Rice Wine

Rice Wine: Catalonia

If you can wake up and see the Sagrada Família from your bedroom window, your home must be in a pretty incredible location in Barcelona. A nine-minute walk from this Catalan colossus, this apartment offers a serene stay in an otherwise lively neighbourhood. While nearby architecture aims to overwhelm you with decorative and ornate features, the interiors here are quite the opposite – understated and zen. The decor takes inspiration from Japan, with wood-panelled walls, bamboo furnishings, and a delicate ink mural in the lounge. We love the sense of calm you can enjoy indoors, with the option to step out to your own private terrace and take in the sounds of the city centre. With coveted views of Gaudí’s masterpiece directly from this spot, we imagine you’ll be spending plenty of time up here (with a glass of tempranillo in hand). Back on ground level, take a four-minute walk to the Encants metro station and whizz around the city with ease. Whether you’d prefer a day on the shores of Barceloneta Beach, or an evening by the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, your home is a perfect base for exploring this diverse metropolis.

Home truths:
*This home has a washing machine, but no dryer – the warm climate should suffice for drying your laundry *If you're here on business, you'll have two separate laptop-friendly workspaces, as well as the dining table in the lounge *The second bedroom has a small double bed, which we would only recommend for one adult, or perhaps two children *Your host doesn't provide essentials such as shampoo, but there are plenty of shops nearby *As this home is in one of Barcelona’s most popular areas, some city and street noise is to be expected just in case *There is only air conditioning in some rooms