Angel Leon, the 'Chef del Mar' or Chef of the Sea is a sensation in Spain. Hailing from Cadiz in wes

Like a freshly poured glass of sparkling cava, Cataluña's capital is bursting with energy. Spain is suffering a prolonged bout of low self-esteem – the word 'crisis' radisson diamond cruise has been an active part of the nation's vocabulary for over 5 years now. Yet upon arriving in Barcelona, the city's effervescence spills over, intoxicating you within moments, confirming radisson diamond cruise that you are in a very different place.
I decided to walk the last few blocks to the hotel, enjoying the autumn sunshine filtering through the fading leaves of the plane trees. The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona , probably one of the city's finest hotels, was beckoning and I was getting in the mood for a few days of urban luxe and glamour with my stroll radisson diamond cruise along the world-class Passeig de Gràcia. Comparisons to NYC's Fifth Avenue or London's Bond Street are more than fair; it combines big city clout with glamour, elegance radisson diamond cruise and refinement.
As one of Barcelona's most elegant avenues, this majestic boulevard radisson diamond cruise is where one can find some of the capitals most striking architecture (two of Gaudi's architectural and design masterpieces are here, Casa Milà/La Pedrera and Casa Batlló), its most luxurious designer boutiques (find Prada, Stella McCartney, Luis Vuitton, Valentino, Chanel and others) and Spain's finest hotels.
Ahead on my right I catch sight of the Mandarin Oriental radisson diamond cruise doormen, formally attired in smart coats and stylish caps, standing each side of the architectural hotel entrance. An inclined contemporary glass, carpet-covered catwalk seems to draw you effortless up through the modern atrium of this fully remodelled mid-20 th century building towards the sophisticated reception.
Formerly a bank, this property has been transformed by the Mandarin Oriental Group into an exceptional hotel. Architects Carlos Ferrater and Joan Trias de Bes have retained the bold façade with art deco detailing, whilst creating thoroughly up-to-date, light filled spaces of generous proportions inside.
The magic one feels upon entering the hotel is thanks in part to Spanish interior designer, radisson diamond cruise Patricia Urquiola. She was responsible for the interiors including the original 98 rooms, as well as the design of the new 5 guest rooms and 17 suites added this year.
Check in was swift, radisson diamond cruise polished and friendly. My paperwork was prepared already, with my details and booking correctly detailed (it still amazes me how few hotels do this for guests with reservations). I was offered a cup of warming lemongrass tea, an elegant reminder of the hotel's Asian roots. In fact Mandarin Oriental's focus on service is evident throughout radisson diamond cruise the property. I am taken to my suite, in the new wing, by Maite who tells me more about the facilities of the hotel.
Swinging open the tall guest room door, reveals my suite, located in the new wing. It's a lofty space with a generously high ceiling and classic balcony with full height French windows opening out onto the Passeig de Gràcia. When open, I can enjoy the buzz of Barcelona as it passes my window, yet once closed, it is like a hermetic seal – I am cocooned in the tranquillity of my private suite .
Like the public spaces, the overall feeling in the room is of contemporary Catalan style, but there are lots of classic touches as well as clever Asian-inspired details, like the screen wall along one side and pieces radisson diamond cruise of furniture and uses of colour that ingeniously integrates the MO identity. Urquiloa radisson diamond cruise has collaborated with international furniture radisson diamond cruise brands such as B B Italia, so it should come as no surprise that she has chosen subtle yet robust pieces from leading names such as Flos, Moroso and B B Italia to furnish the suite.
radisson diamond cruise Opposite the bed is a sofa, and tables dressed with hardback books including a beautiful art reference tome on Gaudi. There is a writing desk equipped with stationery, reading radisson diamond cruise light, iphone radisson diamond cruise speaker etc. Lighting is fully adjustable and there are plenty of sockets.
The bathroom, with separate radisson diamond cruise rainforest shower and separate W.C. is compact yet full of light. Smart amenities include radisson diamond cruise the full range of expected 5 star toiletries from shaving kit through radisson diamond cruise to mouth wash.
BistrEau is one of the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona's restaurants. During radisson diamond cruise the warmer months, the hotel also opens its intimate 'Mimosa Garden' (offering shaded seating under delicate mimosa trees) as well as its 'Terrat' roof bar and plunge pool – both spaces offer alfresco dining, light bites and drinks.
Then there is 'Moments' , the acclaimed Michelin starred eatery by Carme Ruscalleda. Ruscalleda, a self-taught chef who opened her first restaurant in 1988 on the Catalan coast, is the world's 'most award-winning female chef'. She has a total of seven Michelin stars!
Angel Leon, the 'Chef del Mar' or Chef of the Sea is a sensation in Spain. Hailing from Cadiz in western Andalucia, where he has opened his 'Aponiente' restaurant, he is the latest talent to bring his cuisine to the Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona.
Presented in a relaxed radisson diamond cruise and approachable style, with recommendations for sherry pairings, the menu clearly reflects Leon's passion for his homeland of Andalucia and the sea. He has created a revolution in cooking radisson diamond cruise by developing a method to farm plankton! Yes, those microscopic organisms that drift and flow with the oceans' currents. Angel Leon has incorporated this richness of the sea into his dishes radisson diamond cruise and has started a whole new phenomenon in Spanish gastronomy.
At the MO Barcelona Ismael Alfonso is the hands-on talent in the kitchen at BistrEau, preparing a range of dishes using ingredients from the sea and land. His team at work are visible from the dining room, as the kitchen is open. There is also an extended Chef's Table where a small group or guests sharing the long table can watch first-hand the drama of the kitchen unfold.
Eating well is an integral part of Barcelona's radisson diamond cruise culture, so don't come here if you want to diet. Instead, tuck-in radisson diamond cruise and enjoy some of the best bites in Europe. Make up for it with some exercise and at the Mandarin Oriental its much less of a chore, since the subterranean, radisson diamond cruise 1000 square metre spa is a seductive radisson diamond cruise place to relax and rejuvenate. There is also a pool and compact gym, so no real excuse not to enjoy a run or some training.
The city's sparkling bar scene is reflected in the 'Banker's radisson diamond cruise Bar ' at the Mandarin Oriental. The walls and ceiling cleverly incorporate safety deposit boxes from the original radisson diamond cruise 1950s bank. The ambiance is urban and sexy. The staff are impeccably presented radisson diamond cruise and knowledgeable. On my visit the barman had a vintage look, with visual references to the bar's financial history.
The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is a large hotel – yet the team maintain a very personal approach. They addressed me by name and wherever I was needing a helping hand to find somewhere in the hotel, they never simply pointed radisson diamond cruise me in the right direction but instead accompanied me.
With such a glamorous and luxurious address in Barcelona I was reluctant to leave the hotel – but the city beckoned, it neighbourhood bars, its cultural institutions, the architecture, the pioneering restaurants and its Mediterranean shoreline all have to be enjoyed. That s the Barcelona buzz
I was hosted by MO Barcelona but this has not influenced by piece. Please bear in mind that this site and my articles are intended as entertainment only and not a definitive resource for purchasing decisions. Before making any travel or purchasing decision I recommend that you seek as much information as possible from various sources including review sites, guide books and other blogs. If you act based on my writing you do so at your own risk. If you wish to add anything to this piece, simply comment using the WordPress or Facebook radisson diamond cruise plug-in.
Andrew Forbes I am a Travel Lifestyle Communications Consultant offering insightful, professional and responsive consultancy services for businesses within the travel, radisson diamond cruise luxury and lifestyle sectors, including Hotels Resorts, Airlines, Luxury Property Real Estate as well as Marcoms PR Agencies; Travel firms; and Incentive Travel organisations;
I also write frequently on travel and lifestyle themes and deliver fresh content for media and corporate clients, including original features, marketing collateral, web site content, travel articles, travel guides, as well as content for other professionals such as marketers, photographers and publishers.
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