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What do you mean by "Spanish character"?
Barcelona is noted for sophisticated contemporary design and its hotels reflect that.
You will find some older hotels that exude a traditional grand European style, but not particularly Spanish, as in an Andalusian way, for example. Besides, as others may point out, Barcelona is Catalan, and not Spanish.

David....I don't need a lesson in Catalan vs. Spanish. I know that. I am just looking for a recommended place to stay. I think most readers will get what Spanish character means.

Don't want to stir up any animosity or start any quarrel... but Brian, I'm afraid David has got a very valid point. For reasons that are now not important, many people visiting these shores have a very distorted (if any!) image of what Spain is and travel to Catalonia thinking of 'toros, flamenco and sangria' (and the rest of the stereotypes often portrayed in bad Hollywood movies) and find themselves a little bit shocked when they discover those have little or nothing to do with Catalan culture, which is the local culture in this part of the world. So yes, asking for "Spanish character" when referring to Barcelona is quite an oxymoron and it's well worth that David points out the fact these are two neighbouring but different cultures. So, I humbly would also like to know what do you mean when asking for "a place with Spanish character" in Barcelona.

We have booked at a small place called Circa 1905. It has great reviews and appears to have a lot of character and a great location as well. check it out! We searched a long time before settling on this place.

Hotel Neri may be just what you are looking for. Prices may be lower during shoulder seasons. Fabulous place in the old section of Barcelona. We just loved it! Great staff and very artful hotel in a very old (but nicely updated) building.

Hotel Neri looks lovely. If only it was not over 6x more expensive than the B & B where I will be staying in Apil!

Larry,
The original poster will just have to check to see what's available for his dates. I just checked and for an early March date (which is when we were there), I see rooms available for $270 a night, which is incredible for a place as nice as Hotel Neri.

We will often stay at incredible places, but not at prime tourist season (when prices are much, much higher) and lines at tourist sites are much, much longer. We went to popular Gaudi sites and experienced no lines in early March, and the workers told us that a few months later, and we would have been waiting 2-3 hours.

Timing is everything sometimes.

Maybe the dates will work for Brian.

Margaret, and Brian, I checked the lovely Hotel Neri for availability and rates in mid-April when Brian said he would be in Barcelona, same time as me. I found a basic room was somewhat under US $400 per night, non-refundable, or somewhat over US$ 400 per night with right to cancel. Might work for Brian, but not for me. I am paying €70 per night at a more modest B & B.

Thank you all. I will check out the Hotel Neri and any other suggestions. Thanks again.
ps....I have traveled throughout Spain extensively before including Catalonia and fully understand that Barcelona is Catalan, and not Spanish.