Next door, the crowds queue for a dragon. Here, a chocolate maker’s family left their slippers, cameras and teacups exactly where they were.
Casa Amatller is the house that chocolate built. Standing on Passeig de Gràcia in the heart of the Eixample, it was remodelled between 1898 and 1900 for the chocolatier Antoni Amatller by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Its stepped gable and colourful tiles make it one of the most photographed façades in Barcelona, yet far fewer people go inside than at its famous neighbour.
In this article you’ll find the story of the house and the family, what you’ll see on a visit, how the tickets and tours work and where to stay nearby. If you’re short on time, a visit takes about an hour and ends, fittingly, with chocolate.
💰 Hostal Goya - A friendly, good-value guesthouse in a classic Eixample building, 5 minutes on foot.
🏨 Hotel Condes de Barcelona - A four-star hotel in a modernist palace with a rooftop pool on Passeig de Gràcia.
💎 Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona - A five-star hotel with a spa, almost opposite Casa Amatller.
Who was Antoni Amatller?
Antoni Amatller i Costa (1851-1910) came from a family of chocolate makers whose business dated back to 1797. He modernised the family firm, built a factory and turned Chocolate Amatller into one of the best-known brands in Spain, famous for its colourful promotional posters by artists such as Alphonse Mucha.
He was also a keen photographer, a traveller and a collector of antique glass and archaeology. In 1898 he bought an apartment building on Passeig de Gràcia, then the smartest avenue in the city, and asked the young architect Puig i Cadafalch to turn it into a home that would reflect his success and his tastes.
The house - Catalan Gothic meets the Low Countries
Puig i Cadafalch kept the structure of the original 1875 building but gave it a completely new face. The façade mixes Catalan Gothic windows with a stepped gable inspired by houses in Flanders and the Netherlands. The upper part shines with pink, cream and gold ceramic tiles, and wrought-iron balconies break up the stonework.
Look closely at the carvings by the sculptor Eusebi Arnau around the entrance and the first-floor windows. Saint George fights the dragon over the door, and small animals play out human hobbies, including some that refer to Amatller’s love of photography and collecting. Children usually love spotting them.
Inside the house museum
The real surprise is inside. After Antoni died, his daughter Teresa Amatller kept the main floor much as it was, and lived there until her death in 1960. Today the Casa Amatller house museum shows the family’s original furniture, lamps, stained glass and decorative details, so it feels like the owners have just stepped out.
The entrance hall and staircase
The visit starts in the entrance hall, with a covered courtyard, a grand staircase and a skylight in coloured glass. The carriage entrance and the lamps here set the tone for the whole building, which blends medieval romance with modern comfort.
The main floor
Upstairs, the main floor holds the reception rooms, the dining room and Antoni Amatller’s study. You’ll see his cameras and some of the photographs he took on his travels. The private rooms show how a wealthy Barcelona family lived around 1900, surrounded by carved wood, painted ceilings and stained glass.
The chocolate at the end
Visits end with a taste of Chocolate Amatller, a nod to the family fortune. The ground floor also has a chocolate shop and café, where you can buy the famous chocolate leaves in their decorated tins or enjoy a cup of thick hot chocolate.
Chocolate Amatller today
The family no longer makes the chocolate. Since 1972 the brand has belonged to Chocolates Simón Coll, a chocolate maker from Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, about 45 km west of the city, which still produces it from roasted cocoa beans, cocoa butter and sugar, with milk added for the milk chocolate. The range includes dark and milk chocolate bars, the thin chocolate leaves and tins decorated with the old Mucha posters.
The shop in the house is the best place to see the full selection of products in one store. A tin of chocolate leaves is a light, easy gift to take home, and prices are similar to good chocolate in a supermarket. If you’re buying for someone with allergies, check the ingredients on the label, as some products contain milk or nuts.
Casa Amatller and the Block of Discord
Casa Amatller stands on the block of Passeig de Gràcia nicknamed the Manzana de la Discordia, or Block of Discord, where three star architects of Catalan modernism built side by side. Domènech i Montaner’s Casa Lleó Morera is at number 35, Casa Amatller at number 41 and Gaudí’s Casa Batlló next door at number 43.
The nickname plays on the Greek myth of the golden apple of discord, as each house seems to compete for attention. Casa Amatller is the oldest of the three remodels and the most restrained, which makes a nice contrast with the waves and dragon scales next door. Seeing them together is one of the highlights of a walk along Passeig de Gràcia, which continues to Gaudí’s Casa Milà a few blocks north.
Casa Amatller tickets and guided tours
You can only visit the main floor with a ticket for a timed visit. There are two options: a guided tour in English or other languages, and a self-guided visit with a video guide. Both last about an hour and include the chocolate tasting.
Groups are small, so popular time slots sell out, especially at weekends and in summer. Book your Casa Amatller tickets online in advance and arrive 10 minutes early. The house is far quieter than the Gaudí buildings, so it’s a good choice if you want a calm, close-up look at a modernist interior.
Is Casa Amatller worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you’re curious about how people actually lived in these modernist houses. Unlike some neighbouring buildings, Casa Amatller kept its original furniture and family objects, and the small groups make the visit feel personal. It’s also a good option with kids, thanks to the carved animals and the chocolate at the end.
The Amatller Institute and the restoration
Teresa Amatller created the Institut Amatller d’Art Hispànic in the house in the 1940s, and it still runs a major photographic archive of Spanish art. The building was declared a national monument in 1976. A long restoration brought the main floor back to its 1900 appearance, and the house museum opened to the public in 2015.
How to get to Casa Amatller
Casa Amatller is at Passeig de Gràcia 41, between Carrer del Consell de Cent and Carrer d’Aragó. The nearest metro station is Passeig de Gràcia on lines L2, L3 and L4, just a minute’s walk away. From Plaça de Catalunya it’s about 10 minutes on foot along the avenue.
It’s easy to combine with Casa Batlló next door, Casa Milà, or a walk down to the old town and the Gothic Quarter. Allow time for the shops and cafés of the Eixample, one of the best areas in Barcelona for architecture lovers.
Practical information
- Casa Amatller tickets are best booked in advance. Groups are small, so booking ahead means you won’t find your preferred time slot sold out.
- Address: Passeig de Gràcia 41, 08007 Barcelona
- Buy tickets on GetYourGuide
Hotels near Casa Amatller
Passeig de Gràcia is one of the most elegant places to stay in Barcelona, with metro links in every direction and the old town a short walk away.
💰 Hostal Goya
A friendly guesthouse on Carrer de Pau Claris, about 5 minutes’ walk from Casa Amatller. Rooms are simple, bright and well kept, in a classic Eixample building. It’s a good-value base close to Passeig de Gràcia and Plaça de Catalunya. Ideal for couples and solo travellers on a budget.
🏨 Hotel Condes de Barcelona
A four-star hotel in a modernist palace on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia, a few minutes from the Block of Discord. Rooms are comfortable and modern, and the rooftop terrace has a small pool and views towards Casa Milà. A great mid-range choice if you want to sleep inside the architecture you came to see.
💎 Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona
A five-star hotel on Passeig de Gràcia, almost opposite Casa Amatller. Elegant white interiors, a spa and a rooftop terrace with a pool make it one of the city’s top addresses. It’s perfect for a special trip in the heart of the Eixample.
Casa Amatller FAQ
How long does a visit to Casa Amatller take?
Both the guided tour and the self-guided visit last about an hour. Add a little extra time if you want to look at the façade from the street or buy chocolate in the shop downstairs.
Is Casa Amatller by Gaudí?
No. Casa Amatller was designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Gaudí designed Casa Batlló, the house right next door, which is why the two are often confused.
Can you visit Casa Amatller without a guide?
Yes. Besides the guided tour, there’s a self-guided visit with a video guide that you follow at your own pace. Both include the chocolate tasting at the end.
Is Chocolate Amatller still made today?
Yes. Chocolate Amatller is still produced today and sold in shops across Spain, including the shop on the ground floor of the house. Its chocolate leaves in decorated tins make a good gift from Barcelona.
Which is better, Casa Amatller or Casa Batlló?
They’re very different. Casa Batlló is a bold Gaudí masterpiece with big crowds, while Casa Amatller is a quieter, authentic family home with original furniture. If you have time, see both, as they stand side by side.
