HotelChatter

Check-In: Check-in was a breeze. There was no line and the front desk clerks are very friendly, not to mention multi-lingual. We asked for a map of the city too and our guy pulled out a ginormous map and marked down some routes for us to take.

We also inquired about dinner at the Moo restaurant which serves modern Mediterranean food and is like the hardest restaurant to get into. That night, the restaurant was completely booked. But we did get a few bites in at the casual restaurant adjacent called Moovida. This worked out well as it was A) less expensive, B)great-tasting and C)open earlier. Moo, like a lot of restaurants in Barcelona, opens at 9pm for dinner.

Room Reaction: Our first reaction to the room was actually in response to the bathroom, which is right on your right as you walk in. We were also perplexed by the two twin beds. Yet this actually worked out for us since we were suffering from a nasty cold and the man traveling with us (who we just happened to be married to) had enough of our coughing, tossing and turning. So we didn't request a new room.

The lighting in the rooms is controlled by a master panel as well as by your key card in the energy-saving switch. This makes it crazy confusing for when you have to get up in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom.

Even more confusing, the toilet is actually in a separate room from the shower, sink and bath. We walked to the main bathroom in the dark, stumbling over suitcases, before we realized that the bathroom was actually back near the door.

Amenity Madness: This hotel was by far one of the coolest ones we stayed in on our European vacation. And we don't mean "cool" in the way that a 5-year-old yells "Cool" at the newest Power Ranger or whatever kids play with these days. This was a sophisticated, elongated, suave, cooooool.

And the amenities reflected that. You have a flat-screen TV of moderate size built into the opaque-glass paneled walls. You have one of those see-through CD/stereo systems. Black out shades with varying controls accompany both windows. And in the bath, the toiletries are a plenty except the shampoo, conditioner and body gel which come in dispensers.

Internet Connect: Free, blazing fast, WiFi.

Rooftop Pool: One of the best parts of the Omm Hotel is the rooftop pool and lounge area. The pool is teeny tiny. But who care? You're not there to do laps. You're there to cool off.

The bar is seasonal and open later in the day. But guests can ride up there and squat in the lounge chairs at any time of the day. The view is mostly rooftops but you can see the tops of two of Gaudi's famous architectural feats from the hotel--La Sagrada Familia and the Casa Mila.

Bottom Line: Anyone looking for a hip hotel experience in the Eixample district must stay here. And if you want to dine at Moo, just make sure to call far ahead in advance to get reservations. It is pricey at around 300 Euros a night. So make sure you get the beds you ask for.