Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 668 08010 Barcelona − Spain
Member of Leading Hotels of the World
JP Moser Stayed Here!
Located in the centre of Barcelona, very close to Las Ramblas, and in the most renowned shopping area of Barcelona, this Barcelona 5 stars hotel is surrounded by boulevards, prestigious boutiques and the city’s main attractions.
We offer you a wide range of services to meet all your needs, such as special services, private transfers and pillow menus, among many others detailed below.
El Palace has parking service for its guests
Enjoy maximum confort and speed to park your vehicle in Barcelona city center. If you travel to Barcelona with your vehicle, you can have a parking space in the parking lot guarded and managed by SABA (public) company, located only a few meters from El Palace and with direct pedestrian access to the hotel. If you wish, you can also request our valet service.
A quick arrival and departure service for guests
Speed, comfort and without waiting. At El Palace we offer you a fast service of arrival and departure procedures to avoid waiting. A service that offers comfort, speed and flexibility.
Endless surprises to entertain the children and give them a warm welcome
Do you want to relax in our Spa? Read quietly? Do you have a meeting? We will take care of it. Our specializaed team will be happy to be concerned about your kids happiness from the first moment and during your stay at the hotel.
The hotel is adapted for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities
Four The Junior Suites specially prepared. The hotel is fully accessible for people with reduced mobility and sensory disability with special bathrooms, common areas and four The Junior Suites rooms adapted and cared for in detail for your confort.
César Ritz (1850-1918)
Swiss businessman and hotel owner, considered the founding father of the modern hotel trade.
In the late 19th century he founded the Ritz Development Company hotel chain, revolutionising the history of the traditional hotel trade and introducing the new concept of luxury hotels.
He founded the Ritz hotels in Paris, London, Madrid and Barcelona.
César Ritz died in 1918, one year after the Ritz Barcelona had opened.
The concept of the Ritz hotels
Luxury, sophistication and personalised service.
César Ritz marked a turning point in modern luxury hotels:
Large rooms, indirect lighting, light fabrics, fresh flowers, paint on the walls instead of wallpaper, decorative fireplaces and, for the first time, all rooms had their own bathroom with marble baths, tiled walls and top quality piping.
An impeccable, personalised customer service was also of great important. Gourmet cuisine was also introduced under the guidance of Auguste Escoffier, with an extensive menu and quality wines, transforming the traditional guest dining rooms into sophisticated restaurants.
The concept of the Ritz hotels
Luxury, sophistication and personalised service.
César Ritz marked a turning point in modern luxury hotels:
Large rooms, indirect lighting, light fabrics, fresh flowers, paint on the walls instead of wallpaper, decorative fireplaces and, for the first time, all rooms had their own bathroom with marble baths, tiled walls and top quality piping.
An impeccable, personalised customer service was also of great important. Gourmet cuisine was also introduced under the guidance of Auguste Escoffier, with an extensive menu and quality wines, transforming the traditional guest dining rooms into sophisticated restaurants.
The location of the best hotel in the city
One the company Hotel Ritz de Barcelona SA had been formed, a fantastic location was purchased. It was a privileged plot on the corner of Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes and Roger de Lluria, where the Granvia Theatre was located. The year was 1916 and a sign was erected to announce the construction of what was to be the best hotel in the city.
The founders of the Ritz Barcelona
The company Hotel Ritz de Barcelona, SA was formed in June 1917.
The founding partners were Gonzalo Arnús and Francesc Cambó.
The first board of directors was formed by Gonzalo Arnús (chairman), Eusebio Güell (secretary) and Juan Antonio Güell, Lluís Bosch and Francesc Cambó. This was latest expanded.
Jacint Montllor, then the manager of the Ritz in Madrid, was proposed to head the project and to manage the future luxury hotel in Barcelona.
Construction of the hotel
The founders of the company Hotel Ritz de Barcelona SA, Francesc Cambó and Gonzalo Arnús, selected Eduard Ferrés as the project's architect.
Building was a slow and complicated process due to the First World War, which ended in 1918. Scarcity of materials, high prices and frequent riots meant that the planned investment was exceeded several times.
Three years after starting the work, the complications were overcome and the Barcelona Ritz was ready to open its doors.
The first banquets
One of the first banquets to be prepared at the Ritz was in early 1920, when the kitchen staff's strike had ended. It was for the employees of El Noticiero Univeral, who were celebrating the introduction of not having to work on a Sunday.
From then on, the prestige of the kitchen at the Ritz began to rise and reached such a level that it started to serve banquets outside the hotel and even the city. In one year, it had offered 288 banquets with 10,234 diners.
The Ritz and the Universal Exhibition
1929 was a year of official visits for the Ritz: the king and queen of Denmark, queen Marie of Romania and the president of the Republic of Portugal visited the hotel at the start of the year.
On 19th May 1929, king Alfonso XIII declared the opening of the Barcelona Universal Exhibition. After the opening ceremony, the royalty and their entourage visited the exhibition, which included a replica of a room at the Ritz. A banquet was held in the evening, in which the Ritz was responsible for the decoration and the banquet down to the tiniest of details.
In view of the great boom that the exhibition had meant for the city, the management decided to expand the hotel with another 60 rooms and other facilities to give a total of 250 rooms.
Seizure of the Ritz
On 22nd July 1936, shortly after the Spanish Civil War had broken out, the Ritz hotel was seized by the FOSIG (Federación Obrera de Sindicatos de la Industria Gastronómica - Workers' Federation of Food Industry Unions) and collectivised, with the ideal of nationalising the hotel industry and eliminating ostentation, christening it with the name Hotel Gastronómico N.º1. The basements became an air raid shelter.
During this time, it was also inhabited as a front hospital for the Red Cross. In early 1937, the Generalitat recovered the hotel and used it to accommodate its official visitors. It was also the headquarters for the social services sub-section of health.
Finally, thanks to Josep Tarradellas who did not allow it to become the headquarters of the Finance Department, the Ritz once again recovered its spirit.
Noteworthy visits 1940-1960
Noteworthy visits 1961-1970
Noteworthy visits 1971-1980
Noteworthy visits 1981-1990
Noteworthy visits 1991-2000
Comprehensive refurbishment
In 2017, the current El Palace continues with its ambitious comprehensive refurbishment in order to recover the splendour, classic style and glamour of its greatest years.
Special attention has been paid to offering top-class cuisine and the public areas, presidential suites and standard rooms have been carefully restored with handmade carpets, restored antiques and exact replicas of objects such as lamps and curtains.
Once of the most noteworthy works has been the seventh floor, with the creation of the Diana Garden. A romantic 750 m2 area with more than fifty species of plants, fountains, pergolas and a pool, inspired by the Barcelona of the twenties and its loveliest gardens
+34 93 510 11 30 reservas@hotelpalacebarcelona.com
Official website: https://www.hotelpalacebarcelona.com/en/
Located in the centre of the city, very close to Las Ramblas, and in the most renowned shopping area of Barcelona. It is surrounded by boulevards, prestigious boutiques and the city’s main attractions.
GDS Codes:
By car
From Estació de Sants, take Passeig De Sant Antoni and turn left, then take Plaça Dels Països Catalanes and turn right on exit 6 and drive all the way to Gran Via De Les Corts Catalanes.
Train station
Airport