Hotel Catalonia Magdalenes — Hotel in Barcelona

I stayed at this hotel with my partner for a 3 day trip to Barcelona. We loved the city so much we planned to stay an extra day, by day 2.

Pros: The location of the hotel is nice, it’s still touristy but close to the locals so you feel more immersed in the Spanish culture. Many shops and restaurants are near by. The Marina is about 7-10 mins away via taxi.

The hotel is very modern which I loved, great amenities and nice rooftop area. The pool area is small so be sure to get there first thing in the morning. I personally preferred the spa which has a sauna and whirlpool, I used it everyday.

The breakfast was actually really good for a hotel, it’s buffet style but everything fresh and you can even create your own omelette which is made in front of you.

The front desk staff was phenomenal. We were welcomed by Aida and Simor, probably my favorite people I met in Barcelona! Very helpful and so kind. Aida gave me all the best spots which was perfect for an adventurous trip. Simor went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and at home. He probably is the one who convinced us to stay an extra day.

Cons:

To get a taxi during the day you’ll have to walk to the Main Street to get one. It can be a challenge since it’s a busy road and many taxis are usually taken, add about 10-15 to your adventures if you plan to take a taxi. We had to pull all our luggage to get to the hotel because of the construction on the street. It was not ideal, at all. Upon checkout the overnight receptionist Suhail helped us secure a taxi for our early morning flight. He was really nice as well! We saw him every night as we came in.

The pool is extremely small and fits about 4 people max at a time.

We had a racial encounter on the rooftop w the barkeeper. (Name started w an M, short, w dark hair) We arrived to the rooftop around 10:30pm and he told us we couldn’t be up there. (Only hotel guest have access to the rooftop) He said he was closing soon “in 10 minutes” which is false because the rooftop closes at 11pm. There was a couple Non-POC who was already up there eating a meal with their child, so we were confused and quite taken aback by his aggressive and rude behavior. He also said something in Spanish to the couple and they all looked and laughed at us like we were out of place. We proceeded to sit down because we were guest and knew the policy, 10 mins later another Non-POC couple arrived and the barkeep didn’t say anything at all to them. It was our only racial encounter in the entirety of our trip. It was disheartening and VERY disappointing. His behavior was low class and outright absurd.

I can say that Max the hotel manager handled the situation well. As mentioned our intention was to stay an extra day, Max provided us with a discount on our extra night, a complimentary breakfast, alongside a bottle of Prosecco. His attentiveness was much appreciated but you can imagine how off putting that situation was. My partner was not happy that we didn’t get the free night but the discount was appreciated. I hope that barkeeper learned a lesson that everyone should be able to enjoy things, no matter the color of their skin.

I will be reaching out to the company directly regarding our racial encounter. I hope it doesn’t happen to ANYONE no matter their ethnicity it’s completely unacceptable.

Overall 4/5 stars. The location, concierge’s, and spacious rooms will make your stay...

My son and I had the pleasure of calling the Hotel Catalonia Magdalenes our home for a week in early June. It served not only as our base for exploring this vibrant Spanish city but also as our personal sanctuary—a place to cool down during the hot afternoons and lounge by the stunning rooftop pool in the evenings.

The hotel's location is nothing short of perfect. Situated just a stone's throw from the Barcelona Cathedral and Plaça de Catalunya, it couldn’t be more central. We walked everywhere on this trip, and whether we were heading to the beach, the historic Born district, or Gaudí's masterpieces in L'Eixample, our hotel always felt like the convenient hub of our adventures.

Our room was clean and contemporary, and everything was as it should be. Nothing was missing, nothing was broken, nothing was even showing its age. The built-in glass and tile shower, with its rain head, handheld wand and above-average pressure, was a daily luxury. The climate control on the wall worked perfectly. A few times I actually found it too chilly and turned the heat up a bit! I was most impressed by how quiet our room was—a testament to both the hotel's design and the respectful clientele it attracts.

The beds were superb, with two layers of plush pillows spanning the width of the mattress, ensuring we started each day well-rested and ready to explore. When we returned to the room, the beds were remade to perfection. You could bounce a dime off those sheets. Another nice touch was the free litre bottle of water that appeared on our desk each day. Gracias por todo, Marie!

While we didn't get a chance to try the restaurant, my son made use of the gym and reported that the equipment looked brand new (his only complaint was that the free weights were a bit light for his liking!). The true showstopper, however, is the rooftop terrace. It offers breathtaking views of the city skyline, with the cathedral providing a dramatic backdrop. The inviting pool was our favourite spot to unwind and soak in the Barcelona sunset.

What truly elevates this hotel is its exceptional people. From Alfredo at the front desk to the staff on the rooftop terrace, every interaction was marked by professionalism and warmth that was completely genuine and made us feel at home. They seem truly proud to be part of such a wonderful establishment in a spectacular part of the city.

For a comfortable, quiet stay in an unbeatable location managed by top-tier hospitality professionals, look no further than the Hotel Catalonia Magdalenes. It was a key ingredient in making our trip to Barcelona so...

I booked my elderly, disabled parents a room at the Catalonia Magdalenes hotel for my father's 80th birthday. They were traveling from England. It was supposed to be a special occasion. I emailed the hotel many times in the weeks before arrival, and I paid up front -- in full! -- for the room for the whole week of their stay. On the night my parents arrived, I also emailed the hotel to say my parents' flight from London had been delayed and they would be arriving later than expected that night. I was told this was fine. When my parents arrived, exhausted, in the middle of the night, they learned their room had been given away. With no notification at all — they and I received no warning email or call, and therefore they travelled all the way to the hotel to discover that they could not stay there. It was 3am by this time. They were sent to another hotel in the chain, one that does not have such good reviews. They were sent in a taxi but the driver didn't know where to go. They were driven around Barcelona for 45 minutes before arriving back where they started. It was 5am before they found a room for the night at a different hotel. I emailed the hotel management today to ask how this could be acceptable customer service for a company of your stature — when dealing with elderly, disabled customers. The way they were treated is worse than incompetent -- it was cruel. They are 80 years old. My mother can barely walk. In response, the hotel emailed me to say they can offer a 50% refund of the first night of the hotel—the night when my parents were turned away and not given a room at that hotel, with no warning or notification. 50% discount on the night when they didn't stay there!!! I really don't care about the money, but it's incredible that this was the best they could do. I thought this was a reputable hotel. I researched it and read many reviews before booking it for my parents 80th birthday weekend. I am so, so disappointed by the customer service. Perhaps if you are a young person this is a fine hotel to stay at. But if you are elderly or have a disability—this hotel seems like it will do nothing to help you. At best, they will send you off in a taxi at 3am that doesn't know where it's going—so that you might, eventually, before sunrise, find another...