el Jardí
Pl. Sant Josep Oriol 1, Barcelona, Catalonia 08002, Spain
Why We Like It
If you’re a fan of history, you’ll undoubtedly soak in the classic nature of this hotel and its historic surroundings. Located in the Gothic Quarter, the ancient inn sits between classic churches, old cafés, and tons of shops. Inside, there’s not much in regards to frills – the rooms are small, there’s no bar or formal restaurant – but what it has is charm and that comes from the family who owns and operates the place and keeps it clean and ready for curious guests who want a fun entrée into Barcelona’s fascinating past.
Fodor's Expert Review
Nestled next to the 15th Century Gothic church La Basílica de Santa María del Pi, el Jardí is an ancient property in its own right that dates to 1640 and is the third oldest hotel in the city. This family run property is full of quirks as the renovation to turn this historically preserved building into the hotel it is today couldn’t have been easy. But those quirks bring charm, and this hotel is filled with it as you’ll find original brick archways, winding staircases, split level floors, and more.
Tip When you arrive, ask nicely about vacancies in the hotel and you might get a free upgrade if there’s room.
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Room
The hotel doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not, and they’ll let you know up front that the rooms are generally on the small side and don’t come with a ton of amenities. The good news is that the price point will make you forget those shortcomings as you definitely get what you pay for here. What you’ll find are linoleum floors, small TVs, outlets by the beds, and not a whole lot else.
Tip Request a room with a view. Many have large terraces or small balconies and you’ll get epic views of the square below and the majestic church across the street.
Bathroom
Tiny bathrooms are of the shower-only variety and there is a smattering of bath products – soap and shampoo. There are a few rooms with bidets if that’s your thing, but you need to request ahead.
Lobby
The lobby and entry are on the second floor of the building and leads guests to a breakfast area, but not much else. If you pay attention, you will find some of that original brickwork strewn throughout.
Dining
A continental breakfast buffet is served off the lobby and comes with croissants, cereals, cheese, breads, coffee, tea, and juice. It’s only 6 Euros, but if you book directly through their site, you might just get it for free.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The hotel is in the immensely walkable Gothic Quarter, filled with restaurants, bars, attractions, and shops. About a 5-minute walk is the Liceu metro stop, which is also on Las Ramblas – the most trafficked street in the city.
Restaurants
Don’t miss out on a trip to La Boqueria (6-minute walk), one of the best open markets in the world. Here you’ll discover every Catalan cuisine imaginable as well as desserts, pastries, breads, seafood and more. Restaurants are mixed with shops and it’s the perfect way to sample a variety of Spanish specialties.
Bars
Tapas and drink lovers should head over to Bar Lobo (5-minute walk). For more Barcelona history, hit up Boadas Cocteleria (6-minute walk), the oldest cocktail bar in the city.
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