This is our choice for a romantic getaway in the old city, for both its looks and its high level of hospitality. The staff provides friendly and helpful service without putting on airs. The hotel’s Modernista design is a holdover from the building’s heyday as a jewelry store; the modern comforts don’t detract one iota from the stunning visuals of the original designs. Walls and wardrobes in the rooms are enhanced with gold-leaf accents and panels of Madagascar ebony. The hotel even has a Masriera Museum, showcasing the jewelry of the Art Nouveau master, and it sports Fortuny lampshades in its dining room. Most rooms are called “standard,” but are larger than most hotel suites.