El Palace Barcelona

Liked: The staff at this hotel are genuinely lovely. From the concierge to the restaurant and bar team, everyone was kind, warm and helpful. That made the contrast with the reception desk all the more striking. During our stay, my wife and I both woke up covered in bites, and we suspected there might be bed bugs. We reported it to reception, hoping they would take it seriously and check the room. Instead, the response was dismissive and arrogant. We were told it was "very strange," and it was clearly implied that we were only after a discount. To be clear: we did not ask for a discount, and we did not accept one. That was the last thing on our minds. We simply wanted the issue looked into, for our sake and for future guests. A hotel with such friendly staff deserves a reception team that listens to guests and handles concerns professionally. I hope management takes this feedback on board and has the rooms properly inspected.

Liked: Amazing and attentive staff. Great sheets. Spacious rooms and bathrooms for a European hotel. Excellent rooftop and pool amenities. Great breakfast.

Liked: Great assistance from front desk manager Ines parramon

Disliked: Not so many staffs

Liked: Location and food

Disliked: There was a bad smell in common areas

Liked: I love the ambiance of the El Palace and the Spa is amazing. Breakfast is substantial and very enjoyable. Staff are welcoming. Everything is there for your convenience and the location is perfect close to the city centre but also far enough away to be quiet.

Disliked: I was disappointed that having paid for breakfast on my last day I couldn't eat it as the restaurant wasn't open at 7am.

Liked: Location was fantastic and rooftop facilities were very good

Liked: The concierge was amazing from the time we arrived till the time we left. Everyone from reception to our hostesses to housekeeping who showed us to our room as well as checked on us was amazing. They showed the utmost kindness and compassion for us as this was our first trip with our infant. They helped us move our bags and stroller as well as gave us recommendations on what family oriented activities we should do while we were there. The massage therapists were amazing also! Absolutely 10/10.

Disliked: The only thing that holds the overall 10 rating back is the Rooftop Garden restaurant. The food was good but not great. The wait staffed wasn’t very attentive when looking to place an order and forgot to bring take an order for two of the 5 drinks requested. At the time of our reservation, the restaurant wasn’t busy and didn’t become busy until an hour or so after we were seated and had placed our orders. Lastly, the restaurant tried to charge us twice. Once when we paid at the table and once again as a “room” charge. Thank goodness for electronic banking and digital statements. We had to provide a screenshot that our card was charged and dispute the room charge. I found it kind of disrespectful for a mediocre restaurant to try and charge us twice when their service was mediocre.

Liked: An absolutely beautiful hotel of old world Spanish tradition