Mr & Mrs Smith

As befits the most accomplished restaurant in Barcelona, ABaC keeps abreast of the competition, and can point even the pickiest diners in the direction of superior sustenance. El Asador de Aranda (www.asadordearanda.com) in Tibidabo is devoted to classic Castilian cuisine, serving delicious clay-oven cooked lamb washed down with fine Ribera del Duero wines. Its terrace is ideal for summer dining. Located on the Tibidabo mountainside, La Venta (www.restaurantelaventa.com) is two restaurants in one, both offering sweeping city views and excellent Mediterranean cuisine. The upper eatery, El Mirador de la Venta offers the most dramatic views, but just seven tables to enjoy them from, so book early.

The cocktails are average and the music commercial, but at Mirablau (+34 93 418 58 79), everything comes second to the mind-blowing city views. Right beside the Tibidabo funicular, the view from the colossal windows stretches right to the sea.

ABaC is well suited to petrolheads – the hotel can arrange for you to spend a day gunning Ferrari or Lamborghini around a racing circuit. If that’s too adrenaline-heavy, hire a Segway for a tour of the Gothic quarters or the Gaudi route. There’s a personal shopper on hand to help you navigate Barcelona’s boutiques. For fantastic views, take the funicular to the top of Mount Tibidabo, where you’ll find the city’s oldest (and now only) amusement park (www.tibidabo.es).