Do stay at Hotel DO: Plaça Reial if you love food and history

Hotel DO: Plaça Reial is a five-star gastronomic boutique hotel located in one of the most popular and lively squares – Plaza Real.

It’s housed in a historic building that was built in 1856. It was completely renovated in 2011 by architect Oriol Bohigas and interior designer Lázaro Rosa Violán. There are 18 luxurious rooms in this Grand Luxe hotel, and most of them have a view of Plaza Real.

I especially love the terrace, which is open to the public. There, you can enjoy Mediterranean gastronomy and tapas while basking in the sun, surrounded by palm trees. I highly recommend trying their lobsters; they’re some of the best I ever tried.

Its prime location will allow you to discover some of the main tourist attractions on foot. During the day, you can walk along Las Ramblas, where you can't miss the Boqueria Market, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Opera Samfaina, an innovative restaurant that promotes Catalan culture through gastronomy. It is the perfect place to have Catalan tapas and traditional local wine, as well as an unconventional sensorial dining experience.

At night, you can go clubbing in the Plaza Real square at Ocaña, which has a restaurant on the ground floor. Downstairs, there is a lounge bar where you can chill in a trendy environment. If you like black music, such as Hip Hop or Jazz, you should check out Jamboree, which might remind you of an underground club in NYC.

At the end of Las Ramblas, you will find a Christopher Columbus statue pointing at Port Vell. Cross the bridge to Maremagnum Shopping Centre, where there’s a cinema, aquarium, and plenty of terraces to explore.

The Junior Suite is the perfect balance of traditional and modern class.


View of Plaza Real from the rooftop.


If you are looking for a peaceful and relaxing spot in the heart of the city centre, their rooftop swimming pool offers you both comfort and privacy.


La Terrassa del DO is the perfect spot to try typical Catalan cuisine in the heart of one of the city’s oldest squares.


Their grilled lobster flavoured with garlic, chili pepper and chives is one of the best I ever tried – I totally recommend it!



The hazelnut praline and black chocolate parfait is so creamy with an amazing crunchy contrast – tasty!