Hotel Review: The Barcelona EDITION
My first experience with Marriott’s EDITION brand was in New York City. I stayed at the New York EDITION, situated next to Madison Square Park, and my lodging experience was underwhelming. On my very special trip to Barcelona, I was hesitant to book the Barcelona EDITION because I wanted everything to go perfectly on the trip. However, I couldn’t resist its strategic location and the opulent nature of the brand; the hotel is located right by the Cathedral of Barcelona and Mercat de Santa Caterina, and its luxury ambiance was exactly what I was looking for on this trip. Instead of using Marriott Bonvoy points, I booked through AMEX’s Fine Hotels & Resort (FHR) portal, thanks to my AMEX Platinum card. I paid out of pocket because EDITION hotels are exempted from the free breakfast list, and they don’t allow Suite Night Awards either. In addition, $100 towards food and beverages helped since I wanted to check out their beautiful rooftop bar. Contrary to my initial concerns, my experience at the Barcelona EDITION was absolutely fantastic, and it remains one of my favorite hotels in the Marriott portfolio. Here’s my review of The Barcelona EDITION:
The Barcelona EDITION is located at Av. de Francesc Cambó, 14, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 elite night credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee.
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have, in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSMaWs?xl=cp19&mpt=v0
If you are looking for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card with a low annual fee, consider the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of five Free Night Awards after spending $5,000 in three months, each covering up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. I personally value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents each, making the 250,000 points offer worth $2,000. This is the highest sign-up bonus we’ve seen for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, and I highly recommend grabbing the card if you are under Chase 5/24. The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns 6X points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases every year on dining, grocery stores, and gas stations, and 2X points on all other purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card’s annual fee is $95, and it offers useful perks to offset the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 elite night credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status (this cannot be combined with 15 Elite Night Credits from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card above)
Be aware that 15 elite night credits from the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card can’t be combined with 15 elite night credits from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.
Please note that you can only earn 15 elite night credits from a personal credit card and the other 15 elite night credits from a business credit card. Thus, if you own both AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, you would only earn 15 elite night credits.
If you’d like to apply for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! https://www.referyourchasecard.com/252f/QJPU5UFB4R
The last Marriott Bonvoy credit card you could use would be the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. Considering that the annual membership costs $125, you get paid to have the card! The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business card’s annual fee is $125, and it offers valuable benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 elite night credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status
The Marriott Bonvoy Business card is the only Marriott business card on the market.
As you can see, the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 elite night credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSN1lx?xl=cp19&mpt=v0
Lobby & Check-In Review
As we approached the hotel, the doorman promptly assisted us and took care of our luggage. As soon as he opened the entrance door for us, the signature EDITION Le Labo scent welcomed us. The lobby was airy and bright, and the natural wooden floor and neutral tone of the lobby furniture calmed our busy touristy minds.
The use of wood design elements reminded me of the Austin Proper Hotel.
Aside from natural lighting, the hotel used accent lighting to illuminate interesting artworks and accent furniture.
Luxury hotels sometimes appear unapproachable, but artworks can break the barrier and allow guests to emotionally connect with the space.
The first floor of the hotel housed Bar Veraz, and its bar shelf was beautifully illuminated and reminded me of the bar at the New York EDITION.
The high ceiling of the lobby was further accentuated by the bar shelf.
The check-in counter was small but made of a gorgeous, solid black marble block.
The black marble front desk added an elemental variance to the predominantly wooden interior of the lobby.
The front desk agent immediately recognized my Marriott Bonvoy status and also explained all the benefits I would receive since I booked using AMEX’s FHR portal. I assume it was a combination of my Marriott Bonvoy status and the use of FHR, but I was upgraded to a one-bedroom suite. Thrilled with the news, we headed to the eighth floor, where our suite was located.
Living Room Review
The living room was cozy and let plenty of sunlight. The window space didn’t go unutilized, as the hotel installed a cute window seat.
The Barcelona EDITION utilized every space in the room, and other hotels should do the same.
It was a great spot to enjoy a cup of coffee. Speaking of coffee, the minibar had a Nespresso machine and came with elegant crystal glasses should you enjoy wine in the room.
A Nespresso machine always wins my heart.
The fridge was very well-stocked with various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but the prices were steep as expected.
If you are ok with paying the premium, the mini-fridge had all kinds of beverages.
The natural hardwood floor was coupled with a beige carpet that made the room feel warmer. The couch was big enough for three young adults to lounge, and gold accented picture frames on the wall added additional character to the space.
“Less is more” was what I thought of when I saw the minimalistic decor in the living room.
We found a welcome amenity on the coffee table — chocolate hazelnut treats.
The chocolate bites were airy and light — the perfect companion to a cup of espresso.
The general manager also left a handwritten letter, and I always appreciate when hotels offer a genuine welcome gesture because it truly elevates the level of care and engagement. Across from the couch, a solid wood wall housed a wall-mounted Smart TV, which also hid sliding doors that would completely separate the bedroom from the living room.
The dark tone of the oak panels set a mature tone in the living room.
The living room was a perfect introduction to the suite. The brand identity of the EDITION brand showed in subtle ways, and I moved on to the bedroom.
Bedroom Review
Unlike the living room, the bedroom was carpeted but had plenty of sunlight. The window also came with a window seat and a tiny coffee table.
What a brilliant way to optimize space. I genuinely adored this window seat.
The king-sized bed was “floating” and had a beautifully patterned leather headboard. The gentle illumination along the headboard was perfect for mood lighting, and each side of the bed was equipped with a reading light for additional brightness. The bed was comfortable and plush, and the sheets were very soft. The throw blanket was strategically placed on the edge of the bed, and the bed appeared as if it was copied and pasted from the hotel website.
The throw blanket appeared silky smooth, but it wasn’t as soft as I originally imagined.
The nightstands were integrated into the overall bed frame and had buttons to adjust ambient lighting brightness.
The headboard was made of beautifully patterned genuine leather.
Though they were tiny, each came with USB ports and an electric outlet. The outlet already had a universal converter attached to it, making it easier for international travelers to charge devices.
From the bedroom, I could see the colorful roof of Mercat de Santa Caterina.
Across from the bed, the wooden wall that was being shared with the living room had another wall-mounted Smart TV. There were sliding doors to either side of the TV, and they provided excellent noise reduction from the living room.
The sliding doors were solid and heavy and effectively isolated noise from the living room.
I appreciated the level of detail in the room, and it showed once again when the hotel did a turndown service at night. The hotel staff made sure to turn the accent lighting of the room and re-positioned the throw blanket so that it looked picture-perfect. The attention to detail indicated how well the hotel staff was trained and cared for the best lodging experience for hotel guests.
Bathroom Review
Because I stayed in a one-bedroom suite, it came with two bathrooms. The first bathroom was a half bath, and it was located right by the room entrance. The half bath was gorgeous; the single sink vanity was made of white marble and was surrounded by natural wooden walls. The bathroom mirror was a stunning gold antique mirror, and its deco style was heightened by the clean, wall-mounted column lights.
The mirror was an absolute thing of beauty.
The gold faucet matched the mirror, and it was seamlessly integrated to the wall. The toiletry was from Le Labo, and I am a huge fan of their products since they are gentle on the skin, not to mention their amazing fragrance. The toilet came with a handheld bidet, which was also gold-accented.
When I travel with a companion, I almost always prefer to have more than one bathroom in my room.
The master bathroom followed the same pattern as the half bath. The same wooden walls and white marble vanity with a gold antique mirror elevated the bathroom's ambiance. The faucet was also gold and wall-mounted, but the vanity came with only one sink. In return, there was ample space to arrange personal toiletry items, but I wish it had another sink to take the bathroom experience to another level.
The mirror totally elevated the atmosphere of the master bathroom.
The toilet came with a handheld bidet, and the master bathroom offered a walk-in shower and a freestanding tub. The shower came with both a rainfall-style showerhead as well as a handheld option.
The shower door was inconvenient to fully close, but the water pressure was excellent.
The water pressure was great, but it was difficult to close the shower door fully. The gap inevitably leaked water every time we took a shower, forcing us to use extra shower towels to soak up a puddle of water on the bathroom floor. As expected, the toiletries from Le Labo were fantastic, and I absolutely loved the signature scent.
Le Labo products some of the most fragrant products I’ve used at hotels.
Similar to what I experience at Park Hyatt New York, there was a bottle of Le Labo bath salts, which definitely enhanced the bathing experience.
A small bottle of bath salts was the key to the perfect bath.
For those who like to take a bath, the water gets extremely hot, so be aware of it when you fill the tub.
The freestanding tub was simple yet sophisticated.
Otherwise, the bathtub was deep and spacious for two small adults to fit in, and it was perfect for unwinding and decompressing after hours of exploring Barcelona.
Gym Review
The gym was located on the first floor of the hotel. If you have a moment, I suggest going to the ground floor and walking up to the gym using the EDITION’s signature spiral staircase.
The iconic EDIITON spiral staircase was gorgeously illuminated.
It is instagrammable and iconic and led me right to the gym. However, it would’ve been difficult to find the entrance door without the accent lighting since the door effortlessly blended with the wall.
It is easy to miss the entrance to the gym, but I loved how the door blended in seamlessly.
As with most European gyms, the fitness center at the Barcelona EDITION was small. A wall shelf had towels and room-temperature glass bottled water by the entrance. The gym featured a row of cardio machines by TechnoGym.
The gym felt foreign, as if I was transported to a generic hotel facility.
The ceiling was a bit low, and in my opinion, the gray-colored walls didn’t match the EDITION brand. I wish the walls went either fully industrial by using exposed concrete or were white and used solid wood similar to the bathroom walls in the room. There were two adjustable benches and standard sets of dumbbells for strength machines, as well as additional TechnoGym strength equipment.
The fitness center used TechnoGym equipment; they weren’t brand new but were well-maintained.
Towards the tail end of the gym, wooden stall bars, yoga mats, and gym balls were available for calisthenics and body-weight training.
A small dose of sunlight brightened this calisthenics training area.
I enjoyed this body-weight training area the most because it had a long window that let in some light. There were two big windows along with the cardio machines, but it felt congested even when the gym was empty because of the blinds.
Rooftop Bar Review—The Roof
The Roof is the rooftop bar located on the 10th floor of the hotel. It offers panoramic views of the city of Barcelona, but it closes at 10 PM every day, so plan it accordingly. The Roof had both outdoor and indoor seating, and we would’ve chosen outdoor seating if it wasn’t chilly outside.
The Roof brought similar wooden design elements and neutral furniture from the hotel lobby.
The walls on the outdoor deck were full of greenery and ambient lighting, making the atmosphere romantic and intimate.
Candles and green foliage created a vibrant yet intimate atmosphere.
There were comfortable couches and tables for guests, and the clear glass balcony walls allowed guests to enjoy unobstructed panoramic views of the city even when seated.
Glass walls allowed guests to enjoy unobstructed views of Barcelona.
There were some daybeds for two and a plunge pool, which would be perfect on hot summer days.
Grab a refreshing cocktail and enjoy the sun on these spacious daybeds.
The indoor space was limited, and you could either sit at the bar or grab a table on the deeper end of the bar if you were lucky.
The Roof presented a quieter and more private indoor space towards the end of the space.
We sat at the bar and ordered Wasabi Ureshi, which was made with wasabi infused Bombay Sapphire Gin and Umeshu Sake, and Roof with a View — Hennessy VSOP Cognac with St. Germain and ginger and apple shrub.
As a mixology enthusiast, it was entertaining to see the bartender create our craft coktails.
Both drinks were unique and refreshing, but they were on the sweeter side. The cocktails weren’t too expensive, considering the bar's ingredients, and the tab was covered under my FHR benefit of $100 towards food and drinks at the hotel.
Wasabi Ureshi was €12.5, but it was covered under my FHR $100 food and beverage credit.
Bar Review—The Punch Room
If you miss an opportunity to grab a cocktail at The Roof or simply want to continue enjoying drinks at the hotel, you can move to the Punch Room on the hotel's first floor, which stays open until 2 AM. The Punch Room is a speakeasy-esque bar and is a successor of the Punch Room from the London EDITION.
The Punch Room was heaven for cocktail-lovers; If you savor inventive drinks, you mustn’t skip the Punch Room.
The bar was shortlisted as one of the top 4 world’s best new cocktail bars in 2019 and was among the top 10 Europe’s best new cocktail bars in 2020. The bar was dimly lit with accent lights and was lined with oak-paneled walls, creating an intimate and mature atmosphere.
Wooden floor parquets and dark oak-paneled wall primed the bar’s speakeasy aura.
At the center of the bar, there was a Castilian-style pool table, surrounded by leather and green velvet furniture.
The buttoned-up nature of the Punch Room was dampened by creative artworks by Andrea Torres.
We sat near the bar and ordered a charcuterie board and EDITION Punch, Paper Plane Punch, and Spanish Milk Punch. The most interesting aspect of a punch was that each punch used tea as its base. You could experience oolong tea, earl gray tea, jasmine tea, and many more in delicious cocktails.
Specialty punches from the Punch Room will unlock new dimensions in flavor.
Each drink was absolutely delicious, and using tea as a foundation certainly added another layer of complexity and depth to the cocktail.
Every drink was beautifully executed, and I enjoyed complex flavor profiles of each cocktail.
The charcuterie board was made of delicious jamón and Spanish salamis, and we enjoyed every bite of them.
Accompany your cocktail with delectable Jamón ibérico.
The bar tab was again covered under my FHR benefit of $100 towards food and drinks at the hotel. The service was on point, and I recommend the Punch Room to anyone looking for an elevated mixology experience in Barcelona.
Breakfast Review
Complimentary breakfast was one of the reasons why I booked the stay through AMEX’s FHR, and it was served at Bar Veraz on the ground floor.
If you would like to grab a quick shot of espresso, sit at the bar for speedy service.
Before heading to the restaurant, I stopped by the front desk to confirm the allotted amount for using my FHR benefit, but no one was able to give me a clear answer. Then, before ordering, I checked in with a waiter, but he was clueless as to how much was covered under the FHR benefit.
Bar Veraz reminded me of the semblance of The Roof, and the consistent design details enabled a cohesive and continuous stay experience.
Aside from the confusion around the FHR perk, the restaurant's dining area was modern and used plants as sustainable accents.
The restaurant also had circular booths available for small groups.
We ordered a cappuccino and a cortado to start our morning.
The cortado was well-balanced: creamy and strong.
Both were excellent, and we quickly followed up with entrées: Shakshuka and Patatas Con Jamón.
Crispy, fluffy, and creamy — a wonderful start to the day.
Both dishes were tasty and hearty, and since they were served in warm Staub cast iron fry pans, the food remained warm until the end.
Thanks to the cast-iron pan, the dish remained warm until the end.
We also ordered a croissant and a bowl of seasonal fruits. The fruit bowl wasn’t anything spectacular, but the buttery croissant paired perfectly with our espresso drinks.
The fruit bowl was big enough to share but wasn’t as interesting as the entrées.
After I checked out, my bill didn’t indicate any charges regarding the breakfast, and I am still unsure if there was an allotment, to begin with. My experience could be different from other guests; If you were to grab breakfast at Bar Veraz, I recommend clarifying the FHR breakfast coverage with the front desk before dining.
Summary
The Barcelona EDITION was everything that I hoped for from a luxury hotel. The signature Le Labo scent welcomed us from the moment I stepped into the property, and the staff was courteous and helpful throughout the stay. The EDITION brand’s contemporary and elegant brand identity was expressed through the use of premium materials such as oak-paneled walls and white marble, and accent lights further spotlighted the opulence of the property. The one-bedroom suite featured beautiful bathrooms, and I truly appreciated the level of attention to detail in every corner of the room. Though the gym could use a little more sunlight, I enjoyed the romantic ambiance of The Roof, and the signature cocktails from The Punch Room were creative and delicious. The breakfast from Bar Veraz was flavorsome, but guidelines for using the FHR breakfast perk weren’t clear at all. Overall, I was more than satisfied with my stay at the Barcelona EDITION, and I recommend it to anyone visiting the beautiful city of Barcelona.
