Tourist in my own city: 24h in a hotel in the Covid era

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That traveling is safe is, very possibly, the statement I have repeated most often in recent months to everyone. Fortunately, I am not alone in this; many join my mantra, and among them, Inés Miró-Sans, co-founder of one of Barcelona's most charismatic hotels, Casa Bonay.

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She does so while we enjoy a coffee at Satan's Coffee, the corner of this temple for caffeine addicts located within the hotel itself, which serves one of the best, possibly the best?, coffee in Barcelona. Things have changed a lot since Marcos Bartolomé left La Rioja, his homeland, to settle in Barcelona, and he is credited with driving a wave of high-quality barista-style coffee in the city.

But returning to Casa Bonay, this project, now a reality that has broken molds and generated inspiration worldwide, was born, at the time, from two circumstances: a close collaboration between designers, artists, chefs, coffee roasters (hello, Marcos), architects and more, and, of course, the tenacity of Miró-Sans, its co-founder. Her dream, Casa Bonay, began many years ago, and it did so under a strong conviction: "To make people, guests, feel good, regardless of whether it is a hotel with 10 rooms or 400. I wanted a place where one could feel at home."

What began as a dream soon, not without many comings and goings and even a New York adventure that makes for another article, came to life as a new hotel in the Dreta de l'Eixample. And it was not alone: a restaurant, a cafeteria, a cocktail bar, and the entire soul of that inspiring Barcelona that captivated the world were with it. They, and a necessary breath of fresh air that "filled some gaps in the city," explains Miró-Sans. And the rest is not history; it is the present and necessary future for a city that may be taking a few steps back, but it will only be to gain momentum.

I arrive at Casa Bonay, clad in a trench coat and rain boots, dragging my suitcase to a reception area where the building's concierge used to be; I confess that traveling light has never been my thing. "We restored this beautiful house from 1869, preserving all the old hydraulic floors, ceilings, and sliding doors, and added our favorite lamps from Santa & Cole, filled the minibars with our favorite treats, and designed the furniture together with Marc Morro from AOO to create the hotel of our dreams," says Inés Miró-Sans. This is pure Barcelona, I think, creative, awake, alive, and tasteful, how lucky for locals to be able to enjoy places like this. And this is what I plan to do for the next 24 hours.

Casa Bonay is a hotel housed in a mid-19th century neoclassical building that has respected not only its soul but also its structure to the maximum. I don't say it, it is perceived in the common areas and a bit also in the room itself. Mine, with a terrace and views of one of the characteristic Eixample block patios, is quiet, bright, and relaxed. I have a yoga mat, my bed is covered by a blanket woven by the local non-profit company Teixidors, and the (reusable) amenities are from the American brand Malin+Goetz. Open bar of pleasure in my shower.

The social aspect of hotels

And even though the hotel seems designed to be Instagram fodder, the interesting thing here is that besides being beautiful, it is practical, functional, and on top of that, you can eat and drink well. Outside my room, and it's hard for me to leave, I head towards Libertine. This multidisciplinary space by day, which by night is the most stylish cocktail bar in the city, is open to guests and locals, has original tiled floors, lighting by Santa & Cole, and the fabrics come from local workshops. Here, at street level, you can spend the day working, chatting, drinking natural wines, or enjoying one of the best tiramisus in Barcelona. I ordered mine out of an urgent need for sugar and I'm still cursing the hour. Even in Covid times, the spaciousness of the place and the scrupulous sanitary protocol followed by the property and its workers make the environment a safe place.

In addition to Libertirne and Satan's Coffee, the hotel has two more gastronomic, playful, and social spaces, El Chiringuito and King Kong Lady. The first occupies the building's rooftop and offers tapas and summer barbecues all year round, as well as a selection of natural wines accompanied by a smile from its staff. Sometimes what costs the least is what we value the most. And besides the value of things, when talking about a hotel, it's always good to mention its price, a psychological barrier installed in locals who fear going to these establishments for fear of the price because, of course, they are for tourists. Here, starters range from 4.5 to 9 euros for their tuna sashimi. And main courses range from 7 to 11 euros for the octopus with black olive mayonnaise. From a bird's eye view, on the rooftop of Casa Bonay, the prices are much more reasonable than in many street-level establishments. One must lose the fear of crossing a hotel lobby.

More options to be a tourist in Barcelona

But not only Casa Bonay opens to the city to welcome local tourists; many of the top names in Catalan hospitality, such as the W Hotel or the Majestic, are also encouraging Barcelonians to experience firsthand what it means to enjoy a night or a dinner in some of Barcelona's best luxury hotels.

The Hotel W Barcelona, known as 'vela' (sail), has just created a package for locals that includes a room with sea views, dinner at its Fire restaurant, breakfast, and parking from 275 euros, while the emblematic Hotel Majestic offers the same in the heart of Barcelona with beautiful views of the city from its Dolce Vitae terrace from 249 euros, dinner and breakfast included. Another of the greats, the Hotel Claris, also encourages locals to experience what it means to enjoy a day and a night in such a hotel in an exceptional time. Living like a tourist in your own city is to rest, eat well, and, above all, to be able to experience firsthand the daily life of the hotel, the involvement and effort of the staff in such a difficult time for the sector. Not only in the Claris, but in all Catalan hospitality.