Axel Hotel Barcelona is where the brand began, having opened in 2003 as the world's first hotel created specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community. The building is a 19th-century modernist property on Calle Aribau in the heart of the Eixample district, within the area locals call the Queerxample or Gayxample, where gay bars, clubs, restaurants and shops have concentrated over several decades. The hotel has grown from a bold experiment into an institution, and remains the flagship of the Axel Hotels chain. Facilities include a rooftop pool and terrace, a spa with sauna, hammam, jacuzzi and gym, a restaurant and bar serving lunch and dinner, and a ground floor venue running drag and DJ nights most evenings of the week. The hotel is adults only and positions itself as a safe and open space where guests can be themselves without explanation.
