One of Barcelona's most upscale, elegant and charming 5-star hotels, the Alma, has recently opened its rooftop terrace. Boasting 360-degree views of the city, you can easily point out Barcelona’s most famous monuments including the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Montjuic, Tibidabo and Olympic Stadium among others. There are very few places to stand in the city where you’re able to feast your eyes upon all of Barcelona's splendor like you can from the Alma.

An attractive and personable hotel, the Alma prides itself on providing quality customer service and, above all, an extremely personalized feel. The decor is fairly minimalist, yet still warm and the rooms are spacious with at extremely reasonable prices (free mini bar included).

Alma Hotel — Photo courtesy of Mariah Quesada

The most impressive part of the Alma however (other than the new rooftop), is its garden terrace outside the lobby towards the back. It's rare to find a garden oasis in the middle of the city, which makes it all the more unique. Breakfast is served there daily with a brunch special on weekends. They also host private parties, which are ideal if you're looking for an intimate setting.

The hotel has an indoor swimming pool in the basement, which is adjacent to the state-of-the-art spa.