3* Hotel Jazz

Ohla Eixample is the splurge option in this list: a five-star boutique hotel for travellers who want design, food and service to be as important as easy access to Barcelona’s gay scene. It sits between Rambla de Catalunya and Avinguda Diagonal, with the Gayxample still comfortably reachable on foot. The striking ceramic façade hints at what you’ll find inside: beautifully designed contemporary rooms, a rooftop terrace with heated outdoor swimming pool, gym and sophisticated public spaces. Food is a major part of the experience too, with acclaimed dining, a stylish lobby bar and rooftop cocktails. The location is excellent for a more upscale Barcelona stay. La Pedrera is just a few minutes away, Passeig de Gràcia and its designer shops are close by, and Casa Batlló is easily walkable. This isn’t a scene hotel, and that is rather the appeal. GayMapper tip: choose Ohla if you want Barcelona’s LGBTQ+ nightlife accessible when you want it, but prefer to come home to something distinctly luxurious afterwards.

Hostal Boutique Khronos is proof that staying somewhere inexpensive in Barcelona doesn’t necessarily mean ending up in a characterless budget chain. This small gay-friendly guesthouse has just nine rooms and combines a genuinely personal atmosphere with a very useful Eixample location. Rooms are simple but stylish, with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and safes; some also have balconies. There’s a pleasant communal rooftop terrace where you can sit outside with breakfast or a drink, and the small scale of the property gives Khronos a much more intimate feel than the larger hotels on this list. The location is on Carrer de Mallorca near Passeig de Gràcia, with La Pedrera and Casa Batlló easily walkable. The main Gayxample nightlife is a little farther away than from Soho or Leonardo, but still reachable on foot. GayMapper tip: a strong option for travellers who want something friendly and individual, and would rather keep more of the holiday budget for Barcelona itself.

Axel Two Barcelona TWO offers the same LGBTQ-focused philosophy as the original Axel but in a newer, calmer and more contemporary setting. It sits on Carrer de Calàbria at the western end of the Gayxample, with many of the neighbourhood’s gay bars and clubs within a comfortable walk. Rooms are modern and soundproofed, with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, minibar, safe and Nespresso coffee facilities. Upstairs you’ll find a rooftop Sky Bar, swimming pool and sun terrace, plus a wellness area with gym, steam room and massage treatments. There’s also private parking in the building — unusually useful if you happen to be arriving in Barcelona by car. Rocafort metro is just around the corner, while Plaça Espanya and the airport bus connections are easily accessible. GayMapper tip: compared with the original Axel, TWO generally feels a little more relaxed. A particularly good choice if you want the gay-hotel experience without necessarily having the party directly outside your room.

Hotel Soho is one of the strongest lower-priced options around the Gayxample and openly embraces its location in Barcelona’s LGBTQ+ neighbourhood. It sits on Gran Via, close to Urgell metro and only a few minutes’ walk from the gay bars around Casanova, Diputació and Villarroel. Rooms are contemporary, soundproofed and air-conditioned, with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and modern bathrooms. They’re relatively simple compared with some of the four-star hotels nearby, but the Soho has one feature you might not expect at this price level: a rooftop terrace with seasonal swimming pool, loungers and panoramic city views. There’s also a substantial breakfast buffet, 24-hour reception, luggage storage and private parking. Plaça Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia are around ten minutes away on foot, while the airport bus stops at nearby Plaça Universitat. For a three-star hotel, the combination of gay-scene location, rooftop pool and generally strong guest reviews makes Soho particularly good value.

Cram Hotel is almost perfectly positioned for Gayxample nightlife, sitting on Carrer d’Aribau just a couple of blocks from Axel and surrounded by bars, restaurants and cafés. It’s a particularly good alternative if you want to be right in the gay district but prefer a sophisticated boutique hotel rather than a specifically gay property. Behind its handsome 1892 modernist façade, the interiors are contemporary and stylish, with air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, large flat-screen TVs and particularly comfortable beds. Some rooms also have private balconies. The seventh-floor rooftop is one of the hotel’s highlights, with a seasonal swimming pool, sun terrace and bar overlooking the city. Dining is another strong point, with the acclaimed Angle restaurant located within the hotel, plus cocktail and poolside bars. Plaça Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and Casa Batlló are all around a ten-minute walk away, making Cram equally convenient for sightseeing and going out.

Occidental Atenea Mar is the one to choose if your Barcelona priorities involve considerably more sand and considerably fewer city pavements. This adults-only four-star hotel sits directly by the seafront in Poblenou, just 150 metres from Nova Mar Bella beach and within easy walking distance along the promenade of the popular gay section of Mar Bella. The hotel has a distinctly resort-like feel compared with our Eixample choices. There’s a seasonal infinity pool and sun terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, Balinese beds, a gym, sauna, restaurant and bar. Rooms are modern and air-conditioned, with many offering sea views. You’re obviously much farther from Gayxample nightlife here, so this works best if the beach is the priority and you’re happy taking a taxi or public transport into town in the evening. Poblenou metro is around ten minutes away, while buses run along the seafront. GayMapper tip: a particularly good summer choice if Mar Bella is likely to feature heavily in your daily plans.