W Barcelona

Few hotels in Barcelona make an entrance quite like the W. Designed by the late Ricardo Bofill, the iconic sail-shaped tower rises from the edge of Barceloneta Beach, delivering floor-to-ceiling Mediterranean views that are difficult to rival anywhere in the city.

All 473 rooms and suites come with the signature W bed, rainfall showers, and high-design interiors the brand is known for. The onsite W Spa offers massages and body treatments, while the WET Deck and SUN Deck pools sit right above the beach. For dining, FIRE handles the gourmet end, SALT Beach Club covers casual beachside eating, and the NOXE rooftop bar on the 26th floor is the place for cocktails with panoramic city and sea views.

The W sits next to Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches, some distance from the Eixample gay scene and Mar Bella gay beach. That said, if the W is in your budget, a taxi to either is not going to be a problem.