Barcelo Atenea Mar

My husband and I stayed at the BARCELÓ ATENEA MAR three nights in early August and I must say I was not impressed- the room was very modern but very small, we did have a room on the 9th floor with an extraordinary view of the city, we were in four hotels during our stay in Spain and the staff here were the most disengaged and least friendly. Furthermore, dirty trays with dried up food sat outside in the hallways for days. I was a little worried about staying in the area because I read complaints about the area not having eateries: well we found a few on Paseo Taulat, one block from the hotel, I say try the coffee and Spain's famous tortilla in Cafe Taulat Number 136, and try the extraordinary wine in a little Bodega - number 138. The area is nice (though there is a lot of construction) and there is a bus half a block up, the number 41 that takes you to the center of town in about 20 minutes, and you do have the beach across the street!. I would defenitley go back and stay in the area but I will try another hotel.

My husband and I stayed at this hotel for 3 days prior to boarding a cruise. The hotel was clean as was the room. The staff didn't want to know you after checking in. Example: We were meeting with another couple. I kept checking in with the front desk to find out if the other couple had checked in. Worried because the hour was getting late, I went down to the front desk to ask if they had checked in. Was told no. About 1/2 hr later, our friends called. They had checked in shortly BEFORE we had checked in! Wanting to eat dinner, they called the front desk and were connected to our room. That's when we found out that they had safely arrived. Example: When I went to the front desk to find out if there was a soda machine around, the staff wouldn't look at me, just stood off to the side socializing. I found them rude. Our friends found their currency exchange inconsistent depending on which staff member you went to. They had a gym and jacuzzi in the basement - the jacuzzi wasn't running so was cold. I hated the breakfast - I like eggs for breakfast - eggs were cold. The dinner in the restaurant was ok. The hotel is located near the beach and is about 9 blocks from the subway. Not a bad walk for those out of shape. Felt relatively safe, even walking at night. Bus Touriste has a stop on the street. I would stay at the hotel down the street (Hesperia Del Mar), which we did stay at since Atenea didn't have openings for after our cruise. Hesperia Del Mar is friendlier, just as clean, better breakfast, cheaper, and same/better access to beach, bus touriste, and subway.

Modern, simple hotel located right on the beachfront, a little bit far from the center, but a great location for strolling along the beach. The neighborhood of Poblenau offers a more quiet, less touristy neighborhood for dining. The Hotel room is quite large with an enormous bed. There is no internet in the rooms although the hotel lobby offers free internet access on their computers. The only complaint is that the clean up for the room service was slow. We ordered breakfast each morning and arrived late in the evenings with our trays still in the hallway.

We have just returned from 12 lovely nights in Barcelona staying at this hotel. It is in a great location, about 12 mins on metro from Las Ramblas, then maybe about a 7 mins walk from nearest metro (selva de mar) to the hotel. The room was great, comfiest bed ever, and the much needed aircon was a life saver. Bathroom massive. It is ideal if you are looking for more of a beach hol which we were. The beach is literally across the street and what a lovely beach it is. There are wee beach shacks all along selling food and drink and dj's every weekend til 3/4 in the am, lots of locals partying hard! We bought the multi-trip metro tickets and found these cheap and easy to use. There is a great shopping centre (Diagonal Mar) 5 mins from hotel,loads of eating places in the shopping centre too. There are about 4 chinese restaurants near the hotel, only one of which I would recommend. As you leave the hotel turn left and it is about 3 blocks down. Cheap as chips!!! Although they don't sell them!! The Chinese and Indian restaurants are defintely the cheapest in town.. Olympic Port is about a half hour walk away, down at the harbour, with loads of tavernas and pubs and a couple of discos. A couple of bars have bands in til 3am. But be warned take plenty cash cos it's not cheap there. If you're not prepared to walk back to hotel don't leave it too late to get a taxi, there's no chance after about 1.30 or 2am. We walked back a few times!! All in all I would say if you are going for a short trip then you would probably be better off nearer Las Ramblas but for a longer holiday it's a great hotel for access to the beach for lazy days and to the metro for sightseeing and shopping! Enjoy!

New hotel in a part of Barcelona being redeveloped, so little in the way of local facilities yet. However Diagonal shopping mall only 10 minutes walk. Bus 41 takes you to the city centre, the metro is 10 minutes walk also. Buy a T10 ticket, valid on all buses, metro and tram (10 journeys for only €6.30). My wife was feeling unwell one evening, so we stayed in and ordered room service. TIP - Don't bother - The food was awful, cold and expensive. Only bonus I had a bottle of wine and 2 beers from the mini bar that were gifted on checkout. Room was clean, beds comfortable, fresh towels daily, what else do you need on a city break. I endorse other reviewers about the Chinese restaurant next door, it's brilliant and the enormous brandy measure fabulous. It's a must go. Overall we were very pleased with the hotel and would definitely book again.

paid £46.50 per night room only for this four star hotel and was very happy for the four nights. room was great nice big bathroom with hairdryer. rooms 100% sound proof no sound from outside at all 5 to 7 minutes walk to metro station selva del mar four stops to zoo five stops to barcelloneta station leaves you walking distance to port vell 5 minutes and ten to ramblas. the hotel has a bus stop outside the hotel were you can get bus number 41 direct to plaza cataluna (centre) takes 29minutes and stops 15 times but it is great for your final day to get the airbus service from the plaza cataluna to the airport.we left the hotel and got the number 41 at 7.25am and we managed to get to the airport on the airbus at 8.35 . this hotel is great value for money although you do have to use the transport services but still not a great problem as the bus and metro are near. i recommend the chinese restaurant outside the hotel (leaving the hotel to the right its on the corner restaurant xineu) the best i have had in long time the hotel is walking distance from the diagonal mar shopping centre where you will find everythingturn left when leaving hotel and walk straight for 10-15 minutes you will see in the distance the iluminated diagonal mar sign on your left. do not go to the vila shopping centre in ciudalleta it is total crap diagonal mar is the best enjoy and if you have further questins email me at thegibraltarian@fastmail>fm

Great rooms and great service at this hotel. Although if I went to Barcelona again I'd prefer to stay closer into town as it was a bit far out to nip back to. I'd advise trying to get a sea view room - it makes such a difference. Only criticism is that the form won over function in a few cases - the hairdryer was very poor and there was no mirror over the dressing table. Breakfast was not up to much in my opinion. Great for the money though!

I was sure this hotel was a 5-star. The room was massive and stylish - the best I've ever stayed in. The restaurant has a great room. Waiters were great. Downsides: wired internet not connected in rooms - only a pay-per-usage wireless service which I couldn't get to work. We had an included dinner where they'd really skimped on the ingredients.

Stayed in November 2004, room clean and modern, staff helpful and speak English. Good selection at breakfast buffet, restaurant menu limited however and although the food was good it seemed expensive in comparision to restaurants in Barcelona centre. Thought bar and mini bar prices were very expensive bearing in mind the cost in Spanish supermarkets. Was a little disappointed in room facilities am used to continental hotels having only one English speaking channel on TV (News) and we had hoped to be able to watch films as Expedia indicates all rooms have a VCR, not ours, neither did it have the hydromassage bath that Expedia also indicates all rooms have. As other reviews have pointed out hotel is a little out of the way but number 41 bus from just along the road takes you into the centre for 1.10 Euros. Tourist bus also stops there, 20 Euros pp for two days unlimited travel on this, we thought this was very good value.

My husband and I just got back from 3 nights at the Atenea Mar, and overall, we were very happy with our choice. We paid 90E (+tax)/nt. and felt this was a good value for a nice hotel in Barcelona. The room was simple in a minimalistic, modern kind of way. The bathroom was large by even Western hotel standards - let alone European - the room was also larger than other European accomodations we have had in the past. We even had a fully stocked fridge/minibar - (although unfortunately we didn't realize this until the last night). The free Internet access and steam room, gym etc. were a nice plus too. On the downside - it is a bit of a walk to the Metro - about 7 minutes or so (although the bus to the center of town is just a block away), the staff is not particularly friendly (although they are helpful) and there are few places near the hotel to grab a quick meal. If you want a nice, comfortable room at a good price in a safe - although a bit removed location, this is the place. If you want the perfect location in the center of all the action, you may want to consider a different hotel.