With a portfolio of 23 properties across the word’s most inspiring cities and renowned designers on speed-dial, Room Mate Hotels (founded by former Olympian Enrique ‘Kike’ Sarasola) has become synonymous with affordable luxury; striving to give their guests a home away from home experience of lifestyle, location, and familiarisation.
Located on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer d’Aragó, Room Mate Anna is the chain’s fourth, and latest, addition to the Barcelona hotel scene, and features 81 rooms across four categories; its decor influenced by the almost tangible Mediterranean.
Having instilled the expertise of Spanish interior designer Lorenzo Castillo (who’s worked on Room Mates in New York and Florence), his bold bursts of colour, fabrics, and bespoke furnishings offer all the exuberance of a 21st century update on Baroque.
High ceilings, marble flooring, and bright slatted-shutters outline the rooms — red Trapani coral and giant shells whisk us away to the Balearics; there’s a balance between the aquatic and big city grandeur here in the heart of Barcelona’s L’Eixample that testifies to the city’s location on the edge of the Med. Sizeable bathrooms, a whopping rain shower, playful Room Mate amenities, Anna’s rooms might be small, but there’s plenty going on.
Taking the elevator to a small but ample roof terrace, guests are spoilt with two sun decks. Despite the larger of the two terraces having views over Gaudi masterpiece Casa Batlló, the smaller boasts a joyous circular plunge pool; and is naturally the winner. The summer sun beating down, cooling off in a refreshing piscina, the crowded city around us; Castillo’s vision of extravagant paradise is realised.
