Gran Hotel La Florida
Hotel Overview
After nearly four years of restoration work Gran Hotel La Florida opened its
doors on April 29th, 2003. The Hotel which has a total of 74 Rooms
sits atop Mount Tibidabo, 300 meters over the city and offers spectacular views
of Barcelona and out to the blue Mediterranean Sea beyond to one side and the
snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees and sacred Montserrat to the other. The
comfort and elegance of its interior decoration, attention to detail and
facilities such as L’Orangerie Restaurant combine with the beauty of its
exterior gardens and magical views to make a stay at La Florida an unforgettable
experience.
HistoryGran Hotel La Florida is part
of the collective memory of many people in Barcelona who witnessed its birth at
the hand of architect Ramón Raventós. The restoration project of La Florida
set out to create an emblematic Hotel for the city of Barcelona while at the
same time respecting the original façade of the building that has been declared
a historic landmark.
The Hotel Florida was first
inaugurated in 1925 and was the realization of one man’s dream, Dr. Andreu,
who wanted to build Barcelona’s best hotel in Barcelona’s best location.
The
splendour, however, was not to last long. Like so many other things in Spanish
life, the civil war took its toll on the Hotel when it was used as a military
hospital. Again mirroring Spanish society, from that point on the history of the
building is a long and arduous one. Over
the years the Hotel passed from hand to hand, with differing levels of success.
During the 1950’s Hotel La Florida
was the place of choice for Barcelona’s high society serving mainly as a
summer residence for wealthy Catalan families and was the unofficial hotel of
Barcelona’s football club. Over the years Ernest Hemingway, James Stewart,
George Sanders, Rod Hudson, Princess Fabiola and the Prince of Belgium all
stayed in the prestigious hotel, as did other more sinister characters such as
Himmler and his enormous entourage. Finally in 1979, La Florida succumbed to the
passage of time and was closed.
In the year 2001 the Hotel La Florida was rescued from abandonment. The project
to refurbish the building had three main objectives: recuperate to the greatest
degree possible the antique decorative and structural elements of the old hotel,
respect the natural environment in which the hotel is found and improve the
visual impact of the Hotel on mountain on which it sits. The spirit of
the old hotel and its Noucentista style was
respected to a maximum degree. The new project also used the natural vegetation
of the Collserola Park in the hotel’s gardens.
One
of the most unique aspects of the Gran Hotel La Florida is its perfect synthesis
of the traditional and the new, the work of artisans combined with new
technologies and materials. Within La Florida wrought iron and antique carpentry
blend easily with stainless steel and glass.
Location
Gran Hotel La Florida is
located atop Mount Tibidabo and has impressive panoramic views of the city of
Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. The luxury urban resort is situated 500
metres above Barcelona yet is only 7km from the city. The nearest
Airport is only 20
minutes from the Hotel.
Rooms
Gran Hotel La Florida has a total of 74 rooms and suites, of which 52
are double rooms and 22 are suites. Eight of the suites have been specially
designed, some by the international artists Rebecca Horn and Ben Jakober &
Yannick Vu, others by renowned decorators and architects as Cristina Macaya,
Hans Duettmann and Dale & Patricia Keller who also handled the interior design
of the entire hotel.
Many rooms offer breathtaking panoramic views over the city of Barcelona and
the Mediterranean Sea. Some rooms have a private Jacuzzi and large terrace
gardens.
All rooms feature the luxurious standards of a five-star hotel. They are
comfortably and elegantly equipped with:
- Large double beds
- Spacious wardrobes
- Generous marble bathrooms with in-floor heating
- Heated towel racks,
- Walk-in showers,
- Large mirrors
- Air-conditioning and heating
- Satellite large screen plasma TV
- Minibar
- IDSL telephone and internet access
- Private safe
Rooms & Suite Styles
Suite Miramar: Spacious unique suite designed by Cristina Macaya with
one large bedroom, marble bathroom, a private living room area with majestic
sofas and a spacious table. Large arch windows overlooking the city, terrace
with spectacular views, dining table and sun beds. The dominating colors are
lavender silver and wooden colors.
Suite Miramar can be connected with Suite Tibidabo converting like this into
the Great Presidential Suite with an area of 150 m2.
Suite Tibidabo: Spacious unique suite designed by Cristina Macaya with
one large bedroom and a marble bathroom. The suite features a private terrace
with Jacuzzi offering spectacular views. The dominating colors are lavender,
silver and wooden colors.
Suite Tibidabo can be connected with Suite Miramar converting like this into
the Great Presidential Suite with an area of 150 m2.
They both include:
- Sea view
- Air-conditioning
- Temperature control
- Desk
- Armchairs
- Plasma satellite TV
- Direct dial phone
- High speed internet connection
- Voice mail
- Minibar
- Safe
- Smoke alarm
- Walk-in shower
- Bathtub
- Hair dryer
- Bathrobes
- Slippers
- Internet wireless access
Sky Terrace Suite: Spacious unique suite 80 m² on hotel's top floor
designed by Rebecca Horn with a large bedroom area separated from the living
area by a room divider. Enormous terrace of 80 m² with spectacular views over
the city and the Pyrenees, private Jacuzzi, dining table and sun beds.
Spectacular bathroom and shower. Philippe Starck bathtub with sweeping views
over the city.
- Sea or mountain view
- Air-conditioning
- Temperature control
- Desk
- Armchairs
- Plasma satellite TV
- Direct dial phone
- High speed internet connection
- Voice mail
- Minibar
- Safe
- Smoke alarm
- Walk-in shower
- Bathtub
- Hair dryer
- Bathrobes
- Slippers
- Internet wireless access
Japanese Suite: Spacious and bright unique suite designed by Dale
Keller in Japanese style with Japanese furniture and art works; private Zen
Japanese garden with terrace, Jacuzzi, dining table and sun beds overlooking the
mountains of Montserrat.
Wall with flat Plasma TV dividing sleeping and living areas. Spectacular
views of the Spa, pool and Barcelona.
- Air-conditioning
- Temperature control
- Des
- Armchairs
- Plasma satellite TV
- Direct dial phone
- High speed internet connection
- Voice mail
- Minibar
- Safe
- Smoke alarm
- Internet wireless access
Penthouse Loft: Bright, unique suite with a surface of 55 m². Designed
by Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu, exclusive modern-art design furniture, pieces of
art and a lit sculpture; dominating colors are white, red and silver.
- Mountain view
- Air-conditioning
- Temperature control
- Desk
- Armchairs
- Plasma satellite TV
- Direct dial phone
- High speed internet connection
- Voice mail
- Minibar
- Safe
- Smoke alarm
- Rustic marble bathroom with walk-in shower
- Bathtub
- Internet wireless access
Tower Suite: Spacious, unique Ying and Yang suite designed by Rebecca
Horn, with a large bedroom area separated from the living area by a room
divider. Each has a tower with a chill-out zone with a secluded daybed for two,
reached by an open staircase.
The staircase is made up of lacquered Chinese boxes, within which are
cupboards, a mini bar, safe and TV. You may vary the light-setting of the suite
with a light-reflecting mirror sculpture.
- Sea or mountain view
- Air-conditioning
- Temperature control
- Desk
- Armchairs
- Plasma satellite TV
- Direct dial phone
- High speed internet connection
- Voice mail
- Minibar
- Safe
- Smoke alarm
- Walk-in shower
- Bathtub
- Internet wireless access
Deluxe Room: Bright rooms with spectacular views overlooking Barcelona
and the Mediterranean Sea, tall windows and high ceilings, some have a balcony
and daylight bathrooms.
Art Nouveau style of decoration; you may choose between smoking and
non-smoking rooms.
Terrace Room: Spacious and bright rooms overlooking Barcelona and the
Mediterranean Sea or the mountains of Montserrat. Big walk-out windows, private
terrace with outside table and sun beds.
Art Nouveau style of decoration; you may choose between smoking and non-smoking
rooms.
They both include:
- Air-conditioning / temperature control
- Desk
- Armchairs
- Plasma satellite TV
- Direct dial phone
- High speed internet connection
- Voice mail
- Minibar
- Safe
- Rustic marble bathroom
- Walk-in shower
- Bathtub
- Internet wireless access
Services
ZenZone SPA
The ZenZone SPA has become a unique oasis in Barcelona, known for the
personalized service provided as well as its Hamman, sauna, caldarium and
fitness centre.
For added pleasure, the Spa has a 37-meter edgeless stainless steel indoor –
outdoor swimming pool that appears to spill off the side of the mountain and
down onto the city below.
Exclusive La Florida Services:
- Gift shops
- Exclusive limousine service
- Private guide service
- Valet service
- Parking
- Handicapped access rooms
- Mountain bike rental
Food & Beverages
L’Orangerie has two separate dining areas as well as a beautiful
terrace with views. The restaurant is open to anyone who wants to experience an
unforgettable gastronomic event in an unbeatable setting.
Each Sunday and on public holidays we serve a Buffet-Brunch. It is a gastronomic
treat that reflects the most exquisite tastes of Catalan, Spanish and
Mediterranean cooking.
Service at L’Orangerie is refined and attentive yet discreet. The staff all have
an eye for detail that makes dining here a real pleasure.
Bar Miramar
The Miramar Bar is located outside, with marvelous views over Barcelona and next
to the 37m-long swimming-pool, where not only the Hotel's clients, but also the
local people can enjoy the fresh salads, light dishes and refreshing drinks
during the day and at night one can sip long drinks and exotic cocktails.
During the summer months, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays you can enjoy
ambient lounge music on the terraces with DJ Monsieur Pamplemousse.
Situated within the hotel is Club Luna, a private nightclub where you
can enjoy a cocktail and your private events.