The Hotel Ritz is one of a kind in Barcelona. It has seen many celebrities pass through its doors including the Duke of Windsor, Arthur Rubenstein, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, Salvador Dali, Xavier Cugat, Woody Allen, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Elle McPherson, to name but a few. Its elegantly decorated rooms and suites all have superb bathrooms, double-glazed and soundproofed windows, televisions with satellite channels and CNN, safe-deposit boxes, direct dial telephones, minibars and 24-hour room service. The comfortable suites are composed of a living room with one or two connecting bedrooms.

Ritz's standard rooms, with twin or king-size beds. Exterior rooms with city views through double windows. Decorated in old-world charm with fireplaces in all rooms. Size, 38 square metres.

Exterior rooms with city views through double windows and with king-size or twin beds. Old-world charm with walls beautifully decorated and a fireplace. Unique and exclusive Roman bath, made in mosaic. Size, 42 square metres.

One bedroom suites, which are exterior rooms with city views through double windows. All Junior Suites have one bedroom and a living room separated by a curtain. In addition, there are two complete bathrooms and either two single, one double or one king bed. These suites have beautifully decorated walls and a fireplace. The adjoining spacious living room (30 square metres) has access from both the bedroom and the corridor. Unique and exclusive Roman bath made in mosaic. Size, 60 square metres.

Unique in the hotel, this exterior room has city views through double windows. The Royal Suite has a charming bedroom, with walls beautifully decorated and a fireplace. Unique and exclusive Roman bath, made in mosaic. Gorgeous living room (size 50 square metres), classically decorated with 19th-century lamps. Overall size, 85 square metres.

Dining at the Diana Restaurant is a unique experience; it is decorated in shades of blue and has a huge custom-made rug of hand-knotted wool, imitating the colours and designs of the hotel when it was first opened. This covers the entire floor of the restaurant and complements the atmosphere of candlelight, piano music and, in the winter, an open fire. The restaurant offers exquisite international, national and regional cuisine.

Afternoon tea or cocktails and aperitifs can be enjoyed in the Hall Bar to the sound of live piano music.

Over the decades, this renowned bar has hosted many society parties.

The hotel is very close to the Paseo de Gracia Avenue, with its numerous businesses and shops, the famous Ramblas in the gothic quarter and the Palau de la Musica, the renowned city hall. Barcelona sight seeing bus costs approximately €10.00 and the subway €0.84 per journey, or €3.50 for a three-day pass.