I stayed at the B last year on business as it was ideally located for the convention centre, but have just returned from a leisure weekend with a friend. It's always interesting when you return to a place because you take in more of the detail - and now that the whole 'Hip Hotel' concept is ubiquitous, it's the detail in such places that can often make a passable experience into a special one. So, a few things worth noting with the B as of May 2008:

1. The whole construction thing next door has taken on a nightmarish life of its own since last September. Our room looked out onto the skeleton of what is evidently going to be a multistorey carpark, blocking the view of a fabulous traditional bullring. These rooms are dimly lit anyway (it's what you expect in a hip place, right?) but this carpark monstrosity kills any natural light completely.

2. On the same subject, the rooftop terrace and chillout deck trough (it's only a metre wide so not a pool, but nice for a dip) loses most of its atmosphere when you have workers hanging off cranes just a short distance away. And as for the noise - well, forget any quiet meditative moments gazing towards Tibidabo....

3. The bathrooms generally get rave reviews at this hotel, but we found a lot of the details pretentious and a triumph of style over substance. The deluge shower is literally that - poorly designed shower panel makes you flood the room in minutes. I just pity their chambermaids having to do the morning flood control! The downlighting makes the mirrors pretty useless - a small illuminated shaving mirror wouldn't be too uncool surely? There are no hooks anywhere. There is a venetian blind system between the bathroom and the bedroom, which we had to ask how to control at the front desk so that my friend and I could enjoy at least a bit of lavatorial privacy!! It really isn't too much nowadays to get the best of beautiful design and practical function in a hotel room, yet the B has way too much of the former. I'd say the place is due a rethink on updating some of its 'hip' features, in order to stay on top of an increasingly competitive market in Barcelona.

One practical tip as a parting thought - to avoid minibar charges, there is a fab little kiosk opposite the hotel entrance on Gran Via (next to the sex shop...) and it (the kiosk, not the sex shop) sells everything you find in the minibar at a fraction of the price.

My partner and I stayed at the B Hotel for 4 days in March. The location while not central, is a short metro ride to most attractions. It is also convenient for getting to the airport. The rooms were tasteful and comfortable. Loved the bathroom! The lighting was also unique. My only complaint about the room is that the ventilation system is quite loud - even when we turned it off, you could hear a noise everytime the system engaged and disengaged. This became annoying after a while. The infinity pool and patio on the top floor are spectacular, though we didn't get to use the pool as it was quite cold. Had breakfast at the hotel once, and it was okay, though nothing to write home about. Internet access was included and reliable. The underground parking is overpriced (30 euros) and very, very tight but highly recommended, as theft is prevalent in Barcelona. The hotel did lack vibe at times - not a lot of activity in the evening at the bar. Service was also very slow and not always very knowledgable.

Booked the B hotel based on the reviews and the fact that it has got the nice location and transparent bathroom. Was not disappointed at all.

Very nice modern design inside. The bathroom definitely is the selling point of the hotel. I filled the entire tank and just laid there listen to the music while gazing out the glass panel to the floor-to-ceiling window to outside, the view was nice at night! (but not that much during the daytime, there was a constuction going no just next door, I suppose that the view will be comprimised when the building next door finished.

Check in and out was fast, staff speak nice English and quick to help.

Very nice location, just steps to subway. However, it is close to the main busy road, could get a little bit noisy if you are light sleeper, but the heavy curtain helps to block the sound and light.

Didn't use the pool or breakfast. Internet was free and fast.

Nightstand has this convenient lights control panel shuts off all lights with just one button to push. However, it also shut off the power outlet, which I used to recharge my laptop (bummer)

Hotel exterior looks old and dirty due to the approximity to the roads and constuction. Rooms inside also starts to show the ages (some chips and scratches).

In general, it's everything I needed: nice location, reasonable price, modern bathroom, quiet, free wi-fi and safe box in the room. Will definitely consider next time

I stayed here with my wife for four days in April and while the hotel was modern and clean there was too many bad points to make this an enjoyable stay.

The good:
1. Clean hotel
2. Large rooms
3. Close to metro

The bad:
1. The rooftop pool is an oversized bath
2. There is no good restaurants and bars close by and the metro does not run after 12 so it a long trek home after a night is over.
3. The hotel has no atmosphere

The ugly
1. The staff are rude and unhelpful which leaves you with sour taste
2. The hotel is overpriced for a 3 star