Second stay. Four days as my previous one was just one day. I am not sure about the overall experience and I would only stay again if the price is low and I need nights for my status. Pre Covid summer rates were usually over 200 euro. Now it can be booked for 110euro.

Positives:
Location - Not near Las Ramblas but walkable distance. Close to Gracia within the example and 5 minutes walk of two of Casa Batlo and Pedrere.
Breakfast is buffet and plentiful for European standards in the after Covid time. Good quality products (like serranoham, Spanish sausages and cheese)
Staff - I found the staff 's attitude was much better than my previous stay. Maybe it was lockdown and lower occupancy. My limited interaction last time left me thinking the staff attitude was very poor.
The hotel building (but see comment about the rooms) is nice and overall feels reasonable upmarket.


Negatives:
The rooms. They need a refurbishment and the lay out of some are not great. I was upgraded to a junior suite which had a strange lay-out. The bathroom was split in three VERY separate areas. The sink was part of the living room/bedroom, the toilet was near the entrance and the shower was a cubicle in the room. Who would think this was a good idea is beyond me! It was room 117 as a datapoint.
The main mirror had a huge affirmation phrase that made you look at yourself in it actually quite difficult.
The overall level of noise in the room. Hotel rates are currently affordable and travellers are typically younger which brings some partying and noise to the rooms/hotel. Room noise isolation is not great and there are odd noises like plumbs (probably structural issues)..
Not the hotel's fault but there is a curfew in place for Barcelona where everything closes at 12.30 and people should not transit after 1am.

Overall the intercontinental group has better options. The comparable Indigo (now closed, hopefully it will reopen when tourism is back in full force) is better located and the rooms are much nicer. As a spire ambassador, I was always upgraded to executive level.

EDITED SUBSEQUENTLY TO ADD: As of 18 August, the Indigo is open again,.

The ex CP (reopening in September as an I/C) was a solid hotel. Looking forward to staying in it as an I/C

I have not stayed in the Kimpton but I heard good things.

The Hilton diagonal is just too far-away and the location of the Hilton barcelona in Corts 'does not suit me plus it does not have a pool as it is more of a business hotel.