In the world of hotels, the term ‘home from home’ is one bandied about at alarming rates. Whether a cosy boutique hotel with books to read and board games to play, or an awkward breakfast over the table from an uncomfortable Airbnb host, at either end of the spectrum, the concept is one that often falls way short of one’s imagination. In an impressive, and vast, family home built in 1955 and located in a little-known Barcelona suburb, this elusive concept at last feels an authentic proposition.
Primero Primera means ‘first floor, first apartment,’ and is a reference to the fact that the eight members of the Pérez-Sala family have lived on that first floor since the home’s construction; the 103 year old grandmother still in residence. And it is that family heritage that is evident from the moment you approach the property.
Its façade of granite and slate from the Pyrenees is a nod to where the family would spend their summers away from here, the quiet and residential Barcelona neighbourhood of ‘Tres Torres,’ and inside, countless photographs and pieces of memorabilia pay homage to the Pérez-Sala’s abundant history in motorsports; Luís Pérez-Sala, in 1989 the first Spanish driver to earn points in the modern Formula 1 competition, and Daniel, son of Núria Pérez-Sala, European Formula 3 champion in 2012, are two of the more illustrious names among many.
It’s not simply a heritage property and a strong connection to the Pérez-Sala family that give Primero Primera its singular essence of homeliness, though. Having been converted into a hotel in 2011 and upgraded to a five-star property in 2021, there’s still very little in the way of conventional hotel traits — serene and welcoming; elegantly furnished with original family heirlooms and collections from their travels, as well as vintage pieces from the 1950s; one of the most spectacular staircases you could imagine; seamless service and a warm atmosphere, everything here nods to the spirit of a private home. That’s not to say one won’t enjoy the ‘hotel experience’. Quite the contrary.
“We have developed an idea of what we believe certain clients expect when they stay in good hotels today and applied this to the entire process of the creation of the concept of Primero Primera, down to the smallest details,” explains Javier Pérez-Sala. With guest rooms ranging from ‘small’ at 25 square metres, to ‘xl’ at 55 metres squared, every contemporary luxury and more is catered for.
Beds are large and comfortable; top quality materials like wood, leather and carpeting are around every corner; toiletries come from Barcelona-based luxury skincare brand, Natura Bissé; towels and sheets are 100% cotton, and a ‘pillow menu’ guarantees the perfect night’s sleep. A minibar is stocked with free soft drinks, and there’s a welcome drink to enjoy in one of the snug communal spaces, a gym and massage room are on hand, and that’s all without mention of the beautiful garden with swimming pool and the hotel’s excellent restaurant, Planta Baja.
Located on the ground floor and extending out onto a beautiful private terrace, Planta Baja has become a hit with the well-heeled locals in this part of town. With a family approach to dining, cosy corners including a living room with fireplace, and an honest menu that focuses on simplicity and seasonality, it is quite different than the typical Barcelona dining experience, where cosiness and homeliness are concepts often overlooked. Dishes include grilled turbot loin with its juice, with smoked eggplant cream and chanterelle mushrooms; lamb terrine cooked at low temperature, roasted sweet potato cream, and mini mushrooms; and fresh pappardelle pasta, mushroom sauce, seasonal mushrooms, and Parmesan cheese, all are unpretentiously presented on beautiful Spanish crockery.
With its refined interiors inspired by classic English members’ clubs (the work of Nuria Pérez-Sala and Ana Galofré, in collaboration with Estrella Salietti for the communal spaces), its constant reminders of this being a family home first, its five-star amenities and its unique location in a quiet residential neighbourhood far from the crowds but brilliantly connected to the heart of the city, Primero Primera is an entirely different option for first-rate accommodation in one of the world’s most famous cities. Warm and welcoming, filled with surprises, and ultimately intimate and agreeable, this is one hotel fitting of the term ‘home from home.’
@primeroprimera
@plantabajarestaurant
Photography, courtesy Primero Primera Barcelona / © We Heart.
