Best affordable hotels in Barcelona
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Times
12 minutes ago
- Times
And so to Vienna, the last waltz on my epic Grand Tour
I'm not sure why the British ambassador to Austria agreed to meet me. I hadn't even sent a letter of introduction from a reputable sponsor, as Grand Tourists once did, begging diplomats for an audience in the cities they visited. 'A young man with limited German,' mine would have read. 'In fact, a limited young man — but desirous of learning statecraft.' Instead I sent an email. Yet here I am, in the embassy on Jauresgasse in Vienna, being shown around by Lindsay Skoll, also the UK's permanent representative to the UN. I'm doing my best to put my company at ease, as instructed by Thomas Ka, the etiquette expert I had met in Paris. I seem to have succeeded: Skoll is talking for Britain. 'What you want as an ambassador is the ability to convene,' she says, leading me into a grand dining room where she hosts dignitaries. The walls are hung with portraits of her predecessors: solemn, patrician men. I wonder what they'd have made of Skoll — ebullient, humble and a bit of a mischief-maker. 'As fun, you always seat the French ambassador here,' she says, gesturing to a chair opposite a painting of Wellington at Waterloo. 'And you wait until they notice. We always have a laugh.' Talk turns to Vienna's ball season, which peaks in winter and includes a diplomatic ball for waltzing and networking. 'It isn't just some elitist thing,' Skoll says. 'It looks delightfully whimsical and old-school but still holds real currency today.' I ask if I can come. To my surprise she says yes. Before my tour I'd never have dared; aristocratic living breeds dangerous levels of confidence. Now the end has begun. I had arrived from Venice by train the day before. Past Verona, with its church domes and bell towers, the Adige River joined us, a constant companion into the foothills of the Alps. The hills grew steeper, cultivated with vines, their cordons lifted like pleading arms to the sun. Then came Alpine meadows, gossamer waterfalls and the Brenner Pass — once one of the few land routes out of Italy, where porters hauled Grand Tourists in sedan chairs. I took it all in from my first-class cabin. By now I was convinced that rail is the best way to travel through Europe; but the network of railway lines that made my trip possible also doomed the Grand Tour by opening up the Continent. Besieged by the masses, aristocrats retreated into the fortress of the Alps. Their last stand still echoes in the brays of après-skiers. After my ten-hour journey, the first thing I did in Vienna was see a man about a horse. That man, in tweed and a bowler hat, met me outside my hotel: the Sacher, a grande dame as decadent as the sachertorte cake invented by one of the Sacher family. He ushered me into a carriage, or fiaker, with a bottle of grüner veltliner chilling in a bucket on a table (£200 for 40 minutes, for up to four people; We trotted through the city, horns blaring behind us, across the Hofburg imperial gardens, en route to the Golden Hall of the Musikverein — Vienna's most prestigious concert venue — for an evening of Mozart. I disembarked and collected my ticket: a supérieur seat in the front row, so the music would reach me sooner than the masses (from £60pp; 'I'm glad someone else dressed up,' said William Felton, 62 — a dashing Wisconsinite in a tailcoat — nodding at my bow tie as I sat down. But we were both shown up when the orchestra appeared in baroque costume and powdered wigs. After a hush the music began, enriched by the hall's renowned acoustics. I drifted into a state of reflection on my tour. It is one thing to do the original Grand Tour; a modern Grand Tourist, though, explores not just stone relics but the ruins of a mindset. From the 17th century, posh youths ventured overseas, eager to prove their superiority to a Britain that still indulged the idea. Yet even in the Tour's earliest days, a moral revolution was beginning to grip Europe. • Read our full guide to Vienna The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that aristocratic values were quietly recast by the disenfranchised. Nobility became arrogance, pride became vanity, and humility and equality were elevated to virtues. In England Puritans sneered at peacocking Cavaliers; in France revolutionaries gave nobles a free trim. The modern western mindset was gradually born, and it's why the prancing of Grand Tourists strikes us as ridiculous. As the final piece, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, played, my welling eyes were dams about to burst. I was still humming it the following day when I met the dance tutor Aga Bohun for a lesson in the Viennese waltz. Only late Grand Tourists performed the dance, Bohun explained; it didn't enter polite society until the Congress of Vienna in 1814 (from £41pp for a 50‑minute workshop; Its debut caused a minor scandal, and I could see why. Bohun drew my body perilously close and placed my right hand on her waist. Then she eased me into those famous orbital steps, telling me to move with force towards her, which promised a head-on collision until, at the last second, she slipped gracefully away. Then came the handover. 'You lead and I follow,' she said, as we rehearsed in silence ahead of our finale: The Blue Danube, by the Viennese maestro Strauss, at a proper ballroom pace. Gaining in confidence, I managed a few half-turns at speed before swirling into an elegant exit step. 'Well done!' Bohun said afterwards, pressing play on her stereo. As Strauss filled the room, she explained one last tradition. 'At a ball you must ask the lady to dance,' she explained. 'Offer your right hand and then ask, 'Darf ich bitten?' It means, 'May I have this dance?' And then you perform a hand-kiss.' Bohun fell silent, as if to demonstrate the waltz's commanding principle: the man must take control. Suddenly panic gripped me. But there was someone in the room to help: the amused spirit of Thomas Ka. 'You must kiss but not kiss, touch but not touch,' he said, wagging his finger. I took a deep breath. 'Darf ich bitten?' I asked Bohun, extending my arm, finding her hand. I bowed my head. I had been outfenced in Paris, blistered in the Alps, wine-soaked in Rome and bled dry in Venice. But when I rose, here in Vienna, I like to think I rose as something resembling a Ling was a guest of Byway, which has ten nights' B&B from £2,630pp, including rail travel from the UK ( and Hotel Sacher Vienna, which has room-only doubles from £509 ( • Part one: the most unusual way to see Paris• Part two: the off-piste way to see the Alps• Part three: a novel way to see Rome and an eye-opening art class• Part four: the beautiful spot on my Grand Tour that left me speechless
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Eva Longoria, 50, sizzles in barely-there bikini and sheer romper as she enjoys family getaway in Spain
Eva Longoria put on a sizzling display in a plunging ensemble as she enjoyed a day out in Marbella, Spain with her family. The 50-year-old Desperate Housewives alum - who recently went bra-free during a stroll - was joined by her husband Jose Baston and their son Santiago, seven, as they soaked up the warm sunshine. The actress showed off her toned legs wearing a sheer white romper that had a low plunging neckline on the front. Underneath, the mom-of-one sported a skimpy white bikini top as well as matching bottoms. Eva slipped into a pair of open-toed sandals and accessorized the outfit with a pair of dangly earrings as well as a gold necklace with a cross-shaped pendant on the front. The Hollywood star additionally carried a wicker purse over her left shoulder while a stylish hat was placed on top of her brunette locks that flowed down in light waves. Eva Longoria, 50, put on a sizzling display in a plunging ensemble as she enjoyed a day out in Marbella, Spain with her family The Desperate Housewives alum was joined by her husband Jose Baston and their son Santiago, seven, as they soaked up the warm sunshine Eva - who has been spending most of the summer along the Spanish coast - enjoyed a walk outdoors with her loved ones. At one point, the Land Of Women star flashed a cheerful smile during the lighthearted excursion. She also indulged in a bit of shopping as she visited a nearby vendors and picked up a few items. The star has been spending her time abroad at homes in both Mexico and Spain following Trump's U.S. presidential win late last year. 'I had my whole adult life here,' Eva told Marie Claire about living in California, before opening up about how it has changed over the years. 'Whether it's the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s**t on California - it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.' She continued, 'I'm privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren't so lucky. They're going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.' During her recent time in Spain, the beauty was seen getting her steps in during a power walk in Marbella last week and also glammed up for the Global Gift Gala at Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá. The actress showed off her toned legs wearing a sheer white romper that had a low plunging neckline on the front Eva slipped into a pair of open-toed sandals and accessorized the outfit with a pair of dangly earrings as well as a gold necklace with a cross-shaped pendant on the front The Hollywood star additionally carried a wicker purse over her left shoulder while a stylish hat was placed on top of her brunette locks that flowed down in light waves Eva - who has been spending most of the summer along the Spanish coast - enjoyed a walk outdoors with her loved ones She also indulged in a bit of shopping as she visited a nearby vendors and picked up a few items The star has been spending her time abroad at her homes in both Mexico and Spain following Trump's U.S. presidential win late last year She also flaunted her summer-ready body in a fashionable bikini as she spent time by the water - five months after celebrating her 50th birthday in March. While talking to People in April, Eva opened up about the milestone and gushed, 'I'm having a moment. 'My skin's having a moment, I feel like my eyebrows are having a moment, I feel the healthiest I've ever been - it feels amazing.' The actress further reflected on how she has been focusing on her heath and explained, 'I travel, I exercise, I'm running up and down with my 6-year-old.' Eva and husband Jose welcomed their son Santiago in 2018 - who officially turned seven-years-old in June. 'I want to be able to do those things as long as I can. Your life when you're young should be about saying yes to everything. Now that I'm 50, it's about saying no and curating what I want my life to look like.' When it comes to fitness and self-care, the star expressed to Marie Claire that she often does cold plunges, meditation, journaling and also strength-training. 'I wake up with the sun; I'm doing the grounding; I have an Oura ring to track deep sleep; I'm taking magnesium and other supplements.' She continued, 'I'm privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren't so lucky. They're going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them' Eva is seen looking at toys as she stopped by one of the many vendors along the Spanish coast this week While talking to People in April, Eva opened up about the milestone and gushed, 'I'm having a moment' 'I want to be able to do those things as long as I can. Your life when you're young should be about saying yes to everything. Now that I'm 50, it's about saying no and curating what I want my life to look like,' the actress explained When it comes to fitness and self-care, the star expressed to Marie Claire that she often does cold plunges, meditation, journaling and also strength-training She continued, 'I'm doing everything. Not because I don't want to age but because I want to age' She continued, 'I'm doing everything. Not because I don't want to age but because I want to age.' While Eva has been spending her time abroad with her family, the star has been keeping busy in front of the camera as well. The beauty recently appeared in the comedic film Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip which was released on Disney+ back in March. She starred alongside other cast members such as Jesse Garcia, Paulina Chavez, Cheech Marin and Thom Nemer. And in April, her CNN docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain premiered and concluded in June following eight episodes. Throughout the series, the actress explored a number of cities in the country including Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, Galicia and San Sebastian. Eva and husband Jose welcomed their son Santiago in 2018 - who officially turned seven-years-old in June; the actress seen with her son in 2024 in Abu Dhabi And in April, her CNN docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain premiered and concluded in June following eight episodes Eva expressed in a statement, per CNN: 'Spain's rich culture, passionate people and bold and diverse cuisines have captivated me as long as I can remember, especially knowing that one of my Mexican-American ancestors has deep roots in this remarkable country. 'The opportunity to immerse myself in Spain's many regions, to discover its fascinating history, to indulge in its dynamic culinary traditions and innovations has been nothing short of exhilarating. 'I am so excited to finally share this incredible journey with the world!' Eva is set to travel to France for the upcoming season of Searching For - which will air next year in 2026.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
The ‘before holiday' job you need to avoid doing this summer – it will end up costing you more in the long run
EVERY homeowner carries out tasks to prepare their property before they embark on holidays. However, one common job could end up costing you more this summer. 2 Experts at leading appliance manufacturer Hisense have broken down the dos and don'ts for preparing refrigerators before jetting off. While the contents of your fridge may be the last thing on your mind while abroad, many people add clearing it out to their "before holiday" check list. It can be important to tackle this chore not just to reduce food waste and prevent any unwanted smells when you get back, but it also helps to save energy. Expert advice To help avoid any unpleasant surprises or a hefty bill when returning from a getaway, Matthew Glynn, Senior Product Manager at Hisense, shares his top tips. If your trip is set to last a month or longer, he recommmends unplaugging your fridge freexer altogether. '[It] can be a smart move to save on energy costs, especially given that this is often the most energy-guzzling appliance of them all," he explained. However, before you switch it off make sure to empty the appliance completely and give it a thorough clean. "This not only helps to prevent food waste but also ensures you don't return to any unpleasant odours caused by spoiled or forgotten items," the pro said. "Leaving the fridge doors slightly ajar once it's turned off can also help with ventilation and prevent mould or mildew from building up while you're away.' And if you're getting abroad for less time, anywhere between two to three weeks, you may want to take a different approach. Stop Making This Air Conditioning Mistake: How to Slash Your Summer Energy Bill The expert recommended turning the temperature on your fridge "to a slightly warmer setting" as it uses less energy, ultimately sacing you on running costs. Freezer hack When it comes to your freezer, taking an unexpected step can prevent a costly mistake. 'It might be surprising, but a full freezer is actually more efficient to run, as the appliance doesn't need to work as hard to supply freezing air," the expert explained. "Therefore, if your freezer is only half full, consider using bottles of water to fill the space so that you actually save on energy costs.' And if you're gone for just a week, simply placing a bowl of baking soda in your fridge can act as a natural deodorizer, helping to combat unwanted odours. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there. More on enery bills Plus, the easy summer energy bill swaps you can make to save up to £390. And the five "vampire" gadgets that drain £300 a year from your bank account. Hot weather appliances are also adding to your energy bills this summer. Plus, the most energy zapping appliance in your home has been revealed. And seven appliances that are not only adding to your bills but are also making your home hotter. 2
