Fodor's Expert Review Catalonia Puerta del Sol

The regal cobblestone corridor leading to the reception desk, the atrium with granite ashlar walls, and the magnificent wooden staircase (presided over by a lion statue) reveal this building's 18th-century origins. Other common areas, including the restaurant and a reading room with a small library, have less character. Dark wood paneling, parquet floors, and charcoal pillows and throws lend hotel rooms an air of corporate blandness, though you can overlook a little blah for spaciousness (rooms start at 225 square feet; some can sleep a family of four) and value.