Sleeping
Posted by jbaljkoH10 Itaca
Hotel Itaca, which is part of the H10 chain, has a cozy feel to it, made even warmer with wood touches and calming soft gray and red motifs. Its jacuzzi, sauna, fitness room and ample terrace help make it an easy place to wind down after a long day of sight-seeing.
About a half-kilometer from the main Sants train station, the four-star hotel has 95 rooms; free Wi-fi; a lobby bar; a restaurant; a coffee and snack corner; TV with satellite coverage and international channels, and laundry service.
Eating
Posted by jbaljkoAqua
Having earned its place in nearly all of the guidebooks and usually topping the concierge's list of hot dining spots, Aqua certainly is worth a visit. It's beachfront location, near the super lux Hotel Arts - one of the twin high-rise towers dominating the Vila Olímpica skyline, makes the restaurant an easy choice for seaside dining.
Outside, you can chill out on the terrace, or inside, enjoy a stylish mix of bright colors and colonial décor. Fresh, simple, Mediterranean cuisine is what you'll find on the menu, and the house specials are seafood and rice dishes grilled over coals. It's a popular place, so it's worth making reservations in advance.
Eating
Posted by jbaljkoLa Fonda
What's that you say - you're looking for a lively, but romantic place where you can share some sangria with your honey and savor some paella (a rice dish made with seafood or meat) or fidueà (similar to a paella, but with noodles instead of rice)? Well, there's this place, off the Rambla, not far from Plaça Reial, that may do the trick.
Although the main dining room is often packed with locals and visitors, La Fonda uses soft lighting draped in red lampshades and dark wood touches to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. A loft area and a downstairs room with fresco-like paintings on the ceiling give it a homey ambiance.
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