Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona occupies a former bank building of the mid-20th century on the Passeig de Gràcia, the grand avenue of the Eixample, close to Gaudí's Casa Batlló. From the street it blends with its stately neighbours. Inside, the Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola has worked in pale woods and soft colours, with touches of blue and yellow that recall the city's light. There are 120 rooms and suites, some with private terraces. Moments, the restaurant led by Carme Ruscalleda, is devoted to Catalan cooking, and Blanc handles relaxed Mediterranean meals through the day. Banker's Bar serves cocktails beneath a ceiling of old safe-deposit boxes, a reminder of the building's first life. On the roof, Terrat has a pool deck with views right round the Barcelona skyline. The spa has a moody, modern feel, with a pool lit in green, steam rooms, a hair salon and a fitness centre. The address makes the city easy, with Gaudí's buildings on the doorstep and the shops of the Passeig de Gràcia outside the door.