Hotel 1898 is named after the year in which Spain lost the Philippines and Cuba, which is not surprising given that it’s housed in the former headquarters of Compania General de Tabacos Filipinas. The company was founded in 1881 and still operates as a tobacco dealer out of Barcelona. I’m Filipina so I am interested in Spanish and Philippine history, which dates back to the 1500s when the Philippines became a colony. Indeed, after four centuries of Spanish rule, the Philippines is more “latin” than Asian and I feel much more at home in Spain than in Asia.
Hotel 1898 radiates elegant Old World colonial chic with its imposing grand hall and classical architecture. Thank heavens the rooms are sound-proofed (it is located on the busy La Rambla). The colonial suite has a private rooftop swimming pool where you can hang out and gaze over the city enjoying drinks at sunset. But if you are not staying in the colonial suite, you can still enjoy the hotel’s spa and indoor heated pool located in the former storage rooms of the tobacco company. There’s free Wi-Fi, fabulous Etro bath products and all the luxurious amenities you would expect from a hotel of this caliber right in the center of Barcelona.
Hotel 1898
La Rambla 109
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 552 95 52
www.hotel1898.com
Follow on Twitter: @hotel1898
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