Kimpton Vividora, Barcelona review: the hotel where families can flex stylish

Don’t judge the hype: immoderate Barcelona locals whitethorn person been complaining astir tourists, but it remains Europe’s elite metropolis interruption experience. This is exemplified by the Kimpton Vividora, not truthful overmuch a hotel arsenic a phantasy cosplay wherever you are doubly arsenic chill arsenic accustomed and the full satellite loves you.

This 5 prima edifice is astir bizarrely situated down an innocuous thoroughfare successful the Gothic Quarter, adjacent to the cardinal buying country of La Rambla (which, incidentally is often flagged arsenic Barcelona’s mentation of Oxford Street, but fto maine archer you, it’s obscurity adjacent arsenic grotty, threatening and disfigured arsenic London’s troubled centre - pedestrianisation can’t travel speedy capable if you inquire me) but precise chiseled successful character.

The Gothic Quarter is simply a haven for shops, creation galleries, restaurants, and cafes amid its awesome medieval and Roman landmarks, and is afloat of surprises - but it inactive comes arsenic a daze to participate the Vividora. The spot has a consciousness of elan and sophistication that is evident with the highly engaged staff, the modern décor and conscionable the consciousness of the place. Hidden gem is the phrase. Or would be, if the connection weren’t retired connected the Vividora. For us, though, the trial was however bully it was for families, with each the unsophisticated demands they create.

Think Soho House made for socialising not privacy. Modern, creator décor, locally-produced furniture, the spot has a definite verve that balances precocious benignant with homeliness.

The downstairs lobby each houses a barroom called GOT. This abstraction has wide windows onto the thoroughfare and is deliberately adjacent to the entrance, to let for the Gothic Quarter buzz to permeate. It’s seating program makes socialising with others an inevitability, thing which the edifice is keen to enactment – and does so, astir memorably with the regular ‘wine o’clock’ sessions. An hr of escaped vino earlier meal call, surely lubricates conversation, and let’s look it, is the lone mode america English tin negociate it. What we liked, was however overmuch our children - aged 9 and eleven - were made to consciousness invited there. Good job: I wasn’t astir to miss it.

We had our children with america and shared a household room, which is really 2 interconnecting rooms – cleanable for a spot of bid from children, and I’m definite they’d say, from adults. The benignant is modern, apartment-style, with locally designed furniture, with a bully interaction of French windows and a tiny balcony to support that metropolis buzz going.

I liked the trendy interaction of a signature scent too, this 1 from Carner Barcelona – I for one, don’t conscionable similar to enactment successful a hotel, I similar to odor of it. Fully immerse.

Aside from vino o timepiece downstairs, determination is simply a rooftop barroom with swimming excavation called Terraza De Vivi. Such rooftop amenities are an indispensable portion of Barcelona beingness and are a peculiar godsend for those of america with children.

City breaks unavoidably impact a batch of walking around, and small ones getting fed up is truthful besides unavoidable; coming backmost to a rooftop excavation is simply a large mode to debar atrocious moods and sulks. Cocktails successful the barroom are outstanding, with the achromatic sangrias peculiarly doing the occupation for me, on with endless croquetas.

The jewel successful the, er, nutrient crown astatine the Vividora, however, is Fauna, their edifice offering modern spins connected accepted fare. It feels homely and relaxed, arsenic truthful fewer ‘quality’ edifice restaurants do, which again, makes a hellhole of a quality erstwhile you person children.

I had an astonishing grilled Turbot, portion my kiddies stuck to their guns with chickenhearted and my spouse had a Tenderloin of aged beef. Conservative choices, but that’s the benignant of spot it is: comfortableness eating, not showing disconnected eating. Besides, we besides had a cheeky summation of a section cheeseboard with the starters, which isn’t precise British is it?

Thanks to the recommendations of the squad astatine the Vividora, we had a packed docket for the children. Obviously, we didn’t bash everything, but immoderate things conscionable person to beryllium done. The Sagrada Familia feels similar a symptom to get to, and astir a tourer cliché…yet, it’s a must. Gaudi’s masterpiece – if thing unfinished tin beryllium a masterpiece, which I deliberation it tin – is simply a Catholic religion arsenic imagined by an alien with a meringue fetish. Inside and out, it volition enthral young and aged alike. Apparently, they’ve astir finished it, implicit 140 years since it was started.

Closer to the Vividora, we besides liked the Museum of Chocolate, but peculiarly had a bully clip astatine Moco Museum, the small enclave of modern creation which is precise Instagrammable and interactive, and truthful large amusive for the kids too. There’s nary forbidding chill and hush here, lone joyousness successful the exhibitions including works by Banksy, Basquiat and Robbie Williams. Yes, that one.

Families who cognize however to flex stylish.