With its reputation for sun, sea and start-ups, Barcelona has long attracted some of the world’s best and brightest creative talent.
Now offering much sought-after digital nomad visas, which give holders permission to work remotely for an initial period of 12 months (extendable to 48 months), Barcelona and other cosmopolitan EU cities have found themselves increasingly attractive to Londoners in the wake of Brexit and with the rise of flexible working.
The city has its fair share of wealthy international buyers and A-list locals, too. Singer Shakira owns a colossal white mansion at the top of Esplugues de Llobregatat, where she lived with former partner Gerard Piqué before moving to Miami in April. Footballer Lionel Messi has a home in the suburb of Castelldefels, a short drive from Camp Nou football stadium.
Prime appeal
A buzzing, vertical city, where most homes are in apartments, Barcelona homebuyers searching for larger homes with private outdoor space tend to head for the upmarket district of Pedralbes — Messi’s old stomping ground. It is especially popular with wealthy families who send their children to the numerous private schools in the area.
Homes in this leafy suburb north-west of Barcelona are a real mix of architectural styles. Catalan art nouveau and traditional architectural treasures sit alongside Seventies concrete blocks with apartments fetching upwards of €3 million (£2.6m).
According to Knight Frank’s latest prime international index, prime prices in Barcelona grew by seven per cent in 2022, compared to 1.5 per cent London growth.
Spain was also named in the agency’s Wealth Report 2023 as one of the top five overseas markets that ultra-high net-worth individuals are likely to invest in this year, alongside the US, the UK, Australia and France.
“Investors in Spain typically make single investments of between €15 million (£12.8m) and €25 million (£21.4m) and target assets across Europe or further afield, sometimes for currency benefits,” said Humphrey White of Knight Frank.
“The post-pandemic spending boom is still in full swing,” the report stated.
Nowhere in Barcelona has this been more apparent than with a 7,000sq ft penthouse in the Mandarin Oriental residential complex on upmarket shopping avenue Passeig de Gràcia which sold for more than €40 million (£34.2m) earlier this year.
New luxury address
A trio of ultra-luxe homes have gone on the market at Pearson Gardens in Pedralbes, the biggest of which — Villa Grande — is the undeniable showstopper and, at almost 14,000sq ft, is twice the size of the recording-breaking penthouse sold in Eixample.
With a price tag of €21.5 million (£18.4m), Villa Grande’s interiors have been created by award-winning Jaime Beriestain Studio and will be ready for a buyer to move into from next month.
The development is the brainchild of Iniala Group founder and former Pedralbes resident Mark Weingard who asked architectural studio A-Cero to design and create three vast homes at Pearson Gardens which overlooks the city.
“Pedralbes has always been the best area to live in Barcelona but there hasn’t been a really high-end development until now,” said Mr Weingard.
“Joaquín Torres and Rafael Llamazares of A-Cero are masters of minimalism,” explained Mr Weingard. By keeping the different types of material to a minimum, the design is fuss-free; glass, marble, steel, natural materials and earthen colours really connect the homes to the botanical setting, he added.
The best view in the Villa Grande has been given to the master suite which takes up the top floor of the ceramic-clad five-storey home. Allocating an entire floor to a master suite is something Mr Weingard insisted on for all three properties – having done the same at his own homes in Malta and Thailand – adding two full bathrooms, two walk-in wardrobes and a private study in Villa Grande.
“Having your own space is key,” said Mr Weingard. “Today’s luxury is about space; this is a really owner-centric house – with a master bedroom the size of some apartments.”
Other luxe provisions include a rooftop entertaining space, brushed steel kitchen, wine cellar, four-car garage, cinema, mirror-walled gym and swimming pool.
The exteriors of the other two villas are still in progress while the interiors will be left for buyers to customise. Villa Alta, priced €15.5 million (£13.3m), is the tallest home with its upper floors dedicated to entertaining; while the ultra-private Villa Botanica is for sale for €14 million (£12m) and will boast stunning gardens.
Villa Grande has attracted offers from at least one British buyer so far and other potential owner-occupiers with football connections. Contact Pearson Gardens for more information.
Where to stay in Barcelona
El Palace in upmarket Eixample is the ideal spot from which to explore the city – or search for that golden-ticket property.
The hotel opened in 1919 and was originally intended to be the Ritz of Barcelona but César Ritz passed away the year before construction was completed.
Behind a striking neo-classical façade is a traditional concierge and opulent lobby which leads to a glitzy bar adorned with huge chandeliers.
A monochrome breakfast hall — El Jardín — has an alfresco ‘indoor garden’ vibe with chequerboard tiles, iron lighting, a feature stone fountain and plenty of greenery — glass doors at the far end lead to the outdoor terrace option.
Located just a few steps from the renowned Passeig de Gràcia, the hotel is walking distance to some of the city’s most iconic attractions — and is a peaceful sanctuary to retreat to after navigating the busy streets of Barcelona.
The hotel’s roof terrace with swimming pool is the undisputed gem and is now open for summer. L’Arròs is the hotel’s newest offering — a pop-up restaurant on the roof terrace — which offers a small menu of traditional rice dishes and can seat up to 16 guests. It’s open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday. The full menu costs €75 (£64) per person with starters, a rice dish for two and a bottle of wine or cava included.
On the ground floor, a cavernous ballroom has been converted into Amar Barcelona restaurant. Think ornate chandeliers, traditional columns and original flooring; pared with modern touches by way of navy walls and seating, moody lighting and gold accessories. Weighty rustic stone plates and gold cutlery make for a decadent combination, too.
A set lunch menu, Amar at First Sight, costs from €55 and is available from Wednesdays to Saturdays.
Which room?
If budget allows, the six art suites are the undoubted stars of the 120-room hotel.
Rolling Stones’s Ronnie Wood designed the music suite at the hotel which he called home while renovating his own apartment in Barcelona. The two-bedroom suite contains a 1900 Wurlitzer jukebox and some of the rocker’s own artwork.
The one-bedroom sculpture suite is named after master painter, sculptor and ceramicist Joan Miró, while the literature suite takes the name of author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Artist Salvador Dalí was a frequent visitor to the hotel in the 1970s and once arranged for a taxidermised white horse to be delivered there to his wife, Gala, as a birthday present.
Rates start from €425 for a classic room with breakfast included, the art suites cost from €2,750. The hotel has a chauffeur service for airport transfers which can be arranged at additional cost. Book here.
Former Londoner and Barcelona resident of six years, Nina Bellamy-James, 30, recommended the hotel for a short city break.
Bellamy-James, of digital travel platform Turneo, says her parents always choose the hotel when they visit from London.
“It’s a bit of luxury in the centre of the city. They have stunning facilities and engaging events such as open-air cinema going on all year round.”
The London leaver
“My initial plan was to come on a short break for a fortnight, which turned into six years,” explained Bellamy-James, customer success lead at Turneo — a holiday experience booking site for hotels and travel brands.
“The sun, excitement and pace of life in Barcelona is hard to leave behind. It is full of museums, beaches, nightlife, restaurants and activities for leisure and for work,” added Bellamy-James.
“You find dynamic start-ups here with many companies choosing Barcelona for their headquarters, or digital nomads like me setting up their home office.
“It’s easy to feel at home in Barcelona, with so many international people and so many opportunities for networking.
“Anyone can find their group here.”
Post Brexit
Under current rules, post Brexit, British citizens can only stay within the Schengen Area for 90 days in any one 180-day period.
Two of the most popular visas allowing for longer stays are the Non-Lucrative Visa — for anyone not planning to work in Spain but with a bank balance of at least €29,000 (£25,000) and private healthcare cover — and the Golden Visa which is for those who spend a minimum of €500,000 (£428,000) on a property.
Holders and immediate family members then become eligible for residency permits in Spain.
In January this year, Spain also introduced the Digital Nomad visa.
