Up on the rooftop
The Cotton House Hotel is located in the former headquarters of the Fundación Textil Algodonera (Cotton Textile Foundation), an emblematic 19th-century building in the neoclassical style. Built for a Catalan bourgeoisie family when the textile industry was at its height, it was sold in the middle of the 20th century to the Cotton Producers Guild, which established it as the main meeting point for its members. At the top of the hotel is a spacious 300m2 terrace defined by its lush vegetation. The terrace is an extension of the restaurant Batuar, named for the machine that pressed cotton to eliminate its impurities. From the time it opened in January 2015, after the completion of a major refurbishment of the building, the restaurant was not all that popular. That is, until it was reported that Mark Zuckerberg had dinner there with Gerard Piqué during the 2016 Mobile World Congress, and attendance quickly picked up.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 670.
This exclusive boutique hotel is set in two historically aristocratic houses in the old Jewish quarter. With two separate terraces, it’s a great place to enjoy the summer nights. In the romantic square of Sant Felip Neri, shaded by acacias, one terrace preserves the original period charm of its location. On the fourth floor of the hotel, the other terrace, Roba Estesa, is an intimate space full of jasmine plants and soft lighting. Here, Hotel Neri organises concerts throughout the spring and summer, which combine jazz, blues, soul, Cuban rhythms and swing. See the complete ‘Let the good times roll’ programme on the hotel website.
Sant Sever 5.
Once the setting of graceful balls and royal banquets, Hotel Miramar is housed in an artfully restored palace from the Twenties. On the eastern side of Montjuïc, at the top of a steep cliff, the hotel’s grassy grounds offer a commanding panorama of the city and the Mediterranean. From its landscaped lawns, you can sneak into lesser-known retreats such as the Patio de los Naranjos (the orange trees that gave the courtyard its name were planted in the 15th century), and the Garden of Tipuanas that offers still better viewpoints from which to gawk. Façana Històrica, the hotel’s terrace, hosts live music performances every Friday and Saturday, June to October, from 9pm to 11pm.
Plaça de Carlos Ibáñez 3.
Although the H10 Cubik is on the constantly congested Via Laietana, once you reach its Terraza Atik on the eighth floor, you’ll forget all about the traffic and crowds below. The terrace’s relaxed ambience is enhanced by comfortable yellow wicker chairs, tree ferns and a small vertical garden. With spectacular views of Barcelona Cathedral’s Gothic spires, it won’t really matter what you’re drinking or listening to on this rooftop, but the H10 Cubik does generally boast one of the busiest programmes during Hotel Terrace Week. Every event has limited seating, however, so make sure you get there early.
Via Laietana 69.
Designed by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola, Terrat, the Mandarin Oriental’s rooftop area, was part of the overall expansion of the hotel that took place a few years ago. Displayed like ornaments, wide, earth-tone loungers line the pool, which runs the length of the roof on the Passeig de Gràcia side. The classic, sleek styling continues throughout the space, where both the atmosphere and the service are world-class. With stunning 360 degree views of the city, guests can recline with a cocktail in the tropical-feeling Mimosa Garden, or let chef Gastón Acurio transport them to the furthest corners of his native Peru with dishes such as classic ceviche, spicy yuca balls and octopus anticucho. Terrat is open to the public every night this summer from 6pm to midnight.
Pg. de Gràcia 38-40.