Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, Spain

The Mandarin Oriental has a great location on the celebrated Passeig de Gràcia, ideal for upmarket shopping and near plenty of restaurants and bars. Touristic hotspots and key areas like Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya and the Old City are nearby. It's about a 25-minute drive from El Prat Airport. The hotel is within walking distance of the Gaudi modernist landmarks Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. The popular food market, Mercat de la Boqueria, is a 15-minute walk.

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 30-minute drive from El-Prat airport. Book flights to Barcelona.

Sleek, understated luxury has been achieved by acclaimed Spanish interior designer Patricia Urquiola. White and light-coloured expanses, spacious public and guest room areas, splashes of colour, use of contemporary wood panelling, vibrant patterns, numerous artworks and hanging topiaries all combine to create a relaxing ambience.

Unsurprisingly for a hotel of this calibre, the staff are very professional, knowledgeable and helpful. There's a well-stocked fitness centre, spa, rooftop terrace and a good choice of high-quality restaurants and bars. There is no business centre, however guests can borrow laptops and use the hotel's printer.

• Bar
• Restaurants
• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Spa
• Garden
• Pet-friendly
• Free Wi-Fi

There's a choice of rooms and suites, the suites being rather more spacious than the standard rooms. Decorated in shades of cream, with wood and fabric panelling and delicate oriental touches, you feel right at home immediately. Suites have a dedicated elevator and private butler service.

Room types: Deluxe Garden or Boulevard, Mandarin rooms; Junior, Boulevard, Deluxe, Premier, Terrace, Family, Grand, Premier Terrace, Barcelona, Penthouse suites

Key amenities: Corian ensuite bathroom, king-size bed, Smart TV, free Wi-Fi

For a drink, there's Banker's Bar - with a ceiling fashioned from authentic safety deposit boxes alluding to the building's former use as a bank - Mimosa Garden Bar, and the rooftop Terrat for cocktails and Peruvian cuisine by Gaston Acurio. High-quality all-day dining is at Blanc, downstairs, while the highlight is the Catalan cuisine at two Michelin-starred Moments, run by Carme Ruscalleda, the most awarded female chef in the world.

Moments: two Michelin stars, Catalan cuisine. Open 1-2pm Sat-Sun, 8-11pm Thu-Sat. Tasting menu from €189.

Blanc: relaxed, all-day dining. Open daily 7.30am-11pm. Set menu €38.