Omm Hotel
Barcelona, Spain
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| Ommsession in the lobby (courtesy, Omm Hotel) |
OMM HOTEL // Barcelona, Spain
There's no better way to experience the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona—which deems architecture, design, and gastronomy among its main attractions—than staying at the two-year-old Omm Hotel, named after Hinduism's favorite mantra and located on the fashionable Passeig de Gràcia Avenue. In this property that radiates warmth and tranquillity, architect Juli Capella has blended a Buddhist-inspired minimalist interior with a whimsical Gaudí–style exterior of undulating lines. Take in this wavy limestone masterpiece from your room's balcony as you sip a full-bodied glass of the Spanish Pedro Ximénez wine.
ROOM & BOARD: A soft palette and natural materials are the focus in the 59 rooms, which come equipped with flat-screen TVs and a headboard control panel that allows for vibrant to moody lighting options. Overlooking an enclosed bamboo forest on the ground floor, the Roca brothers' celebrated Moo Restaurant serves Catalan haute cuisine like foie gras with figs and Spanish raisins. From the rooftop pool, admire the neighboring Gaudí-designed apartment complex, La Pedrera, with its swirly soft-serve-ice-cream-looking spires. Then book a mud facial or deep-tissue massage at Omm's new spa, Spaciomm. With Jell-O muscles, you can sink into the plush sofas at the Ommsession lounge later in the evening to listen to local bands and DJs.
OUT THE BACK DOOR: The staff can hook you up with helicopter tours of the city as well as bike rides through the cobblestoned Gothic Quarter. Rent a Hobie Cat, kayak, or sailboard in Mar Bella, a pretty beach eight metro stops from downtown. A must-do: bouldering in the man-made grottoes in Park Güell or in the tunnel near the Olympic Stadium.
DETAILS: Doubles from $357; 011-34-934-454-000, www.hotelomm.es
