A Nobu hotel might seem like an unlikely entry in the list of the cheapest, nicest hotels in Barcelona, but the city’s outpost of the luxury brand known for Japanese minimalism is surprisingly good value. It opened in 2019, in a similarly unlikely spot next to the unglamorous—but undeniably convenient—Barcelona Sants railway station. While you might not want to linger there for too long, the Sants neighborhood has been greatly improved of late, and now features great restaurants and wine bars, with central Barcelona within very easy reach.
As soon as you step inside, the setting is all but obscured by the zen fantasy of the hotel’s tapestry-adorned, double-height lobby, which features warm wood panelling that fans of Nobu will recognize as a signature. The rooms are equally familiar, with a muted natural palette, soft lines, and onsen-style bathtubs, but the views (especially good, as the name implies, in the Premium Skyline rooms) anchor the hotel in Barcelona, with jackpot glimpses of the Sagrada Familia and the sun rising over the Mediterranean readily available. The food, of course, centers around yellowtail sashimi and wagyu gyoza, which can be found both at the restaurant and on the city’s highest rooftop terrace, where there is also a small plunge pool.
Price: From about $289 per night
