With its flamboyant neon runway entrance, SLS Barcelona sees the luxury, experience-led brand make its European debut in typically theatrical fashion. Positioned on the edge of the Mediterranean at Port Fòrum, the 471-room hotel is a high-octane blend of bold design, big-name collaborations, and no-holds-barred hospitality. A resort hotel that just happens to be in the city, Barcelona welcomes guests to the daring world of SLS.

Designed by Rockwell Group with architecture by b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos, the hotel commands the waterfront upon which it sits. Each room comes with a private balcony or terrace, a gesture that immediately sets the tone for what is a sprawling, indulgent property.

Inside, rooms like the Delight and Captivate categories make playful work of reflective surfaces, dark timber, and eccentric touches; think golden curtain holdbacks and anthropomorphic portraits that nod to the brand’s signature style. Plush bathrooms gleam with white marble and Venetian mirrors, and are scented with Ortigia’s Florio fragrance.

More extravagant pleasure-seekers will find what they’re looking for in the suite options, which escalate quickly from spacious apartments to the Celestial Suite — the resort’s largest — which offers breathtaking design and views, a glowing canopy light above the bed, and a 97 square metre private rooftop. Whether staying for a long-haul digital detox or a debauched weekend in the sun, the hotel’s spaces are unapologetically lavish; built for maximum escape and engineered to impress.

As the Mediterranean summer begins, we check into the jaw-dropping Euphoria Suite Marina Terrace. At 73 square metres, with a terrace not much smaller, our opulently spacious abode includes a separate living area with a shiny chrome bar, a decadent free-standing bath tub, and lavishly appointed interiors to create that euphoric experience.

Objets d’art, pleasingly retro floor lamps, a lush sofa with 1970s sensibilities, offbeat art, a whole host of terrace furnishings for every seating position you may imagine, a full dining room table, floor to ceiling windows that surround the apartment-sized suite … it really is quite something.

As a brand renowned for its food and drink credentials, we had high hopes, and SLS Barcelona doesn’t disappoint. There are six dining and drinking venues on-site, and each one is a world of its own.

Restaurant Lora, developed in collaboration with Studio Paskin, explores Mediterranean coastal cuisine with a generous, open-hearted menu built around slow-cooked meats, freshly caught seafood, and wood-fired everything. Interiors by AvroKO pull cues from Beirut’s golden age and Barcelona’s beach culture; landing somewhere between stylish nostalgia and sultry informality; it’s a new destination for Barcelona in itself.

After kicking off with a pair of excellent cocktails, we indulge in a ‘borani’ of spinach, caramelised onions, yoghurt, feta, pistachio; sea bass crudo with Moscatel vinaigrette, navelina oranges, and pickled fennel; and finish with a lavish pairing of glazed shoulder of lamb with pomegranate, mint, and yoghurt, and a fiery cauliflower with garlic, lemon, chilli, and fresh grated tomato

Also designed by AvroKO, L’Anxova Divina brings tapas to the hotel’s seafront terrace with precision and charm. Padrón peppers, anchovies, croquetas, the hits are all here, served up in an atmospheric space that pays subtle homage to Gaudí.

Kyara, a cocktail bar that experiments with perfumery and aromatics, is housed in an immersive space. The drinks here are as serious as the setting, developed by some of the best in the mixology business. In contrast, Cosmico — slated to open soon — will be perched across one of the largest rooftops in the city, and is set to become a playground of big-serve cocktails, floating sushi boats, and electrifying poolside beats; bringing the Miami heat to the Catalan capital.

Rounding things out are Coral, the guests-only pool bar that channels even more South Beach sophistication, and Deluxe, a versatile venue that shifts from daytime café to evening lounge serving craft beers, signature cocktails, and bold aperitivo-style bites. Rockwell Group have created a luminous interior inspired by the sea and moonlight, culminating in a floating chandelier by Geraldine Gonzalez that cannot be missed.

As for amenities, the hotel will include three pools. The pool above the boardwalk is currently open and ready for swimming and lounging, with two additional rooftop pools expected to open throughout July and August. A state-of-the-art gym and spin studio operates 24/7, and a partnership with Edan Studios brings a curated wellness programme to guests via classes led by founder Anna Lewandowska. A subterranean spa is set to open in late 2025, promising even more indulgence for future reservations.

Despite the extravagance and bravado, SLS Barcelona honours a serious commitment to quality, something the brand has long excelled at. And, with Ennismore at the helm, and We Heart faves Rockwell once again demonstrating their ability to blend spectacle with style, SLS Barcelona manages to feel both excessive and expertly choreographed. It’s loud, it’s luxurious, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from the brand’s first European outing.

In a city with no shortage of high-design hotels, it’s increasingly hard to stand out. With the opening of SLS, however, we are presented with something entirely new. A resort hotel with experience at its heart, SLS Barcelona brings an air of contemporary decadence that will excite locals as much as its diverse guests. A tantalising proposition, indeed.

@slsbarcelona
@lora_barcelona
@lanxovabarcelona
@RockwellGroup
@b720arquitectos
@studiopaskin

Photography, courtesy SLS Barcelona / © We Heart.