This is a most estimable establishment--one that serves up the entire repertoire of Catalonian…read morecomfort with a kind of unceremonious brilliance. Albóndigas con sepia that flirt with the sea while clinging dearly to the farm, pie de cerdo that reminds one why decadence is always best served braised, and canelones de setas y pularda that might have been penned by a poet in béchamel. And then, of course, the escalivada--like all great dishes, it pretends simplicity while staging quiet revolution on the plate. The kitchen performs with astonishing velocity--so swift, one wonders whether the food was summoned by incantation rather than stove. As for the service: it is not precisely warm, but neither is it offensive. The staff, much like certain uncles at family gatherings, may seem indifferent to one's presence, but do, in fact, keep everything from falling apart. The setting is curious. Granollers is not, I must confess, the Paris of the Vallès Oriental. But its pedestrian heart is charming, and if you squint slightly, some of the modernist façades will reward your imagination. The interior of the restaurant itself is--well--adequate. Some recent decisions in decor suggest a battle between good taste and enthusiasm, the outcome of which is inconclusive. Still, it holds together, like a suit that no longer fits but still flatters. If you are driving to Barcelona and require sustenance before confronting the metropolis, this place makes for a splendid interlude. One leaves satisfied, mildly amused, and faintly unsure whether the entire experience was designed with affection or irony. But then--what worthwhile experience isn't?

I struggled with settling on a number for this review…read more Hotel Carlemany has a lot going for it - great location, impressive modern facade, large spacious and comfortable rooms with good air conditioning and Wi-Fi. However, for a 4* hotel, it fell a little short of my expectations. The front door of the bright impressive modern facade (5) led to a somewhat disappointing dark and rather dated looking interior (3). There was no pomp or ceremony about our arrival. The usual welcome chat and map of the city etc. were conspicuous by their absence (3 again), although perhaps this is more of a business hotel (maybe a 4). The room was spacious and overlooked the pretty square to the front. The air conditioning and Wi-Fi were excellent. The beds were comfortable. The bathroom was big and clean (maybe a 4). The staff at reception were very helpful with any requests (yes definitely a good 4). Breakfast was the deciding factor. The breakfast room was prepared with care. Tables dressed in clean white linens and polished silverware. There was a reasonable selection of juices, breads, pastries, cold meats, cereals and yoghurts. However, the "hot" food offerings really let the breakfast down. There was a selection of beans, scrambled eggs, sausages and Spanish Omelette under a hood, but they were all cold and very unappetising. On the first day of our stay, I thought maybe we had caught them on a bad day and that the following day would be better. Unfortunately, there was no change on the following day. The same "hot" food left to go cold. There was no sense of it being consumed or replenished regularly as you might expect at a busy hotel breakfast. (Maybe a 3 again) Overall, I settled on a 3.5. A 4*or 5* rating has a tendency to focus the mind on the negatives of a hotel while a lower rating encourages focusing on the positives. I enjoyed our stay and had it not been a 4* hotel, I'm sure I would have reviewed it more favourably. With a little extra effort, Carlemany could be a great hotel.

We stayed here for three nights as I was in Girona for business. Loved it. Hotel very up to date…read morewith bar/bistro with outside dining, cafe and lovely atrium for breakfast. Helpful staff. Parking garage below with elevator access. In the middle of town but quiet at night. Good shopping around the area. But you can't beat the location, you can walk to anything in the city. Historic district, restaurants , train station three blocks away (picked up rental car there). It was a really good home for three days. My wife was able to sightsee and shop to her heart's content. We really enjoyed our stay.