Sir Victor, Barcelona.
Where is it?
Just off Passeig de Gràcia, a hop, skip and churros from Gaudí’s Casa Milà or, if you prefer, Pedrera.
Why so lovely?
It’s one of the Sirs – a collection of boutique hotels founded in 2013 that now boasts, revels in, even, five locations across Europe; Ibiza, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg and, now, Barcelona. They do things differently, here. In all the right ways. Like their in-hotel library, where all the books are by revered female writers in wo-mage to the hotel’s namesake, Catalan author Victor Català (Victor was a pseudonym)
First impressions?
Barcelona regulars might recognize the building from its previous incarnation as Hotel Omm. Well, Sir Hotels have put it through their one-of-a-kind-spirit wash and out’s popped a gleaming, glistening, glamorous,alliterative21st-centurybou tiqueaimedatauthenticity-seekingworld-trotters.That’s us!
And the accommodations?
Big and bright. Even the small ones. Earthy pastels, natural woods, touch-me fabrics - and angular balconies leaning towards Passeig de Gràcia – come as signature, and if there’s a bunch of you (six, say seven at a push) you should get the to Sir Family, which they describe as your ‘playhouse in the heart of the city’ and which is actually two of their fanciest suites squished together, and it’s like having your own swish apartment in the handiest part of town but with none of
that having to look after yourselves business.
And the food?
Barcelona ain’t short on good food, even if half of it is deep fried (you think we’re complaining?) But Sir Victor’s gone a little outré and made a steakhouse, MR PORTER, their gastronomic mainstay. But worry not, the plant-based among us will be welcomed with open ramekins... head chef Ryan Murphy rustled up a pretty extraordinary vegan tasting-menu with no-minutes’ notice, and even came and sat with us to make sure we loved it. We did. Lots.
What is there to do?
Pretty much one of the loveliest rooftop bars-cum-pools in the whole of Barcelona’s glittering Eixample (pronounced ‘i-shampler’!), anyone? It overlooks that Casa Milà we’ve mentioned, La Sagrada Familia is over there in the other direction, sharing plates are of the healthier ilk, and strong cocktails are served until 1am at weekends to sexy-as-hell soundtracks rustled up by the city’s tippest-toppest DJs. There’s also a spa, but we didn’t quite make it. See above.
And the LGBTQ bit?
It’s Barcelona, bitches! Apart from the fact that those Spanishes (or Catalans. Don’t get us/them started) seem gay-adjacent even if they aren’t, the scene, should you wish to indulge, is still rocking. The main gay club is Metro and it’s been around for yonks. Of the bars there’s La Chapelle, long and (very) thin, and Museum, and they’re all just down the road in Eixample. But look out for one-off parties. And if you’re going clubbing, don’t even think of heading out before 1am.