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Hotel España
Sleep and Eat in a Modernista gem
This hotel first opened its doors in 1859, and in 1902–3, Domènech i Montaner redesigned the ground floor. Have a look at the well-preserved Modernista dining room, now the restaurant Fonda Espanya, decorated with a mural of sea creatures and mermaids with scuba flippers by Ramón Casas (they were painted over during the prudish Franco regime) cavorting around ceramic roundels representing the provinces and cities of Spain.
The bar retains a wonderful, massive alabaster fireplace by Eusebi Arnau, with allegorical figures and a pussycat.
The restaurant Fonda Espanya would be worth a visit just for the stunning decor, but the food's good too—overseen by 'gastronomic director' top Basque chef Martín Berasategui.
Text © Dana Facaros & Michael Pauls
Image by Manel