Opened in 2014, three-pearl Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel is a modern and stylish boutique hotel within a brief walk of many attractions in the Gothic Quarter and the Urquinaona subway station. Its 56 rooms are clean and quiet with a minimalist decor, 40-inch smart TVs, and exceptionally nice walk-in rainfall showers. Just note that some rooms are tiny and dark. Notable amenities include a restaurant with outdoor seating and a lovely rooftop bar and pool with spectacular views. Rates are competitive for a modern hotel in a good location, and are even better when you consider the hotel's free nightly wine and cheese reception, free loaner Finna bicycles, free guest laundry facilities, and free Wi-Fi with strong signal.

Edgy art and creative details are everywhere you look in Room Mate Pau, a cool pick for tourists visiting Barcelona and wanting to stay somewhere inspiring. The mid-range, chain hotel has 66 funky guest rooms with colorful striped carpets and sleek, white furnishings. There's no full restaurant here, like Yurbban, but there is a breakfast buffet and a big outdoor terrace. Room Mate also lacks Yurbban's lineup of freebies, though it does offer free Wi-Fi. It's in a convenient location -- 55 yards from Plaza Catalunya and less than a five-minute walk to the shops and restaurants on Las Ramblas. 

Petit Palace Boqueria Garden is a budget-friendly, contemporary hotel on a charming side street, with a beautiful courtyard garden with century-old trees. The 114 modern rooms are on the small side, but have free Wi-Fi and big flat-screen TVs. Family rooms -- with bunk beds -- are available in addition to regular double rooms. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the cobblestone streets and others have bathtubs. Rooms and common spaces are beautifully designed, but they're not as quirky as Room Mate Pau. Other hotel highlights include free bike rentals and a nice breakfast room serving a buffet each morning (for a fee).

Catalonia Avinyo is a fairly modern property that stands out among the historic architecture of the Gothic Quarter. Its blocky exterior is painted in bright primary colors, and inside there's a sharp urban style. Street-inspired artwork covers some walls, with huge photos of city skylines on others. The 83 rooms are small, with smart urban decor plus free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. Top-level Suites are worth the extra buck, with a sharper finish including robes and large rainfall showers, plus secluded terraces. Note that the bathrooms at Petit Palace Boqueria Garden are much more modern than the ones here. Considering Catalonia Avinyo's part of town, its small rooftop pool and compact fitness room are impressive features.

Close to Las Ramblas, the 31-room Hotel California is a simple, no-frills hotel with attractive rates. Rooms are clean and functional, but a bit on the small side and not as colorful as the ones at Catalonia Avinyo. Some rooms have balconies, but views are rather drab, and noise from the busy streets below can be readily heard. A breakfast of meats and cheeses is included, as is free Wi-Fi and concierge services. A cozy lobby bar is available for coffee and drinks throughout the day. Overall, it’s a good choice for couples and families on a budget seeking a convenient location.

Hotel Barcelona House is a simple mid-range tourist hotel with a quiet atmosphere, within a five-minute walk of the Gothic Quarter. Its 57 rooms are sparsely decorated with neutral shades, though some have limited views. On the downside, noisy rooms and clogged bathroom drains have been reported by past guests. The property, renovated in 2010, offers free Wi-Fi, use of a computer in the lobby, and a simple breakfast for a fee. But there's no bar, pool, or gym. For an on-site bar, try Hotel California, or for those last two features (and brighter rooms), go for Catalonia Avinyo, though the rates there are a bit higher. 

Hotel Cuatro Naciones is a mid-range property in an 18th-century building (one that over the past two centuries has housed the likes of Einstein and Buffalo Bill) in the centrally located Las Ramblas neighborhood. The hotel's 54 rooms are plain, but they come with AC, safes, flat-screen TVs, and big closets, and some have views of the city. As a budget property, Hotel Cuatros Naciones doesn't offer a ton of amenities, but they do have a free buffet breakfast and hotel-wide Wi-Fi.

It's hard to beat the location of Rialto Hotel in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. (Interestingly, the hotel occupies the house where Surrealist artist Joan Miró was born.) Being in the thick of the action, however, means that noise from outside is particularly loud in the rooms that face the street. The 205 rooms are simple and clean, but not designed for hanging out in: Decor is basic and amenities are few (in-room Wi-Fi costs a fee, as opposed to Cuatro Naciones, where it's free). However, the room rates include a buffet breakfast with lots of choices.

Housed in a historic building in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, the 50-room Hotel Suizo is a simple budget property offering decent value. Rooms are decorated in a classic style and feature just a few basic amenities, including free W-Fi, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and hairdryers. Some have small balconies offering views of a quaint street, though soundproofing isn’t great and noise can be an issue. The small on-site cafe has a decent regional tapas menu complete with a few snacks, but breakfast is limited and it's served at a sister property across the street. All in all, competitive rates and a great location make this hotel a good pick for couples on a budget.