Axel Hotel Barcelona

Best of Barcelona!

Our stay at the Hotel Axel was wonderful. Terrific room with balcony, top-notch staff, great location and a New Year’s celebration that topped our week . All of the front desk staff members were professional, but Ricardo gave above-and- beyond service with restaurant recommendations, ticket inquiries for the opera, etc., etc. Our New Year’s host, Patricia was most gracious, the food was perfect, and her staff truly gave their all. We can’t wait to stay there again and look forward to the renovations that are planned.

all you need and a bit more

good rate, good location, fine quality, friendly and helping staff

Good hotel, great location, but some issues

Bedding problem: top sheet enclosed a thick, heavy comforter (a configuration I have never seen in any hotel) with a weight more appropriate for Moscow in winter than Barcelona. Unfortunately, it was necessary to crank up the air conditioning full blast. If they must wrap the comforter in a sheet, they should provide another top sheet and/or a lighter-weight blanket. Given that the culture in Barcelona has one eating dinner at 10:00 p.m. or later, and going out at midnight or later, it would be nice if the second set of heavier drapes actually blocked out the light. In November of 2009, it was not really possible to sleep past 9:00 - 9:30 am because of major demolition/construction on the roof that reverberated throughout the building. Given the late night lifestyle of the local culture and many guests who like to stay out late at night, being awakened by a jackhammer at 9:00 a.m. was not conducive to getting adequate sleep. The management should not allow construction work to begin earlier than at least 10:00 am. (Be forewarned, the construction appears as though it will be ongoing for at least several months or longer.)

Very impresser

Great staff-Great location-can not wait to go back

A Gem of a Hotel

Right from the moment my companion and I sauntered through the glass doors of the main entrance-which are enclosed in a beautifully appointed façade, to the time we regrettably had to say our farewells, we were whisked away into a world of complete bliss at the hands of our hosts. The interior is quite welcoming—a simple reception counter within a cozy lounge and acceptance/waiting area, and a restaurant (Kitchen by Axel) and bar (Underground by Axel) off to the right. The design is decidedly modern (trendy, yet nuanced with elegance – sort of W-esque), and the staff, who tend to be versatile in their disciplines (can sometimes be seen shuffling between bar and restaurant) couldn’t be any more delightful. For those who prefer to lounge on holiday—or maybe opt for a little bit of wellness, Axel is equipped with SPA essentials—Jacuzzi, steam and dry sauna and, a swimming pool on the roof deck. Though, don’t expect to do laps here and, if you happen to be visiting in non-summer months (as I was) the water may be a little chilly as the pool isn’t currently heated. Overall, it’s a very impressive and comfortable establishment for all – and very aptly and conveniently located.

GREAT HOTEL with great accomodations! the receptionists @ the front desk were to die for! :)

upon arrival i was greeted by the gorgeous receptionists at the front desk and that already gave me a good impression. they were so helpful and very nice. the hotel seems to need a bit more maintainence but i have to say my stay was very satisfying. spa, solarium and the gym on the roof was my nightly activity and they were such nice amenities they just could not get any better! location of hotel was good also. definitely recommend this hotel!

looking to go back soon

excellent staff that is friendly and helpful, The rooms are clean, and the location is great. Looking forward to returning

Traveler's tip on nightlife

Extremely close to the major clubs

Unfulfilled promises

The hotel promote in its website the bar, pool and terrace on the roof, but every night was rented to private events, where passengers could not access!!! Furthermore, the sauna and the gym’s area were always dirty, with no towels or person in charge. A pity!

Great location

Will return

Warm and Friendly

Our five-night stay at the Hotel Axel was terrific. The staff is warm, friendly and welcoming, eager to provide maps of the city and to help travelers plot their course, the breakfast is satisfying with fresh fruit and breakfast meats, cereals, eggs and juices, it is centrally-located and clean. Our room was comfortable--the bed was a wee bit hard--but overall, we enjoyed our experience at the Hotel Axel. It is wonderful being in a gay business, surrounded by "family."

The best GAY oriented hotel

Axel is the best GAY oriented hotel I stayed in. I booked on internet and got a reasonable rate. The staff was very nice and very helpful with no attitude. The room is decorated with modern theme, however it is a bit odd that the closet is designed to be open shelf and not very functional. There are no luggage rack so you have to put the luggage on the floor when you open it. They have wi-fi but rather expensive. The free internet in the 2nd floor lounge are always busy and didn’t work too well. The hotel was well stocked with Gay information on the city. The pool deck can get messy and need more attention on service on hourly basis. People tend to come and goes a lot and left a mess.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

Book this hotel at last minutes and the price goes down drastically.

Would stay again!

Extremely satisfied with our stay. The only bad thing was the construction going on behind (next to) the hotel. Pay extra for the street view side. back can be noisy on weekdays, but they don’t work on weekends. The hotel restaurant had great food! Great show on Thurs nite at the restaurant. Cool bars also right around the corner. Very convenient location. Short walk to the Metro. We loved it! Enjoy Barcelona!

Impressive boutique hotel catering to gay clientele

Great location in Eixample, just a few blocks from Plaza Catalunya. Friendly service. Nicely designed and renovated older building. Amenities include small pool, sundeck, hot tub, sauna and steam room.

Traveler's tip on nightlife

The hotel is in the heart of the gay district with numerous clothing stores, restaurants, bars and clubs nearby.

Great experience at Axel!

Great hotel if you’re looking for a truly "urban" experience in the heart of the gay district in Barcelona. Extremely quiet, dark room (with curtains closed), despite noisy traffic outside. Very nice shower and ammenities. Resonable price and helpful staff.

Great Place to Stay

Axel was amazing. Facilities were clean and staff was very friendly and efficient. Would DEFINITELY stay here again.

Great hotel...

Very unique room setups, with excellent location. I also found the staff very nice and helpful for anything I asked, as well as speaking perfect English. Did the restaurant once for breakfast and it too was excellent. Overall for someone traveling from the USA, great hotel, at a fair price to value.

Traveler's tip on nightlife

A lot of great bars down the street as well as restaurants with unique styles. The subway is also only a few blocks away.

Hotel Axel - a must for gay travelers in Barcelona

This hotel lived up to its reputation of being the best gay hotel in the world. The staff were friendly, great rooms, the public areas were stylish and comfortable, and there was a very open, welcoming attitude to both gay and straight patrons alike. I can’t wait to check out the Buenos Aires location!

perfect hotel for the right reasons....

The hotel is perfectly located and managed. Loved the rooms, the public areas and the restaurant was surprising good. The best feature is the rooftop pool and bar. It was just as advertised. I felt the staff was very attentive to any and all requests.