Why e-book?
This mansion, higher often called the inspiration behind the Aldaya residence in Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s bestselling thriller novel The Shadow of the Wind, is definitely a 16-room resort close to Tibidabo—the one one in Barcelona the place each room has a non-public steam hammam.
Set the scene
You’re in good Sarrià, heading out of the town middle towards the hilltop of Tibidado, the place the structure turns elaborate. Apartment blocks give technique to exceptional indifferent Modernist mansions with extraordinary tower- or turret-style roofs, mosaic pillars, and brightly painted frescos. Hotel Mirlo is probably not as exuberant as its neighbors, nevertheless it solutions all of your aristocratic fantasies—topiary hedges, pale inexperienced window shutters, and stone balconies from the place to identify the resort’s namesake “mirlo,” or blackbird. This peaceable resort appears like a library—heat, bookish, and sanctuary-like—although most friends congregate in quiet nooks between the hibiscus flowers, grapefruit bushes, and pines that predate the property. You’ll spot 40-something {couples}, moms and daughters, and households with soggy-haired teenagers in tow who solely have the swimming pool on their minds. It’s additionally standard with locals, who swing by for breakfast, calm down right here earlier than their nuptials, or convalesce after a remedy in close by medical clinics.
The backstory
While Mirlo’s homeowners quietly downplay The Shadow of the Wind connection for concern it would really feel gimmicky, in addition they perceive the intrigue. The mansion was initially inbuilt 1919 as Torre Macaya, the household dwelling of the Macayas, earlier than changing into the workplaces of elite advert company Ogilvy within the Nineteen Eighties. One of its copywriters (later inventive director) was none apart from Carlos Ruiz Zafón. As his ardour for fiction writing grew, most of the home’s singular architectural options, just like the sound of footfalls on the picket staircase, proved so inspirational that they appeared in print. By the time of his demise in 2020, Ruiz Zafón, 55, was thought to be the most-read Spanish writer since Cervantes. The resort opened a yr later, preserving refined nods to Zafón’s legacy: search for the unique iron dragon door titties along side the bar, impressed by his obsession with the paranormal creatures, or e-book a keep in room 401 if you wish to mattress down in his former workplace.
The rooms
Rooms are vibrant, massive, and modern—like a neutral-toned Pinterest board. Look nearer, nevertheless, and also you’ll clock authentic Nineteen Twenties options that harmoniously co-exist: some rooms have ornate ceiling coving; in others, a picket beam hangs from the wall like artwork. Curiously, every room doubles as a spa. Even entry-level Deluxe rooms have Hamman steam showers, whereas higher classes add hydromassage scorching tub/baths (usable till 11 p.m., after which era your neighbors received’t wish to hear your bubble jets) and full-size saunas. Once you’re relaxed to the purpose of horizontal, laze again in king-size beds whereas watching 55-inch TVs with built-in Chromecast. It’s price noting that as a result of each room is totally different, even amongst room classes there’ll be structure variation. Rooms dealing with Avenida del Tibidabo have some background site visitors noise, particularly throughout morning rush hour.
Food and drink
Restaurant El Nido (that means “nest”) del Mirlo appears like eating within the conservatory of a rustic home. The stone archways of the unique mansion are complemented by massive home windows, comfortable gingham chairs, and geometric tile flooring. Seating extends to a coated patio outdoors, the place large wicker lamps proceed the nest-and-blackbird theme. Alongside tapas staples comparable to jamón, anchovies, and croquetas, the menu is split between land and sea—steak tartar, roasted lamb, and inexperienced curry hake all make an look. Breakfast is desk service, together with freshly squeezed orange juice, pastries, fruit, yogurt, and cooked-to-order choices. For an idyllic morning set-up, end your espresso outdoors among the many bushes.
The neighborhood/space
Despite most of the space’s mansions housing companies or pretty common restaurant chains, this stretch of Sarrià nonetheless belongs to the rich. The excessive focus of embassies means you might properly end up sitting throughout the eating room from a diplomat. What’s beautiful about sleeping outdoors the CBD is that you just get to expertise the day-to-day lifetime of a Barcelona resident, not a vacationer. For your every day “commute,” catch the L7 practice from Avenida Tibidabo station (490 yards away): it’s simply 4 stops to Gràcia or six to Plaça Catalunya.
The service
Staff have a knack for showing out of nowhere simply whenever you want them, so no matter whim strikes, there’s somebody prepared to assist. Every nook of the property feels lovingly tended to, from the tidy flower beds to the well-stocked library cabinets. First-name introductions set the tone for service that feels honest, pleasant, and reliable.
For households
Families are welcome on the property, however there isn’t something significantly particular that the resort affords for kids.
Eco effort
A favourite eco contact is the 100% natural cosmetics by female-founded Mallorcan model SeaSkin Life. Olaya García created the road together with her biologist mom after having a extreme response to sunscreen. The line faucets into Eastern natural drugs and smells unbelievable—a waft of botanicals that stays with you all day.
Accessibility
There’s one accessible room out there.
Anything left to say?
To actually deliver Hotel Mirlo to life—and achieve an atmospheric but sobering perception into publish–Civil War Barcelona—put The Shadow of the Wind in your pre-vacation studying listing.