Angel in Anthracite

Angel in Anthracite: Catalonia

Barcelona’s bohemian Gracia is a design-lover’s paradise. This is where you’ll find Antonio Gaudi’s masterpiece Park Güell, as well the kitsch foreign-language cinema Cine Verdi and cutting-edge boutiques on Carrer Verdi. So if you’re staying here, it really needs to be in a home that pushes the boundaries design-wise. Try this smart and sultry apartment on for size. It has space and natural light in abundance, but it’s the host’s keen sense of style that makes this home such a superb stay. We love the ornate Catalan tiles next to warm parquet wooden floors in the kitchen, and the open-plan living room's butter-soft leather sofa. The bedrooms offer comfort and drama in equal measure, with dark walls and sumptuous bedding. But the best bit must be the balcony, with views across the city. Pour yourself a glass of sangria and watch the buzz on the streets beneath you.

Home truths:
*This home faces a main street, so it might be a bit noisy at night
*If you're travelling with children, be sure to keep an eye on them while on the balcony
*There is only air conditioning in some rooms