If we believe the seedy world of Kings Cross as presented on current Australian TV hit Underbelly, you’d run a mile before considering laying your head to rest (unless six feet under by mafia lords) in the area. But the infamous nightlife strip has really cleaned up its act. In fact, as an ex-Sydney-sider who hasn’t revisited the locale in almost a decade, it’s almost unrecognisable. Enter the Diamant Hotel, perched side by side with the landmark neon Coca-Cola sign.

Here is the perfect demonstration of what the area now has to offer — an urban-cool oasis in the heart of the reborn hotspot. A dark and sexy mood still pervades, as you wander almost pitch black corridors lit by strategically placed down lights to guide you to your room number. Arrive at your suite to be greeted by a sleek all black, white and chocolate interior scheme. Simple, luxe and unpretentious.

Our favourite features? All rooms come with an in-built ipod dock and giant plasma screens with a mini keyboard to access the Internet in full screen splendour. In the lobby, an artful installation of light bulbs hangs above a massive six disk Bose sound-dock streaming laidback ambient tunes 24-7. Boutique hotel hunters Mr & Mrs Smith represent the hotel — you know if the hotel has made their selective list it’s going to be a super special experience. And the Diamant most definitely is.

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There’s something to be said for staying in a hotel room that’s bigger than your Brooklyn apartment. Yup, it happens so rarely that when you come across it, you kinda want to hang inside, bask in the space, and imagine that this really is your life. 365 days a year. Ah ha, then you wake up. Anyway, I stayed recently at the beautifully designed Hotel Omm in the Eixample district of Barcelona, surrounded by the glitzy, sparkling shops that dot the landscape and by the disarmingly original Gaudi buildings that tower spectacularly above the skyline. It’s quite a sight. [photo by Alison Zavos]

The Omm is classified a luxury boutique hotel, and as such, comes loaded with all the extras you’d expect. But with a twist: it’s interior design is stunning. Much like Barcelona itself, the Hotel Omm, projects an image of refined chic, elegance and urban cool, the muted colours offsetting its vibrant location, where French designers share street space with edgy clothing and product stores and a small cafe across the road which serves the tastiest damn desserts in the city. Or so my taste-buds say, anyway.

Part of the Mr and Mrs Smith worldwide collection of boutique accommodations, the Hotel Omm features its own spa and rooftop terrace, which overlooks Barcelona’s trendy Passeig de Gracia, and has a rooftop swimming pool, a spa, a Michelin rated restaurant (Moo) and a nightclub which was packed with Barcelona’s ultra-fashionable types when we eventually staggered in there after a few hours wandering the city’s streets.

Hotel Omm
C/ Rosselló 265
08008 Barcelona, Spain
+34 934 454 000