Cotton House Hotel is a boutique luxury hotel in the heart of the beautiful city of Barcelona, in easy proximity to its many attractions. We spoke to its Communications, Marketing and PR Manager, Pablo Castillo, about this historic hotel’s background and the impeccable standards and personal service they strive to maintain, creating a unique experience for all its guests. He also tells us about what guests can expect from the facilities and the nearby sights and restaurants, making for a great stay in the city.  

Barcelona is a highly popular tourist destination with a wide range of accommodations available for visitors to the city. Why should they choose Cotton House Hotel as the place to stay?  

At the Cotton House, we take care of every detail to make our guest’s stay memorable. First and foremost, I want to highlight the importance of our team of professionals, who are ready to make our guests feel the authentic ‘Cotton House’ experience.  

From our bellhops, the front desk team, the Gossypium team (our exclusive concierge service), waiters and housekeeping, they all stand out for their friendliness and attention to detail. 

We can boast of having the friendliest team in Barcelona, but we don’t say it ourselves. We have received recognition on the digital platform Tripadvisor, where we are part of the exclusive group of the 10% most recommended hotels in the world by our customers.  

We have also been recognised by awards as important as the Luxury Lifestyle Awards and selected among the 30 best luxury hotels in the world and the three best in Spain according to the Gold List of Conde Nast Traveler 2022.  

Cotton House Hotel has a long and fascinating history. Can you tell us about the background of your historic building and how it became a hotel? 

At the Cotton House, everything revolves around cotton. 

The building was built in 1879 and designed by the prestigious architect Elias Rogent commissioned by the Boada family, who saw their wealth grow thanks to the powerful textile industry based in Barcelona. In 1958 the building was acquired by the Cotton Textile Guild, who converted the building into their headquarters and added four more floors. To connect the new floors, they built what was the first hanging staircase in Europe, and today is one of the most portrayed staircases in the world for its spectacular design. 

In 2015, with a very clear vision to preserve this historical value, and after an impeccable reform by Lázaro Rosa Violán, the Cotton House Hotel opened its doors, an oasis in the centre of Barcelona that continues to captivate restless travellers who come from all corners of the world to discover this jewel of the Condal City. The frescoes on the ceilings, the parquet floors of the main floor, the stairs and ceilings have been maintained. From the moment you enter the lobby, you can already feel the magic of the history of the Cotton House. 

As a boutique luxury hotel brand, it’s essential always to keep standards and services at the highest possible level. How do you go about achieving this?  

We have an extraordinary, multidisciplinary, international team that keeps a close eye on every movement in our hotel. Each stay is a crafted experience; from the moment the reservation is made until the guest arrives at their next destination, we make it our business to have the necessary information to offer a unique experience to each of our customers. 

The permanent communication between all the teams that are part of the hotel’s operation allows us to closely monitor every detail to ensure that we offer the best attention to our guests. 

Please tell us all about the thinking behind the experience you offer guests who stay at Cotton House Hotel. What makes it unique?  

In addition to preserving the different finishes of the building, each of our spaces, in a certain way, shares the hotel’s history. On the first floor, we find the Library, once the room reserved for members of the Fundación Textil Algodonera (Cotton Textile Guild), where they shared and exchanged their experiences. 

It functioned as a social club, which is how it still works today. Next to it is l’Atelier, a small room where the tailor came to take the measurements to make shirts and suits for the members. Today, thanks to our exclusive agreement with Santa Eulalia, the most prestigious store and tailor’s store in Barcelona, any customer can request the tailoring service and the garment is sent to their home. This, among other small details, fill the entire hotel and share in a certain way the history of our building and the culture of Barcelona. 

At the same time, being located in the Barcelonian Eixample allows our guests to enjoy the authentic essence of Barcelona, enjoying and discovering the daily life of the community of neighbours who are part of the block. It is a unique environment where neighbours share views of the inner courtyard, generating a genuine community and connectivity. 

After a busy day exploring, it’s vital that your guests can return to their hotel oasis and relax. Can you describe the facilities that are on offer to ensure this?  

In our hotel, guests can enjoy our terrace in the inner courtyard 365 days a year, a unique and characteristic experience of Barcelona’s Eixample design. In addition, on our rooftop, you will find the swimming pool for the warmer months, our Library and l’Atelier, where you can sit and read and enjoy a coffee and the snack menu of our restaurant Batuar. We also have a gym and beauty and personal care treatment room.  

In addition, we make sure to have exclusive relationships for our customers with partners that are less than a kilometer away from our hotel. 

Expectations are high when guests check into a luxury boutique hotel. What can guests experience in their rooms and the hotel to ensure they enjoy a real taste of luxury?  

Considering the limitations of an historic building, most of our rooms are spacious and have been designed to make the most out of every square meter. Our guests can choose and enjoy either views of the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, or our inner courtyard; these rooms have a balcony where you can experience an authentic courtyard of the Eixample of Barcelona. Not to mention the exceptional decor of our suites; Damascus, Ottoman and Vichy, the latter with a private terrace and privileged views of the Sagrada Familia and the city skyline. 

And of course, our sheets are made exclusively with 400 threads of 100% natural Egyptian cotton. Towels and bathrobes are made of 600gr cotton. We frequently receive requests from our guests to send them the same sheets and bathrobes they have used at the Cotton House to their homes. 

What kind of different rooms and suites can guests choose from? What in-room amenities and services can they expect?  

Our hotel has a total of 83 rooms, five of which are Suites. The Damasco Suite, the Ottoman Suite, the Vichy Suite and our Tafetán Suites. All of them are named after different types of fabrics made with cotton.  

All our suites have high-speed internet, twice-daily maid service, Italian Ortigia amenities, 42” TV, Nespresso tea and coffee set, ironing set and our minibar. Some rooms have access to a balcony overlooking the inner courtyard; others have views of Barcelona’s Gran Via. 

Barcelona and Catalonia’s exceptional gastronomy is a big attraction for food-loving visitors. What can guests expect from the food and drinks in the hotel? 

Our Batuar Restaurant boasts a menu of local, fresh and seasonal products. The excellent relationship of our kitchen with the best suppliers and the magic of our chef ensure one of the best gastronomic experiences in Barcelona. In addition, we can boast of offering a continuous service from 7:30 in the morning until midnight. 

Discovering new restaurants in such a gastronomic city is always an exciting part of any trip to Barcelona. Can the staff at Cotton House Hotel recommend the best restaurants and bars where guests can sample a wide range of cuisine?  

For this, we have our Gossypium team (Gossypium means ‘cotton flower’ in Latin). It is the space where all our clients’ requests are answered. Not only is it possible to make reservations at the most exclusive restaurants in the city, but we also create experiences tailored to the needs of our customers. A challenge that we achieve thanks to the close relationship of our Gossypium team with the most prestigious restaurants and new gastronomic proposals of the city. And especially because our team is trained to identify each guest’s profile so that whatever is recommended is thought to fit that particular person or family. 

Can you tell us about the particular services that your hotel offers? What makes your offering stand out in the Barcelona market?  

One of the services that set us apart is our Gossypium space. Thanks to our Gossypium team, our guests can organise their visit to Barcelona and find the perfect experiences for every taste. They are expert consultants with excellent knowledge of Barcelona, able to find the answer to any request from our guests. Its mission is to offer an experience capable of generating a memorable experience for each of our clients. 

Do you offer any additional services specifically with the businessman in mind?  

In our restaurant, we offer an exquisite executive menu every day and the possibility of privatizing some of our most exclusive spaces to organize meetings. 

In addition, our terrace is perfect for after work, with a menu of cocktails and tapas that can be enjoyed until midnight. 

Do you operate any loyalty packages for regular and long-term guests?  

Clients who book more than seven nights directly on our website receive a special 10% bonus. This year, due to the very high demand, we are unable to offer the extended stay packages that we provided during the pandemic months. 

Likewise, as part of Marriott International, all our guests can become members of Marriott Bonvoy. This is Marriott International’s exclusive loyalty program through which our guests earn points with each stay, climbing levels within the program and increasing their benefits. 

There are many sights to see and landmarks to explore in Barcelona. What are the most famous attractions that are close to your hotel? 

One of the advantages of our hotel is its location. We are only two blocks from the renowned Paseo de Gracia, where two of Gaudi’s jewels are: La Pedrera and Casa Batllò. In addition to countless national and international firms that delight avid shoppers. Of course, La Sagrada Familia is only 20′ away on foot. Plaza Cataluña, El Born, El Gótico, La Rambla…  

Part of the magic of Barcelona is that any building is a unique work of architecture that hides an unparalleled beauty. 

Personal service and knowledgeable advice enhance any visit to a new city and give regular visitors extra inspiration and ideas. What advice and tips would you give first-time visitors to Barcelona? What sights should they be sure to visit? Are there any hidden gems your guests should know about?  

One of my favorite things about Barcelona is that it is a walkable city, where you can go almost anywhere in the city on foot. There is also the possibility of renting a bike and riding around the city from one end to the other.  

I love to get lost in the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter and the Born and enjoy the incredible architecture that remains hidden and waiting for the most curious visitors. Parlament Street is one of my favorite streets to enjoy tapas and beers, and Carrer Blai is also a must.  

Paseo de Gracia offers an exquisite selection of top brands and stylish, colourful shop windows. 

How has the market and your hotel changed since the reopening up of the country post-global pandemic? 

Despite the uncertainty that the pandemic generated in the hospitality world, the reopening has been spectacular. Our hotel has broken historical occupancy records. 

We have had to adapt to very drastic changes in very limited periods, going from the concept of ‘Long Stay’ for business travellers during the pandemic to having a very high demand of tourists who wanted to return to the Cotton House. All of this has been a huge logistical challenge for us and the entire hospitality sector. 

The client has changed; he knows how to enjoy the small pleasures and something as essential as human warmth, so our team plays a fundamental role in our customers’ experience.  

We have had to adapt to one of the biggest logistical challenges since our opening, and we have succeeded more than satisfactorily. 

The travel market is slowly getting back on its feet now. How do you generally see tourism’s future in Barcelona and Spain now that everything is open?  

Despite the ongoing crises that the world has faced in recent years, our city has been able to overcome them with excellent marks in customer service and attention.  

Barcelona has been able to adapt to the constantly changing needs of our visitors. We have positioned ourselves as a gastronomic reference in the world; our architecture, climate, and beaches always make Barcelona a destination everyone wants to visit. 

What plans does Cotton House Hotel have for the future?  

Our plan is and will always be to satisfy the most demanding needs of our guests, to offer them a genuinely friendly, professional, unique and memorable experience that will make them want to return.