4* H10 Casanova

TWO Hotel Barcelona by Axel 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.

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.

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.

Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Gran Via is a useful budget-conscious option on the western side of Eixample. It sits on Carrer de la Diputació, within walking distance of the Gayxample bars and particularly convenient for venues around Rocafort, Casanova and Villarroel. The hotel is straightforward rather than boutique, but that is part of the appeal if price matters. Its rooms are modern and air-conditioned, with free Wi-Fi, minibar, tea and coffee facilities and comfortable bathrooms. There’s also a breakfast buffet, café-bar, 24-hour reception, business lounge and underground parking. Rocafort metro station is nearby, while Plaça Espanya, the airport bus and Fira Barcelona are all easily accessible. Plaça Catalunya can also be reached on foot if you don’t mind a slightly longer stroll. It doesn’t have the rooftop pools and cocktail terraces of several other GayMapper choices, but you’re paying for a good room in a useful location rather than facilities you may barely use.

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.

The area around the adult only Hotel Axel Barcelona is known as the Geixample because of its lively gay scene. The staff has knowledge of the local gay scene, and the hotel is hetero-friendly too. Axel Hotel Barcelona is something of a Gayxample institution and one of the easiest recommendations for anyone who wants their hotel to be part of the gay Barcelona experience. Sitting directly on Carrer d’Aribau, you’re surrounded by many of the city’s best-known gay bars, clubs, cafés and saunas, so there’s little need to think about taxis at the end of the night. The hotel itself occupies an attractive 19th-century building but has a contemporary, distinctly Axel personality inside. The rooftop Sky Bar is a major draw, with a swimming pool, hot tub, sun terrace and regular parties attracting both hotel guests and locals. There’s also a substantial spa with sauna, steam facilities, hydromassage pool, gym and treatments. Passeig de Gràcia, Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla are all easily walkable too. GayMapper tip: choose the original Axel if you want the most social, scene-focused hotel experience in Barcelona.