Following the celebrated re-opening of Barcelona’s Grand Hotel Central in 2024, the landmark property is now offering guests unrivalled access to the Catalan capital’s cultural heart with two new experiences: The Artisan’s Barcelona and The Storyteller’s Barcelona.
Both are two-night itineraries which explore two of the city’s richest traditions: its legacy of artisan craftsmanship and its literary roots. Whether browsing centuries-old workshops or tracing the footsteps of Orwell and Zafón, guests will enjoy privileged access, local encounters, and behind-the-scenes moments that connect them to the rich history of Barcelona through its living culture.
The Artisan’s Barcelona
Tucked behind ancient stone façades and timeworn archways, Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter – steps from the hotel – is a treasure trove of ateliers, workshops, and heritage shops that have quietly preserved the city’s artisanal legacy. In an era when many city centres have given way to souvenir stores and global chains, this historic neighbourhood remains a rare sanctuary for craft, tradition and authenticity. This new experience offers hotel guests exclusive access to these creative sanctuaries – many of which are closed to the public – on a private journey into the world of Catalan craft.
The two-night stay kicks off with a half-day, privately guided tour through the old town’s narrow streets, visiting historic purveyors of handmade fans, candles and jewellery, alongside lesser-known studios specialising in bookbinding and embroidery. Guests will enjoy intimate conversations with makers, stories handed down through generations, and the chance to discover or even co-create one-of-a-kind pieces. Depending on personal interests, guests can opt for a scent workshop at a boutique perfumery known for rare Catalan oils and small-batch fragrances, or a private ‘pica-pica’ tasting hosted inside an exquisite archaeological jewellery atelier built into the city’s Roman wall, where Etruscan coins and other found objects are crafted into one-of-a-kind pieces.
To extend the creative immersion, the following day guests will be taken for curated, appointment-only visits to some of the city’s most exciting independent designers, including Gema Galdon Hat Gallery, Ailanto fashion studio, and the espadrille-making workshop, La Manual Alpargatera, to design and take home their own pair.
The Artisan’s Barcelona starts from €1,200 including two nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, private artisan tours and a meal at Can Bo restaurant. Based on two sharing.
The Storyteller’s Barcelona
Barcelona’s streets and skyline have shaped the imaginations of writers from George Orwell and Gabriel García Márquez to Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Mercè Rodoreda and Mario Vargas Llosa. This new tour invites guests on a curated journey through the places that inspired some of the most iconic literature of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The experience begins with a private introduction to the unequalled Francesc Cambó Library, a wood-panelled literary sanctuary perched atop the Grand Hotel Central and home to a historic collection that bridges Catalonia’s political and literary past. From there, a local guide leads guests through the very streets immortalised in fiction that surround the hotel: the Gothic alleywayswhere Orwell sought refuge during the Spanish Civil War, the sunlit plazas of The Time of the Doves, and the mysterious bookshops of The Shadow of the Wind.
Along the way, guests will step inside independent bookstores and historic libraries to hear insights that bring the stories to life in situ. Next, guests will take a rare visit to the members-only Ateneu Barcelonès, one of Barcelona’s most important cultural institutions and gathering place for the city’s creative elite, where guests are granted access to its 18th-century library, secluded garden, and an unforgettable private lunch on the terrace.
The experience culminates with an intimate private dinner within the hotel’s atmospheric library – a rare and exceptional setting not usually opened for dining. Surrounded by shelves of stories, guests will be treated to a thoughtfully crafted menu that celebrates Barcelona’s literary heritage and showcases the finest seasonal Catalan produce.
The Storyteller’s Barcelona starts from €1,160 including two nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, a literary city tour and a private meal in Francesc Cambo’s historic library. Based on two sharing.
For more information, visit www.grandhotelcentral.com.
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