The Hoxton Poblenou review — Where Soph Went

The Hoxton Poblenou review - in a sentence:

Stylish, light-filled Barcelona bolthole featuring the rooftop of literal dreams.

Design: 5/5

It’s no secret that I love a Hoxton hotel, and the brand’s approach to design makes up a huge part of my obsession!

Other fans of the brand will appreciate plenty of familiar Hoxton design hallmarks, here - such as statement headboards, playful use of colour, and layering of different prints/textures.

Rooms here feature gorgeous hand-woven tapestries, and incredible views of the Sagrada Familia (in certain categories - I booked a “Roomy View” room for this exact reason).

But I must admit, the stand-out feature for me? Undoubtedly the rooftop pool, bar and restaurant - Tope.

I feel like rooftops are also becoming a bit of a niche for the Hoxton - if you’ve visited The Hoxton in Southwark, you’ll no doubt have made it up to Seabird, their super luxe and impactfully-designed rooftop. For Londoners, Seabird has become a destination in its own right, beyond the hotel.

I’ve no doubt Tope has / will become the same, with locals and hotel residents alike flocking there to enjoy a few tacos and margs with an unmatched view of the Sagrada Familia.

Food & drink: 3/5

Tope serves a delicious Mexican menu, and we really enjoyed what we had - in fact we lazed away an entire afternoon by the pool, grazing on tacos and cocktails!

Meanwhile, Four Corners serves Detroit-style deep dish pizza. I’ve tried Four Corners at The Hoxton’s Holborn wine bar and I must admit, it wasn’t for me - I like my pizza more on the lighter side. Buuuut Four Corners as a space is absolutely beautiful - I’m obsessed with the gingham seating and the oversized paper pendant lighting.

Location: 4/5

Poblenou has industrial roots, and is now an up and coming district of Barcelona - a bit like Shoreditch, 10 years ago.

Much like Shoreditch, it’s full of cool coffee shops and brunch spots (I highly, highly recommend Little Fern). Just a short walk away you’re on to the Rambla del Poblenou, a gorgeous and tree lined street more reminiscent of a Paris boulevard than Barcelona. The best bit? It takes you right down to a beautiful section of beach - just up from Barceloneta, and much less busy.

Outside of the immediate locale, Poblenou is really well-placed to explore the city, with Glories metro stop literally one minute away and some of the major sights - such as the Parc de la Cuitadella and the Sagrada Familia - within easy walking distance.

To be honest I was warned-off this area by some of my Instagram pals as being a bit far out, but I must say I disagree - I think it’s a great location and gives you the best of all worlds.

To-do: 4/5

Between the glorious rooftop, the pizza parlour, the buzzy bar in the lobby and even the in-house bodega - the amenities here are fantastic for a city-centre hotel. Of course, you’ll spend much of your trip out and about exploring this wonderful city, but it’s always nice to be able to retreat to the comfort of a fantastic hotel rather than having to pound the pavements for every drink, snack, or moment of down time.

Anything else I should know?

The pool

Sunbeds and tables by the pool are for the use of residents, only, but they do need to be pre-booked. At the time of writing, you can book them once the week of your stay arrives. (When I booked, the policy was slightly different, so do keep an eye on the website.)

We booked a slot for immediately after our arrival, which made the MOST relaxing start to our trip. Highly recommend!

Flexy time

One of my favourite things about The Hoxton is their ‘flexy time’ policy, where - if you book directly - you can specify the exact check-in and check-out time you would like. This means you can squeeze the absolute max out of your stay until you leave, plus you don’t need to worry about faffing around with putting your bags in storage.

The final word:

In easy walking distance of the beach and the sights, and heavily led by cohesive design and a leisurely experience, this is definitely one of the best hotels in Barcelona.

Review: The Hoxton, Poblenou