Catalonia - 2
Breakfast at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is definitely an act, the first act of the day. Best way of entering Blanc, the two-storey atrium that hosts this meal, is down 23 brown-carpeted stairs. You enter a space with the upper mezzanine area of the walls filled with white trellis. Looking ahead, there's a spectacular display of seven brightly colored flower displays, all the colors of the rainbow in correct order, here temporarily for Pride but hopefully for longer. Wood tables are set with soft blue or soft orange leather-look mats.
There are two buffets, one on a century-old French table. This is a case of quality rather than quantity, and they're constantly bringing replenishments (or go à la carte, perhaps an Imperial Barcelona special, €125 each, buffet plus à la carte, plus 300 grams of Oscietra, and a glass of Champagne). Girlahead went simple, Peranada yogurt paired with fruit, granola, almond milk – and Bacon-topped pancake icecream. Yes really. The menu said pancakes and bacon icecream. In fact what arrived was a big plate with two round buttermilk pancakes, bacon, and maple syrup and, separately, the icecream. Delicious.
What a history this limestone building has. It has variously housed - 1926-36 – the famous Spanish riding club Círculo Ecuestre private club, and unions, and Franco’s storm troopers. In 2008 Reig Capital converted it into a 120-key hotel, and sold it on to the Saudi Olayan Group.
It’s certainly the hotel for fashion, housing big names from here. Loewe. And there. Prada, Zegna. Within a few minutes, too, you have one of Europe’s biggest Uniqlos. It’s a hotel for culture. The Prado, Sagrada Familia – now finally reaching the finishing post (Gaudi worked on it from 1882 until he was killed by a tram in 1926).
This is the Catalan base for Mandarin Oriental’s luxury style and genuine hospitality. And edgy mementos. Girlahead will always remember the hotel’s Turkish Manager Erhan Subasi looking, on the rooftop, as if he’s be-hatted - below. AND that pancakes and bacon icecream.
