10/10
“All great”
Location and staff
Nothing
Barcelona · head to head
Mandarin Oriental vs Hotel El Palace Barcelona
Priced on the same night, 2026-11-09: Hotel El Palace Barcelona is $405 a night less. They are 408 metres apart.
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The honest take
Hotel El Palace comes in at $807 a night with a 9.4 guest rating across 2,408 reviews, against the Mandarin Oriental's $1,112 and 9.2 from 418 reviews. Both are five-star, both sit on Barcelona's grand boulevards within half a kilometre of each other, so location is a wash. On the numbers alone El Palace is the better deal: more reviews backing a higher score, at a lower price. The Mandarin Oriental's edge is a rooftop and indoor pool, which El Palace's listing does not mention.
The look and the feel
Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental occupies a former bank building on Passeig de Gràcia, gutted and reworked by Patricia Urquiola into something cooler and more abstract than the street's Modernista neighbours. Her interiors favour warm timber screens, terrazzo, brass fittings and pools of low light rather than gilt and stucco, so the public rooms feel contemporary and a little detached from the Gaudí buildings visible through the windows. The lobby is hushed, the bar dim and lounge-like, and the crowd is international, design-literate, here for the address as much as the building itself.
Design-focused travellers who want a minimalist, Urquiola-shaped interior and easy walking access to Gaudí's buildings.
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
El Palace opened in 1919 as the Ritz Barcelona and still carries that period in its bones: chandeliers, marble stairs, gilt mirrors, a grand piano bar that was once a fixture of the city's high society. The Mayan-style spa is an odd, theatrical addition to an otherwise Belle Époque shell, all carved stone and dim pool light against the classical plasterwork upstairs. It sits on Gran Via rather than Passeig de Gràcia, a busier, less boutique-lined street, and the hotel draws an older, more traditional luxury crowd than its neighbour.
Travellers who want old-world grand-hotel theatre, live piano, and a spa experience with more spectacle, at a lower price.
Choosing El Palace over the Mandarin Oriental means giving up the rooftop and indoor pools, which are not part of El Palace's listed facilities.
El Palace is the more characterful room to stand in, a real Belle Époque interior with a century of history in the marble, against the Mandarin Oriental's polished but more generic contemporary luxury shell.
The numbers
| Mandarin Oriental | Hotel El Palace Barcelona | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $908 | $503 |
| Guest rating | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
| Reviews | 418 | 2408 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 8 | 8 |
| Distance apart | 408 m |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Mandarin Oriental has
Nothing on our list that Hotel El Palace Barcelona lacks.
Only Hotel El Palace Barcelona has
Nothing on our list that Mandarin Oriental lacks.
What guests actually say
Mandarin Oriental
- central location
- attentive experienced staff
- clean and comfortable
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
- beautiful historical interiors
- excellent service
- great breakfast
- some staff seemed haughty
- not enough water/ironing board in room
“An absolutely beautiful hotel of old world Spanish tradition”
El Palace guests come away happier, praising its grand historic character, breakfast and service, while Mandarin Oriental guests mainly note a good central location with few further details.
Rooms & rates, 2026-11-09
Mandarin Oriental
- Deluxe Garden King RoomRoom Only · free cancellation$891
- Deluxe Garden Room KingRoom Only$908
- Deluxe Garden Room KingRoom Only · free cancellation$923
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
- Double or Twin ClassicRoom Only$498
- Classic Double RoomRoom Only$503
- Classic Double Room, 1 King BedRoom Only$505
In guests' own words
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
10/10
“Stunning”
An absolutely beautiful hotel of old world Spanish tradition
10/10
“Lovely place! The best in the city.”
Beautiful. Historical. Classy. Clean. Comfortable. Amazing breakfast.
Please leave more water for each guest room. And an ironing board.
10/10
We absolutely loved the atmosphere of the hotel. The interiors are beautiful, elegant and full of character, and the whole place has a very special charm. The service was excellent, and we really enjoyed our stay.
About each
Mandarin Oriental
Luxurious Accommodation on Passeig de Gràcia Located on the prestigious Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, the Mandarin Oriental offers a prime location near iconic attractions like Gaudi’s Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, making it the ideal choice for discerning travelers. Unparalleled Amenities for Ultimate Relaxation Indulge in the hotel's spa, rooftop and…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
Luxurious Mayan-Style Spa Hotel El Palace Barcelona offers a unique Mayan-style luxury spa, providing guests with a relaxing and rejuvenating experience during their stay. Gourmet Dining Options With two exquisite restaurants and a stylish cocktail bar, guests can indulge in a culinary journey without leaving the hotel premises. Convenient Location and…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
Mandarin Oriental
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Garden
- Pets allowed
Hotel El Palace Barcelona
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Garden
Where they are
Passeig de Gràcia, 38 - 40Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 668
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Rates are live for 2026-11-09, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons