Where you stay in Barcelona determines whether the city feels elegant or fragmented. For most men, the best move is to base yourself in or near the Eixample, ideally with easy access to Gaixample and the center around Plaça de Catalunya. That gives you architectural order, good hotel stock, and a simple route into bars, restaurants, and later nightlife. The old city can work if you want texture first, but it often feels denser and less controlled. Barcelona is strongest when the hotel feels central, stylish, and quietly efficient rather than overtly resort-like.