For a week in the shiny and coloured Barcelona I chose as a base for my trip the exclusive Cotton House Hotel, of the Marriott’s Autograph Collection group. The Cotton House Hotel is in the very historic centre of Barcelona few steps away from the luxury shopping avenues, the Rambla and the famous Gaudi’s “Casa Battlo”. As soon as I entered the fantastic main door of the hotel I have immediately been captured by the unique chic, elegant, luxurious atmosphere that you can breath in this splendid hotel, caracterized by a strong colonial design influence which is giving a touch of timeless uniqueness to the magnificent 19th century neoclassical building and that was a former Cotton Manufacture. Few minutes to check in and I was ready to jump on the elevator to reach my room number 406 on the 4th out of 6 floors, but my eyes fell on a room with a special light where an amazing ancient stair was going up like a spiral. I couldn’t resist to use it and enjoy it step by step up to my floor and a journey started.
At the first floor in fact you can find an ancienty biblioteque where you can laid down after a long trip as well as enjoy a the or an infusion after a genuine spanish dinner or even to read a book or work at the pc as I am doing surrounded by a luxurious timeless (and very quiet) atmosphere. Few steps through the fantastic halls of the first floor and there you are at the hotel restaurant, the Batuar, where you can chose to have your dinner inside to enjoy this unique atmosphere or outisde in the garden terrace if you want to enjoy a sunny day after a rainy week in Paris :). Whether you taste an healty salad or some “pan con tomate” under the sun, in this context which I would describe more as a resort-like rather than hotel-like, you really forget to be in the very crowded center of Barcelona! But then I went back to the stairs up to my room, which was very consistent and in line with the colonial-chic hotel design. The white was dominating the scene and everything from the fragrance to the bed sheets to the flowers was recalling the Cotton. As it was recalling the Cotton the tayloring service you could enjoy there! Yes, to respect the tradition if its origin the Cotton House Hotel is enabling you to make your made to measure shirt by selecting a number of super qualitative textures, designs, styles. How could a fashion addicted like me miss that? In 24 hours, that is their leadtime, I got my shirt!
But not yet finished, back on the ancient stair I continued my journey to the rooftop where the hotel experience is having its peak. We are on the 6th floor and a fantastic terrace with pool is in front of our eyes and we can’t avoid to enjoy the weather there. The best is yet to come, to reach the pool level you have to make 3 steps more and there you catch one of the best surprises of the hotel: a breathtaking view on the Barcelona centre and the legendary as unique Sagrada Familia!
