Diagonal Mar seafront

Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona

★★★★★

Hilton Diagonal Mar is Barcelona's answer for families and beach lovers who want a resort-style pool and the sea on the doorstep, while keeping the city within reach. It stands on Passeig del Taulat in Diagonal Mar, the modern district at the north-eastern end of the seafront, where wide avenues, new parks and residential towers replaced old industrial land in the years around the 2004 Forum of Cultures. The beaches here, including Llevant and Nova Mar Bella, are generally wider and calmer than the famous strand at Barceloneta, and a short walk from the hotel takes you to the sand, to the Diagonal Mar shopping centre, to the Barcelona International Convention Centre and to the Fòrum's waterfront promenades and marina. The hotel's star feature is its outdoor pool, run as a stylish pool club with a bar, poolside dining and loungers, which makes long summer afternoons easy with children. Rooms are spacious by Barcelona standards and comfortable in the international Hilton way, with family rooms among the room types, sea or city views from the upper floors and executive suites at the top. Families are welcomed with a dedicated programme for children under twelve, including kids' amenities, a children's menu and cribs on request. Indigo, the hotel restaurant, serves breakfast and Mediterranean dishes, and there is in-room dining, a fitness centre and plenty of meeting space, since the hotel also serves the convention centre. The metro and tram stops nearby connect with the city centre, and the Sagrada Família and the old city are a reasonable ride away.

Who it suits: families with children who want pool time every day, beach-focused travellers, and anyone attending events at the convention centre. The trade-off is distance from the historic centre: you will ride the metro or take taxis to the Gothic Quarter and the Gaudí sights, so this is a base for a relaxed, beach-and-pool trip rather than a whirlwind of sightseeing. Diagonal Mar is also quieter in the evenings than the old city, which many families see as a plus.

Making the most of it: ask for a high floor with sea views, book a family room in advance for summer, and check the pool club's season and hours, as outdoor pools in Barcelona are usually at their best from late spring to early autumn. Walk north along the seafront for the calmer beaches, or south along the promenade towards Poblenou and the Olympic Port for seafood restaurants. For sightseeing days, metro line 4 runs from the area to the old city.

Value: rates are upper mid-range, often better value than beachfront hotels closer to the centre, though they rise in summer and during major congresses, when the convention centre fills the area. The tourist tax applies per person per night, with children generally exempt. The value case is a proper pool, family facilities and quiet beaches, in a modern hotel with reliable standards.