Astoria: a surprising hotel-museum in Barcelona
It’s hard to imagine when entering the Astoria hotel that two hundred works by an early 20th Century Catalan artist are exhibited in various rooms on the ground floor.
However, this is the case, and once you have crossed the lobby of the Astoria your eye will be irresistibly drawn to this incredible collection of illustrations by Ricard Opisso.
Common areas of the Astoria hotel
The exhibition room
In this room you will find the greatest number of Ricard Opisso’s illustrations. Your eye will not know where to rest among the walls crowded with works that come from Barcelona and elsewhere, and date from the beginning of the 20th Century. Feel free to relax in one of the comfortable couches while you admire the incredible private collection of Jordi Clos, president of the Derby chain of hotels.
The restaurant
This is a very attractive room with a beautiful bar and bistro tables. You can enjoy a set menu for less than 15 euros at lunch time and admire the magnificent posters by Catalan artists, while immersing yourself in the retro atmosphere.
The stairway
Oddly imposing, the marble spiral staircase that leads to the rooms, ends in a beautiful bright glass dome.
The terrace
At the top of the hotel you can enjoy a drink in the terrace bar, which has a little swimming pool (some might call it a pond) to help you cool down on hot days, and deck chairs for sunbathing and admiring the view of Barcelona’s rooftops.
Rooms in the Astoria hotel
The hotel has 120 rooms, all with air conditioning, heating, phone, minibar, safe, hairdryer, internet access and ADSL line.
There are two categories: standard and superior
The standard rooms are not very big, but the superiors are more spacious. Some of them even have their own private balcony. In keeping with the spirit of the hotel, some of the walls are adorned with pictures by Catalan artists such as Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí or Josep Guinovart.
- Top tip: if you like a bright room, insist on one of the rooms that doesn’t look onto the courtyard. Those are much darker although they cost the same.
Room prices vary a lot depending on dates, seasons and room type. Expect to pay at least 55 euros for a standard room. Note that breakfast is not included but there are a lot of nice cafés in the area where you can have a nice breakfast out.
The attraction of the Astoria has more to do with the beautiful ground floor and staircase than with the rooms, although these are adequate and comfortable. But a private art collection in a hotel is definitely worth knowing about.
