After nearly four years of restoration work Gran Hotel La Florida opened its
doors on April 29th, 2003. The Hotel which has a total of 74 Rooms
sits atop Mount Tibidabo, 300 meters over the city and offers spectacular views
of Barcelona and out to the blue Mediterranean Sea beyond to one side and the
snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees and sacred Montserrat to the other. The
comfort and elegance of its interior decoration, attention to detail and
facilities such as L’Orangerie Restaurant combine with the beauty of its
exterior gardens and magical views to make a stay at La Florida an unforgettable
experience.
HistoryGran Hotel La Florida is part
of the collective memory of many people in Barcelona who witnessed its birth at
the hand of architect Ramón Raventós. The restoration project of La Florida
set out to create an emblematic Hotel for the city of Barcelona while at the
same time respecting the original façade of the building that has been declared
a historic landmark.
The Hotel Florida was first
inaugurated in 1925 and was the realization of one man’s dream, Dr. Andreu,
who wanted to build Barcelona’s best hotel in Barcelona’s best location.
The
splendour, however, was not to last long. Like so many other things in Spanish
life, the civil war took its toll on the Hotel when it was used as a military
hospital. Again mirroring Spanish society, from that point on the history of the
building is a long and arduous one. Over
the years the Hotel passed from hand to hand, with differing levels of success.
During the 1950’s Hotel La Florida
was the place of choice for Barcelona’s high society serving mainly as a
summer residence for wealthy Catalan families and was the unofficial hotel of
Barcelona’s football club. Over the years Ernest Hemingway, James Stewart,
George Sanders, Rod Hudson, Princess Fabiola and the Prince of Belgium all
stayed in the prestigious hotel, as did other more sinister characters such as
Himmler and his enormous entourage. Finally in 1979, La Florida succumbed to the
passage of time and was closed.
In the year 2001 the Hotel La Florida was rescued from abandonment. The project
to refurbish the building had three main objectives: recuperate to the greatest
degree possible the antique decorative and structural elements of the old hotel,
respect the natural environment in which the hotel is found and improve the
visual impact of the Hotel on mountain on which it sits. The spirit of
the old hotel and its Noucentista style was
respected to a maximum degree. The new project also used the natural vegetation
of the Collserola Park in the hotel’s gardens.
One
of the most unique aspects of the Gran Hotel La Florida is its perfect synthesis
of the traditional and the new, the work of artisans combined with new
technologies and materials. Within La Florida wrought iron and antique carpentry
blend easily with stainless steel and glass.
Gran Hotel La Florida is
located atop Mount Tibidabo and has impressive panoramic views of the city of
Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. The luxury urban resort is situated 500
metres above Barcelona yet is only 7km from the city. The nearest
Airport is only 20
minutes from the Hotel.
L’Orangerie has two separate dining areas as well as a beautiful
terrace with views. The restaurant is open to anyone who wants to experience an
unforgettable gastronomic event in an unbeatable setting.
Each Sunday and on public holidays we serve a Buffet-Brunch. It is a gastronomic
treat that reflects the most exquisite tastes of Catalan, Spanish and
Mediterranean cooking.
Service at L’Orangerie is refined and attentive yet discreet. The staff all have
an eye for detail that makes dining here a real pleasure.
Bar Miramar
The Miramar Bar is located outside, with marvelous views over Barcelona and next
to the 37m-long swimming-pool, where not only the Hotel's clients, but also the
local people can enjoy the fresh salads, light dishes and refreshing drinks
during the day and at night one can sip long drinks and exotic cocktails.
During the summer months, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays you can enjoy
ambient lounge music on the terraces with DJ Monsieur Pamplemousse.
Situated within the hotel is Club Luna, a private nightclub where you
can enjoy a cocktail and your private events.
