Pension Ciudadela

I am traveling for more then 20 years around the world for work related meetings stayed in major international chains and comfortable places. Trust me this little hotel/hostel is amazing place the comfort and staff is far better then so many hotels I stayed the location is 10/10 cleaning in 10/10 staff professionalism is 10/10 truly value for money and great little hidden gem to stay in Barcelona. Their root top garden is a place you will fall in love with. We stayed in room 3 and I must mention Emanuele is one of the best restaurants who made the stay memorable

This is an excellent place to stay provided that 1) you coordinate with the proprietors so you get the code to the door and 2) you're given specific instructions how to enter, etc. This place gets 5 stars from me because despite my listed cons, it was a wonderful place to stay at. PROs 1) Clean, well-maintained room with its own T&B - The room is small but it's enough for 2 people. You may have to adjust when you're unpacking and repacking if your luggage is bigger than small. Ideal for light travelers. 2) daily cleaning and change of towels 3) communal area with free water, ice, coffee. tea. and cupcakes; microwave and ref for communal use; breakfast nook and rooftop for communal use 4) a surprising haven in the middle of a pretty grungy area 5) best location - right across Estacio de Franca - major train station - and 2 bus stops that'll pretty much take you anywhere in the city; right in the middle of a lot of highly rated restaurants, bars, etc; right in the middle of museums and other cultural activities - - Right in the middle of so much interesting activity. 6) A haven in the middle of an area of Barcelona that is bustling with activity but is also somewhat filthy (cigarette butts everywhere) and smelly (urine smell on every other corner) - Seriously, when you enter the building, it's Barcelona in that area -- sort of grungy. When you enter the Pension, it's almost Zen. Quiet, clean, light. 7) Given the space, travelers are polite to each other but don't engage much so you have your privacy and distance. 8) friendly, helpful and accommodating proprietors = Cudos! CONs - mostly nitpicking 1) Like the other reviewer said - We need the code before we arrive. My friend and I arrived and got in because someone was exiting the building. Otherwise, we would have had to stand around outside while coordinating via cell phone. It was not ideal. 2) When we entered, the tiny foyer was home to 2 dead roaches (which became 3 and then which were ultimately all swept away at some point). It was not a welcoming experience, plus there was a faint scent of sewage. 3) No room safe. This is a must for travelers, really. 4) Info needed on where to get laundry done and how it works. We walked some 500-700 meters to a La Wash. Not hard really but some guidance would have been helpful. (I spent 20 mins trying to figure out how to pay at La Wash which didn't accept my CC. I ended up paying in cash.) - Maybe it would help to have a Pension map / primer with the following nearest: a) laundromat (and how to use it); b) supermarket / liquor store; c) pharmacy; d) bus stops; e) info on Estacio de Franca and how to read to the ticket; f) general info on public transport (how to buy a ticket, etc); g) how to get to the airport via cab, bus, train

I think check in was 1pm, but we arrived at 12 noon & the maid(?) called the owner/Mgr & she let us in…Very much appreciated after a LONG flight with 3 layovers. We booked the double room with private bathroom outside the room..this actually worked fine for us. It is off the common breakfast room & has double size shower, newly remodeled & very clean. This room also had a small unfurnished balcony overlooking the pedestrian street & aldi grocery (wine & bags of ice) & a small table & 2 chairs . We took the AP express bus to place cataluyna & then walked 15min to it. BEST part: Full community kitchen 24/7 with a few tables, kettle with coffee & tea, muffins, microwave, frig with freezer with a bag of ice in it! Cups, plates, maps, etc. only 6 rooms(?) so very private to accommodate everyone on the rooftop terrace as there are 3 different/separate areas of seating of tables & chairs.We loved it up here in the evening!**”individual cold AC in the room! The type with the remote control!**