---
type: "Article"
title: "W Barcelona — Iconic Design Hotel on Barceloneta’s Beach"
description: "W Barcelona is a sail shaped (Hotel Vela) 5-star hotel at the new harbour facilities. World-renowned Barcelona based architect Ricardo Bofill planned the lifestyle hotel as one of numerous new buildings that make up the Barceloneta refurbishment along the beachfront. Come with us, guest relations manager Vera is giving us a tour!"
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/spain/w-hotel-barcelona-iconic-design-hotel-beach-barceloneta"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 16
tags: ["Architecture", "Barcelona", "Design", "Luxury", "Spa-Wellness", "W Hotel", "Spain"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/spain"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/architecture"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/design"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wellness-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/boutique-hotel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/city-trip"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-05T18:05:45+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2013-05-25T18:04:20+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: w-hotel-barcelona-iconic-design-hotel-beach-barceloneta.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-05T18:05:45+00:00
---

# W Barcelona — Iconic Design Hotel on Barceloneta’s Beach

> W Barcelona (Hotel Vela) is a sail-shaped 5-star design hotel by architect Ricardo Bofill, set at the tip of the new harbour mole on Barceloneta's beachfront, offering panoramic views of the sea and city skyline.

## Destination
At the outermost end of the new harbour mole in Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain.

## Getting there
The hotel's remote location on the harbour mole makes it impractical to reach on foot from the city centre; a taxi is recommended for access to historic attractions.

## What to see
- **Sail-shaped exterior (Hotel Vela)** — Distinctive curved glass and steel building visible from afar, including on approach by plane.
- **Reception atrium** — Soaring multi-storey atrium that creates an immediate sense of grandeur upon arrival.
- **Wonderful room views** — All 473 rooms face both sides of the beach, offering simultaneous city and sea panoramas.
- **WOW Suite** — Features a 31-square-metre exterior terrace, a full living room, and a spacious bedroom.

## What to do
- **W Bar** — Lounge bar with resident DJ; Eclipse-style cocktails in a stylish setting.
- **WAVE Restaurant** — All-day elegant restaurant whose decor is enhanced by natural daylight or evening lighting.
- **Bravo 24 Restaurant & Tapas Bar** — First-floor venue by Michelin-starred chef Carles Abellan, serving high-end tapas and a full gourmet menu.
- **Eclipse Bar** — Top-floor all-blue sky bar reached by dedicated elevator, with the most spectacular views of Barcelona's harbour and Montjuïc.

## Good to know
The hotel is notably remote for pedestrians despite its beachfront setting; a taxi is the practical option for visiting the city's historic centre.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/emergency-stairs-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "Iconic hotel design"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vueling-airline-landing-Barcelona-W-hotel.jpg"
    caption: "Vueling landing in Barcelona"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/entrance-Walter-Schaerer-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "Walter entering W Barcelona"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/view-room-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "View of Barceloneta from 'Wonderful' hotel room"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/standard-room-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "W Barcelona (standard) Wonderful room type"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/room-bar-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "W Barcelona minibar with a view"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Wow-suite-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "WOW Suite living room"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Wow-suite-double-bed-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "WOW Suite bedroom and bath"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/W-hotel-bar-DJ-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "DJ Kareem Junior at W Bar"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Wave-restaurant-reception-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "Wave restaurant reception"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Bravo-restaurant-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "Bravo restaurant by renowned chef Carles Abellan"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cava-Bravo-tapas-bar.jpg"
    caption: "Cava at Bravo 24 tapas bar"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/eclipse-bar-W-hotel-Barcelona.jpg"
    caption: "Eclipse sky bar"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/view-elevator-W-hotel-Barcelona-night.jpg"
    caption: "View of Barcelona from Eclipse bar by night"
```