Cotton House

Barcelona’s Cotton House Hotel stands on the site of the former headquarters of the Cotton Textile Foundation. In the late 18th century, the cotton trend revolutionised not only the fashion industry but the entire global economy. This was a development that had grown over time, once popularised by Marie Antoinette being depicted in a simple cotton dress. The sartorial choice was so controversial that the portrait hade to be redone, with the queen wearing silk, but the initial version was so powerful that it catapulted the cotton industry into the future. 

The hotel holds several clues to this past in the shape of colonial-inspired details, created by interior designer Lázaro Rosa Violán. Many of the original elements of the building have been preserved, such as the imposing marble staircase and boiserie ceilings. 

The house itself is an emblematic 19th-century landmark building. It was once the headquarters of the Cotton Producers Guild, but since 22015, it has been operated as a hotel. Contemporary details have been added, such as the rooftop terrace with its rectangular swimming pool, ensuring that a stay here combines elegance with comfort. 

Of note is the famous spiral staircase from 1957, one of the building’s main features as it’s not supported on the floor below but suspended from the metal frame of the upper floor, which gives it a light and airy impression. 

Breakfast is served in the main dining room, with generous portions and attentive service.  Starting the day by indulging in a big (and expensive) breakfast was one of our favourite things about staying at the Cotton House Hotel. Our second favourite thing was ending the evening with a drink by the fireplace, in close competition with cooling off by the pool after a hot day walking around the city. 

Sometimes, staying at a five star-hotel can be a quite generic experience, as though the hotels are following the same brief, but at Cotton House, the service is both informal and relaxed, making interactions a more personal – and thus enjoyable – experience. 

Cotton House Hotel

Barcelona, Spain