A guide to luxury Barcelona

Barcelona is a cradle of art, fashion and fine food. And with the return of our direct flights there in the summer, you now have an even greater excuse to rediscover the charming Catalonian capital. 

From grand sailing expeditions to gastronomic journeys, here’s our guide to the finest luxury experiences Barcelona has to offer – curated exclusively for Cathay Diamond members.  

What to do

The most outstanding constructions of Antoni Gaudí – icons of Catalan modernism – offer exclusive experiences, such as tours with an aperitif at Casa Vicens or night tours with a concert at Casa Batlló . The city is also home to initiatives aimed at art lovers all year round. The third weekend of September is Barcelona Gallery Weekend , which is aimed at collectors, while auction houses regularly hold one-time sales. Modernism also defines the Palau de la Musica Catalana , a work by legendary architect Lluís Domenech i Montaner and a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997. This is where the city’s best operas are performed, while the auditorium is also home to the Orfeón Català, the city’s choir, founded in 1891. 

Even more exotic than all that modernism is the award-winning Mayan Luxury Spa . Located in the Palace Hotel (formerly the Ritz), it’s the only spa with a temazcal in Spain. This pre-Hispanic Mayan sauna works with the heat of volcanic stones and medicinal herbs, offering rituals carried out by an authentic temazcaltzin or shaman. The Natura Bissé treatments, by contrast, are from a local cosmetics brand founded 44 years ago. Try out its products in the spa on the 43rd floor of the Hotel Arts Barcelona , with incredible views of the Mediterranean. 

The sea is one of the city’s main attractions, but only a privileged few get to enjoy it from the most modern yachts and sailboats on the market. Companies such as This Is Med rent them with a skipper and chef on board, and complement the sailing with experiences such as wine tastings and winery visits. Winery Pereleda is an hour and a half by car from the city; opened in 2023 after an investment of 46 million euros, it’s located underground with a medieval castle on the surface. Its portfolio of visits allows you to taste the best wines and cavas in the collection. You can also get there with a helicopter from Mach Helicopters , which specialises in gastronomic and wine tourism flights.  

Where to eat

Three years after the closure in 2011 of El Bulli, the restaurant with which Ferran Adrià revolutionised Spanish cuisine, its former chefs opened Disfrutar . Today, it’s second on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and has just won its third Michelin star. Experiences are also served up at Enigma , where Albert Adrià – one of the most influential and innovative figures in world gastronomy – uses technology to bring out the best from local products. Its 25-course menu changes every month.  

Barcelona also has gastronomic temples run by long-time masters of Spanish cuisine, such as Martín Berasategui. His Lasarte boasts three Michelin stars for its delicious Basque recipes made with seasonal ingredients. There’s also design-forward Alkimia , an ideal destination to try traditional Catalan cuisine.  

The tradition of pastries also shouldn’t be overlooked. Try options like La Pastisseria by Josep María Rodríguez Guerola and Ana Jarquín, or Hoffmann , the winner of the Best Pastry in Barcelona award last year. 
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Where to shop

Along the Paseo de Gràcia, you’ll find boutiques from all the top luxury brands. But none has the history of Santa Eulalia , which opened in 1843. In addition to selling prestigious brands, it has its own tailoring and shirt-making atelier for men, earning it a place among The Business of Fashion’s 30 top menswear stores in the world. 

Another long-time favourite is Bagués Masriera , which was founded in 1839. It continues to produce a collection of Art Nouveau jewellery, a style closely identified with Barcelona.

Located in Poblenou, Barcelona’s most cutting-edge neighbourhood, Unusual Concept Store offers the best of local design, with shoes by Eight & Argot, furniture by Mobles 114 and Indoors and objects by DOIY and Octaevo. Visitors can also find products by a careful curation of international brands such as shoemaker 4ccccess and hand-made blown glass by Vanessa Mitrani.    

Where to stay

With a luxurious location on the Paseo de Gràcia, among Gaudí’s best-known buildings, Mandarin Oriental Barcelona combines the modern design of Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola with the gastronomy of revered chef Carme Ruscalleda. The hotel also boasts one of the city’s top spas. 

Close by, in the Gothic Quarter, is The Barcelona Edition , with interiors designed by Ian Schrager. Everything in its hundred rooms and suites, decorated with walnut wood and marble, expresses luxury. It also features one of the city’s most lively rooftop venues and an elegant classic cocktail bar. 

Monument Hotel is a Modernist palace in the capital of the architectural style. Its spacious rooms overlook the Paseo de Gràcia, while it boasts numerous premium experiences, a restaurant directed by Martín Berasategui and a spa.  

Also owned by Marriott, Cotton House Hotel occupies the 19th-century former headquarters of the Cotton Textile Foundation, retaining original features such as its large marble staircase and wooden floors. Its decoration, by Spain’s Lázaro Rosa-Vilán, is inspired by natural cotton and everything it evokes, from softness to delicacy, a hallmark of its exquisite service. It also has an outdoor pool.

More inspiration

Barcelona travel information