Casa Bonay, Barcelona, Spain

Casa Bonay is located on Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes in the popular Dreta de l'Eixample neighbourhood. It's very central, near good shopping and a ten-minute walk to the Gothic Quarter - yet away from the touristic throngs of La Ramblas. There's a good choice of evening venues, where the locals go, and the Parc de la Ciutadella, with lovely fountains and the city zoo, is on the doorstep. Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia and Barcelona's beaches are both a 15-minute walk away. There's a good choice of restaurants, bars and cafés nearby, including trendy Can Dende café and seafood at Barraca, with views of Sant Sebastià beach.

By plane: there are direct flights from London (2 hours 5 mins), Manchester (2 hours 20 mins) and Edinburgh (2 hours 40 mins). The hotel is a 25-minute drive from El-Prat airport. Paid public parking is available nearby for €25 per day. Book flights to Barcelona.

There's a bright and breezy Mediterranean feel here, with Catalonian touches, such as hexagonal Gaudí-influenced oak stools in guest rooms, rush matting typical of the Empordà region and original encaustic floor tiles that were revealed when linoleum floors were painstakingly chipped away by hand. The colourful hand-painted offset lettering of the room numbers adds further charm.

This hotel isn't exactly packed with facilities, but then it's not that sort of place. There's a restaurant, bar, summer barbecue restaurant on the roof and a coffee shop, and the pleasant rooftop terrace has a shower for guests to cool down on hot summer days. Free bikes are available to borrow, and yoga classes are organised.

• Two roof terraces
• Restaurants
• Garden
• Family rooms
• Paid parking
• Free Wi-Fi

There's a relaxing, summery feel in Casa Bonay's guest rooms, brought about by the skilful use of natural materials, for example, jute panelling along the walls and lovely original mosaic tiles in earthy reds, blues, browns and creams in most rooms. Ceiling fans help you cool down but there's air conditioning too.

Room types: Passage, Gran Via Medium, Courtyard, Gran Via Large, Courtyard Terrace

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Malin+Goetz toiletries, minibar stocked with local products, TV, free Wi-Fi

The Libertine bar is open all day for breakfast, sandwiches and tapas, and as a workspace. In the evening it becomes a cocktail bar with some interesting creations and DJs from Thursday to Sunday; it's popular with locals, too. There's also a streetside café, Satan's Coffee Corner, and a charming tapas restaurant Bodega Bonay. On the rooftop, Chiringuito offers summer barbecue and tapas.

Bodega Bonay: Tapas, local produce and good wines. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Tapas from €7.

Chiringuito: Open daily for dinner. Mains from €9.