ABaC

With just 15 rooms and lots of greenery, ABaC is a subdued and elegant refuge.

• The Versace tableware at the Michelin-starred Abac Restaurant is a perfect match for the decadent food and décor.
• Views of the hilltop amusement park Parc d’Atracciones Tibidabo
• The spectacular, nearly 700-square-foot, private terrace belonging to the Abac Suite, which features an outdoor living room and dining area.

ABaC offers subdued elegance and a refuge from the bustle of downtown Barcelona. Housed in two buildings, an historic landmark and its modern neighbor, ABaC comprises 15 rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant and an Elemis spa – all set within a verdant, welcoming garden. Located on Avenida Tibidabo, in the neighborhood where Barcelona’s bourgeoisie built their mansions over a century ago, the hotel is a short taxi or metro ride from downtown.

ABaC’s historic building was the home of Catalan art patron Madronita Andreu, whose American husband, Max Klein, was the U.S. Ambassador to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The building served as the U.S. Embassy during the only time in history that Barcelona housed a national embassy. Today the 15 rooms and suites exude understated luxury, decorated in muted colors, hand-carved blond wood furniture, and featuring rain showers, impossibly comfortable beds and exacting attention to detail. The rooms are not excessively spacious, yet with large windows overlooking the trees, they feel airy and open. The most popular guest room is, in fact, the smallest, as it opens onto a spacious private terrace.

ABaC’s two Michelin-starred restaurant was called the best in Catalonia in 2011. Guests are welcome to walk through the kitchen to see the work of star chef Jordi Cruz, once the youngest Michelin-starred Spanish chef.

Those looking for an escape—without being too far—from the action of downtown Barcelona will enjoy this romantic retreat, which is only a 10-minute drive from the city center.