Ally's Guesthouse

Ally's Guesthouse is a charming 5-bedroom B&B in the Eixample neighborhood, just a couple blocks from the Passeig de Gràcia and Gaudí's famous modernist apartment block "La Pedrera", and well-connected by metro (it is between the Verdaguer stop of the blue line and the Diagonal stop of the green line). The guesthouse is run by a friendly Argentinian lady, Graciela, who has lived with her family in Barcelona for some time. Graciela lives in the apartment next to the guesthouse, but it's connected through a doorway in her kitchen, making it easy for her to be on hand for check-ins, to answer questions, and to serve breakfast. During my visit to her guesthouse, I was treated to some traditional Catalán pastries and a hot cup of tea while we chatted, and I met her daughter and baby grandson who happened to have dropped by for a visit; on my way out, I was chided in a grandmotherly way to keep an eye on my purse while walking around the touristy areas of the city in case of pickpockets -- it felt like a truly family-oriented, homey environment. This seems to be the typical greeting for guests too, as Graciela enjoys offering people something to eat and drink when they check in, as well as giving them visitor information -- including maps, places to visit, recommended restaurants, etc. The guestrooms are beautiful, bright, and spacious, each with its own "personality" of a different color scheme (fuchsia, lavender, blue, natural, and white). There are 2 bathrooms which are shared between the 5 rooms, and they are kept impeccably clean. The living room / breakfast room is elegantly decorated with beautiful wood furniture, including a big breakfast table where all the guests can sit and have breakfast, a comfortable sofa, and wicker chairs, looking out the big living room window onto Joan Puig i Cadafalch's Casa de "Les Punxes" (House of Spikes). A continental breakfast is served each morning and includes homemade cakes and marmalade, fruit, cereal, yogurt, croissants, coffee, tea, and juice. The common room is air-conditioned (but not the guestrooms - they have ceiling fans) and has a TV, stereo, and a small balcony, and there is free WiFi access throughout the B&B. Graciela allows guests to use her phone to make calls within Spain for free, and she also is willing to let guests store food in her own refrigerator and to use her microwave if needed.