Tembo Barcelona

Great hotel option for a Barcelona city stay. We really liked this hotel at the edge of Barcelona city. This hotel is still within zone 1 of Barcelona so you can use a 1 zone public transport to get to and from almost anywhere in Barcelona. The location is pretty good but it is a bit close to the La Mina neighborhood which is a poorer neighborhood of Barcelona. There have been improvements in the neighborhood but it is still recommended to stick to the areas that are near the hotel or the south and west of the hotel (towards the sea) if you plan to stay out late at night. We found the area very convenient for us as we arrived early morning and the Forum metro station is nice and the area immediately near the hotel has reasonable level of security and local police presence. The hotel reception and team was very cordial and serviceable. The room we got was very good, had a nice balcony and it overlooks the nearby student accommodation so it was silent at night. Breakfast was very tasty and had enough of a food variety + delicious breads and iberico ham.

During our stay, we encountered several service-related issues that detracted from our overall experience. Firstly, upon arrival, we discovered a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, resulting in an uncomfortably hot room. This necessitated a call to Engineering for repairs. Secondly, housekeeping consistently failed to replenish basic amenities such as water and coffee in my parents' room, requiring daily calls to reception. Thirdly, a request to borrow a C-type plug adapter was denied by reception. While we subsequently purchased one, we later discovered a C-type port readily available on the bedside lamp. Finally, inquiries regarding the walking distance to the city center were met with an unhelpful "I don't know" from reception staff. While the hotel boasts a modern and updated aesthetic, these service deficiencies, coupled with the hotel's location in a socially disadvantaged area that felt unsafe to walk in at night, significantly impacted our stay and left us with a negative impression.