Casa Bonay isn’t just a hotel — it’s a lived-in slice of Barcelona life. Behind a 19th-century façade lies a world of sunlight, books, and slow mornings scented with coffee and citrus. A place where design meets authenticity, and the city’s easy rhythm becomes your own.
Casa Bonay is where local soul meets cosmopolitan charm. Designed by Barcelona studio Studio Tack, the 67-room property breathes new life into a neoclassical building from 1869. Its original mosaic floors, soaring shutters, and cast-iron balconies set the tone for interiors that blend Mediterranean minimalism with tactile warmth — think woven rugs, vintage rattan, and playful ceramics by local artists.
Every corner feels effortlessly alive: light filters through palm fronds in the central patio, laughter spills from Libertine bar, and the scent of coffee drifts from Tostao. It’s a home for locals and travelers alike — a creative playground where the lines between work, pleasure, and community blur.
Upstairs, the rooftop terrace — Chiringuito — is a sun-drenched refuge for long afternoons, now channeling the warm spirit of the Turkish Mediterranean: meze, ocakbaşı, grilled meats and veggies, soft breads, and that easy vermut hour over Eixample rooftops.
There’s wellness on the skyline, too: Termas Bonay offers three thermal circuits plus small-group Breathwork/Ice Bath sessions.
And then there’s Bodega Bonay: a neighbourhood-beloved dining room led by Head Chef Giacomo Hassan, celebrating biodynamic produce and pan-Mediterranean plates — sea-urchin royale, glazed eel with coleslaw, braised pork jowl on pa amb tomàquet, artichoke tatin from the chef’s family recipe — alongside a 250+ reference wine list spotlighting innovative organic winemakers.
Tostao — your in-house fix done right; for an off-site detour, El Magnífico in El Born.
Passeig de Sant Joan — leafy, local, and perfect for a mellow stroll to Ciutadella Park.
Róuri — a Barcelona-based label that makes timeless linen & cotton items; drop by their local store for thoughtful craftsmanship.
Onia Cafè for the best pastries - try the alfajor! Or Pastelería Hofmann — the famed croissant worth the pilgrimage.
Libertine Bar — within Casa Bonay.
Ciutadella Park lawns — soft light, street musicians, and palms.
El Puestu — a local’s favourite for unpretentious Mediterranean dining and seasonal tapas, as well as traditional dishes like fricandó or callos.
Forget the Barcelona of highlights and hotspots.
Barcelona changes entirely when you experience it through the people who live its rhythms — the makers, cooks, designers, historians and neighbourhood voices who give the city its edge.
Thoughtfully designed and created with local collaborators, this guide blends neighbourhood insight, slow itineraries, under-the-radar bars and bodegas, meaningful encounters, architectural context, and the everyday places locals actually return to.
Made for travellers who want depth, beauty, and a way in.
Explore a different Barcelona with our travel guide in your favourite format.
