I think you'll find a number of reviews of Hostal Opera here in this forum - most positive, I think. But I don't think we yet have any reviews of Hostal City Centre Urquinaona. Try a search to be sure.
But regarding locations, Hostal Opera is more central and is located in El Raval (don't freak out yet) but only about 50 meters from Las Ramblas on a pedestrian street - lots of foot traffic day and night.
Hostal City Centre Urquinaona is in the Eixample district. This is a bit of a walk to, say, the Gothic Quarter but you'll find the lodgings to be MUCH more elegant, historical, and even more romantic in this residential neighborhood. From the photos, at least some of the rooms have balconies and I love the tile floors of buildings in this area - so elegant. I stayed in a VERY similar place (
Hostal Martina Bailen - two blocks 'north' on the same street) last March for a few days. NICE place. The rooms were simple but the crown moldings, tile floors in design, stained glass windows, enclosed balcony with table and chairs, VERY high ceilings, etcetera. Very nice although the furnishings were simple and basic. It was quite comfortable, though.
Saludos, MadridMan
