Hotel Review: Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection
The Cotton House Hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, and with its brand identity, the hotel is enriched with history and character. The property used to be a former headquarters of the Cotton Textile Foundation; hence, the hotel was named following its historical roots. The building’s elaborate neoclassical style from the 19th century was preserved during the renovation. I was immediately attracted by the property’s rich history and original interior design elements such as detailed parquet and boiserie, especially at suites. I decided to book the hotel using one of my Suite Night Awards, and though my stay at the Cotton House Hotel was decent, there was certainly some room for improvement. Here is my review of The Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection:
The Cotton House Hotel is located at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 670, 08010 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
Though my fiancé and I arrived around 11 AM, we were checked in immediately. The receptionist recognized my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status, and we were promptly greeted with glasses of champagne.
A glass of champagne to start my day!
Because I used Suite Night Awards for my reservation, I knew I would be upgraded to a spacious Egyptian King room. To my surprise, I was further upgraded to the hotel’s Ottoman suite, which could cost up to $1,000 a night.
You will be reminded the hotel’s history to cotton industry.
The check-in agent explained to me my breakfast perks and the layout of the hotel and gave us two drink vouchers, redeemable at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Bataur.
The drink voucher came in handy to top off the night.
Then, we headed into the lobby to explore the hotel's history.
The foyer was gradually setting my expectation of the suite.
The Cotton House hotel was once the former Cotton Textile Foundation. Even though it went through a major renovation in 2015, the hotel preserved classic 19th-century architectural and design elements, giving the hotel much character.
Take a moment and walk about the hotel before you check in to appreciate the details of hotel.
The lobby felt like a small museum; it displayed the history of the hotel as well as all the merchandise it carried.
The hotel presented mini-bar items and toiletries available for purchase as if we were in a museum.
I could’ve used an elevator, but I decided to use its beautiful marble spiral staircases and head up to the second floor where my room was located.
The spiral staircase was built in 1957, and I high recommend going up to the top floor and looking down from the above.
The second floor hosted the hotel’s in-house, Mediterranean-focused restaurant, Batuar, as well as the Library. The Library was where members of the Cotton Producers Guild used for meetings and as a social club.
The Library was a popular destination among guests to unwind and socialize.
The space was beautifully decorated, and guests could enjoy afternoon tea and bites during the day. The main room had floor-to-ceiling bookcases and beautiful original molding and art on the ceiling.
When you are at the Library, take a moment and appreciate the magnificent art on the ceiling.
While various seating options were available, they were mostly occupied by guests enjoying early brunch cocktails or afternoon tea. Moving deeper into the Library, an intimate room appeared. The room displayed numerous cotton textiles that were used to create shirts.
You could fine the tailor room at the deeper end of the Library.
Interestingly, the Cotton House Hotel partnered with Thomas Mason and gave a digitally interactive opportunity to experience exclusive fabrics.
Enjoy a glass of champagne or afternoon tea in the Library and transport yourself back to the 19th century.
Thomas Mason is an Italian company, and I wish the partnership were with a local premium textile company.
You could browse and feel actual materials before placing a custom order for a dress shirt.
The second floor also featured a concierge desk in the Gossypium area, which means cotton flower in Latin. The concierge desk remained empty during my stay, so I wasn’t completely sure if it was operational.
With two oversized table lamps, the cotton flowers were overshadowed.
The Ottoman suite was on the second floor as well, and luckily it was secluded, providing a layer of privacy.
Bedroom Review
The first immediate impression of the room was that the suite was huge. The ceiling was at least 18 feet tall, making it the tallest ceiling in any hotel room I’ve been to.
The Ottoman suite had a separate dining table, which came in handy when we enjoyed in-room amenities.
The floor featured the original parquet floor, and the ceiling had gorgeous decorative molding from the 19th century.
You can mesmerize the decorative molding from the 19th century in the Ottoman suite.
The sitting area had a black marble table by the entrance, and I found a piece of carrot cake, a bottle of Rioja, and a handwritten letter from the general manager. The cake was light and moist, and the wine was perfect when we unwinded at night. I always appreciate it when a hotel goes the extra mile to recognize a brand loyalist, as any kind gestures elevate a lodging experience.
The carrot cake was delicious and paired well with the wine.
The sitting area had a basic coffee table for a blue velvet couch, which could be converted to a sofa bed. An elegant piece of tapestry art was on the wall, accentuating the hotel’s history.
The couch could turn into another bed if you need additional space.
The chandelier was interestingly shaped, and while it wasn’t as functional as I expected, it certainly indicated that I was at the hotel’s prestigious suite. Across from the couch, a delicate media console discreetly housed a mini-fridge and a minibar.
I loved the woodwork of the media console.
The TV was not a Smart TV, and though I attempted to align it many times, it went back to being crooked.
The misaligned TV bothered me every time I looked at it.
Both the minibar and the mini-fridge were decently stocked, but the minibar was missing wine glasses as well as regular glasses.
It was concerning to see an improperly stocked mini-bar in a suite.
I was happy to find a Nespresso machine, but the hotel only provided two capsules per day. You could request more capsules, but each one would cost you €3. Moreover, one of the two free capsules was a decaf pod. At that point, I would much rather get a quality cortado from a local café down the street.
I’ve never seen a luxury hotel charging guests for extra coffee pods. €3 for an extra Nespresso pod was insane.
The bed was by Naturalmat, an organic and natural mattress manufacturer. While I didn’t notice a significant difference in my sleep quality, the mattress was comfortable.
The original fresco from the 19th century added a historic layer to the bedroom.
The wall behind the headboard featured a colorful fresco, an original piece of art preserved from the 19th century. Each side of the bed had a nightstand, but it only came with one electric outlet and no USB ports.
The hotel should install USB ports for charging electric devices or provide a hub.
Both the sitting area and the bedroom had a balconette overlooking Gran Vía.
The view from the room was peaceful, and windows efficiently sealed noise from the outside.
I initially loved the high ceiling, but I unexpectedly encountered the biggest problem because of its height: temperature control. Since my stay was in November, it was pretty chilly outside, and the temperature control could not keep up with the weather outside. No matter how much I dialed up the temperature, it was still cold in the room, making our sleep miserable at night. We called the front desk, and a technician was sent up to the room to increase the temperature to the maximum level, but it didn’t help much.
When I realized I had to sacrifice comfort for the opulence and exquisiteness of the suite, I questioned its worth.
There was no doubt that the Ottoman Suite at the Cotten House Hotel was unique. I genuinely appreciated that the hotel could transport me back to the 19th century by preserving stunning interior design elements; the parquet floor, decorative molding, and colorful frescoes were exquisite. Nevertheless, when I had to sacrifice the quality of my sleep, the originality of the room quickly deteriorated.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was smaller compared to how much room there was in the bedroom. The closet was in the bathroom, and everything in the bathroom was in gorgeous white or black marble.
You could find ample closet space in the bathroom.
The single sink vanity didn’t have much space for personal toiletries, but it had a tiny vase of cotton flowers, reminding me that I was at the Cotton House Hotel.
While the marble finishes in the bathroom were gorgeous, there was only one sink in the bathroom.
The bathtub and the walk-in shower were both behind the same glass door, and the shower had a rainfall-style showerhead and a handheld one.
The rainfall shower was refreshing and a fully enclosed door meant no spillage of water on the bathroom floor.
The water pressure from the rainfall shower was amazing, but be careful because the water could get really hot. The communal toiletries were by Ortigia, a Sicilian brand.
Ortigia is an Italian brand, and I wish the hotel used a Spanish luxury brand instead.
I liked their products, but I wish the hotel used a local or even Spanish brand to promote its presence.
While it is uncommon to see communal toiletries in a suite, every hotel should work towards reducing plastic wastes.
The bathtub was big enough to fit two young adults at once, and since the drain was by the shower, I didn’t have to worry about overflowing water.
I loved the aesthetics of the all around marble finish.
However, after taking a bath, I realized that there was mold along the tub's edges.
It was shocking to see mold in a luxury suite, especially in 2021 when hygiene was the number one priority for many people.
I inspected the bathroom further and noticed that the floor was full of stains. Because I traveled while COVID-19 was still very well present, seeing the hotel fall short of hygiene standards was concerning.
Gym & Pool Review
The fitness center is located on the top floor of the hotel. When you get off the elevator, check out the spiral staircase which was built in 1957. It is not supported on the floor below but rather suspended from the metal frame of the upper floor. Its airy design is quite mesmerizing to look at from the top.
Can you believe this was built more than 65 years ago?
The gym was very compact and had the bare minimum for a gym. I personally wouldn’t be comfortable if I were sharing the gym with another guest. By the entrance, there were some bottled water available for guests, but I wish they were refrigerated to keep them cool.
If the water bottles were refrigerated, it would be perfect for sweaty workouts.
The gym had a standard dumbbell set and an adjustable bench for strength exercises.
The gym was really compact, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable exercising with another person.
The gym featured a TechnoGym cycling machine and an elliptical for cardio equipment. The walls were mostly mirrors, and they made the room appear bigger, but it felt too confined for my taste.
The colorful posters added an interesting layer of retro vibrance to the gym.
On the same floor, the hotel had a small rooftop pool with a few sunbeds.
The rooftop pool would be a delightful outlet in the summer.
We didn’t use the pool because the weather in Barcelona in November was too cold for swimming, but it would be a nice place to relax and unwind on hot summer days.
The mini bar at the corner would provide refreshment to guests when the weather gets warmer.
I also noticed a mini bar at the corner, and a refreshing cocktail would be a great companion when lounging on a sunbed. Even though we didn’t use the pool, the view from the top was great, as I could see La Sagrada Familia clearly.
You could see La Sagrada Familia from the rooftop pretty clearly.
Bar & Breakfast Review—Bataur
On the hotel's second floor, Bataur functioned as a cocktail bar and a restaurant.
Stop by at Bataur at night to top off your night with cocktails.
At night we stopped by the bar right before it closed at midnight and enjoyed glasses of Cava by redeeming the drink vouchers from check-in. The coasters had a cotton flower printed on it — reinforcing the brand identity.
We each enjoyed a glass of cava before going out to Angle.
The next morning, we revisited the restaurant to enjoy a complimentary breakfast, which was covered under my Titanium Elite status. I had a delicious cup of cappuccino to start my morning.
The coffee was on point and was a great start to my morning.
The breakfast was buffet-style, and every item was fresh and beautifully presented.
The croissant sandwiches were flavorful, but I couldn’t get enough of jamón.
The cereal station featured various kinds of freshly squeezed juice and fruit.
I didn’t have cereal, but freshly squeezed juice was revitalizing.
I devoured jamón and Spanish ham and salamis, along with seasonal fruits and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Because it was my last day in Barcelona, I tried to eat as much meat as possible, and breakfast was no exception.
The dessert and pastry station featured financiers, various cakes, and croissants, which were perfect after my meal.
The carrot cake was the same version I had as a welcome amenity.
On warmer days, the restaurant opens its vibrant outdoor space, which was full of greenery.
I love how green the outdoor space was; it felt as if I was transported to somewhere else.
I could imagine the outdoor space being a romantic dining spot when ambient lights gently illuminate the environment.
If the Cotton House Hotel had portable heaters like the Barcelona EDITION, guests could enjoy the outdoor space even when on chilly nights.
The inside of the restaurant was as beautifully decorated as the outdoor dining space.
The outdoor dining area could be booked for an event.
It was more elegant and encapsulated the hotel’s historic identity as the former headquarter of the Cotton Textile Foundation.
The restaurant kept detailed molding on the ceiling as well as the parquet floor.
For instance, one area had glass wall cabinets, and I first thought the hotel displayed books in them. When I looked closely, I learned that they were different types of white textiles.
The accent lighting gently illuminated various types of white textiles.
Another area exhibited rows of fine china and crystal glasses, and the color combination was on point.
I loved the wonderful color combination of the crystal glasses and fine china.
The only gripe was that the service was very slow because only one waitress was on the floor. She was doing everything she could to accommodate guests, but it wasn’t enough to handle everyone. The staff shortage could be an aftermath of COVID-19, and I hope the hotel has resolved the issue when I visit the hotel next time.
Summary
The Cotton House Hotel embodied what an Autograph Collection property should be. Being a historic establishment from the 19th century, the hotel successfully preserved many original interior design elements that spotlighted the luxury from the past; from detailed parquet flooring and colorful frescoes to boiserie to decorative moldings, I was able to experience pieces of history during my stay. I was fortunate to stay at the Ottoman suite to experience its remarkably detailed finishes and art, and the beautiful marble-finished bathroom featured a tub. However, the suite struggled to maintain a warm temperature during my stay, and I was disappointed to discover mold along the tub’s edges. I can see the Cotton House Hotel would be a fantastic spot to hang out as the rooftop pool and the outdoor dining space would be fully open for business. If you enjoy staying at historic hotels, you should check out the Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona.
