Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Catalonia Portal de l'Àngel

Converted in 1998 from a historic stately home dating back to 1825, this hotel beckons with its neoclassic facade and original grand marble staircase. The rooms have plank floors, decor in beige with touches of black and gray, and dark wood furnishings. For very little over the standard rate, ask for a double with a terrace, in the back of the building, overlooking the tree-shaded garden. The strategic location of this hotel is a mixed blessing: just steps from the Cathedral, the iconic Els Quatre Gats café, and Plaça Catalunya, it sits facing one of the busiest pedestrian malls in the city.