El Poble-sec Vacations from $1,399

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We stayed at El Palauet for three nights as a family of four in August. We arrived just before midnight and were greeted by a friendly member of staff who showed us to our Royal Suite. There is no denying that the hotel itself is absolutely stunning. The building is beautiful and timeless, with incredible original features, including the very unique lift. Our Royal Suite was spacious and impressive, with beautiful ceiling designs and plenty of character. Visually, the hotel certainly has the wow factor. Unfortunately, the service simply did not live up to the surroundings or, more importantly, the expectations of a five-star hotel. We were told there was a complimentary bottle in our suite for us to enjoy, which was a nice gesture. However, after reading other reviews, it appears this is standard and that other guests have had this replenished throughout their stay. Ours wasn't. While this alone wouldn't bother us, it became another example of the inconsistent attention to detail we experienced. Breakfast was probably our biggest disappointment. Having breakfast delivered to the suite and laid out on the dining table sounds like a wonderful and luxurious experience. Unfortunately, the reality was very different. Our breakfast arrived cold every single morning of our three-night stay, meaning we had to reheat everything ourselves. We raised this issue and reminded staff, yet the same thing happened again. And then again. Having to reheat your own breakfast three mornings

The location was excellent, with easy access to major attractions and a metro station nearby. We stayed for two nights, but unfortunately, on the first night, water started leaking from the bathroom ceiling right next to the ceiling light while we were taking a shower, which was quite scary and concerning due to the potential electrical hazard. Thankfully, the issue was fixed the next day. Overall, the location was great, but the water leak was definitely an unpleasant experience during our short stay.