The 16 Overall Best Hotels You Can Stay at in Madrid
From state-of-the-art constructions to renovated townhouses, soaring skyscrapers to converted palaces, these are our picks for the best hotels in the Spanish capital of Madrid.
Iberostar Las Letras Gran Vía
Why it made the list
A cozy, reasonably priced hotel on the stately avenue of Gran Vía, Iberostar Las Letras is a welcome sanctuary from the area’s constant hubbub of tourists and shoppers. Many of the rooms have street-facing balconies, and a few even boast private outdoor jacuzzis—a priceless perk for couples and honeymooners. To top things off, you can count on uncommon luxuries like a rooftop bar, 24-hour gym, and restaurant that punches above its weight.
AC Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection
Why it made the list
This fin-de-siècle mansion in the Chamberí district, first a duke's residence and later the Canadian embassy, is now a pocket-size luxury hotel (managed by Marriott), an oasis of calm removed from the city center. Hand-painted frescoes crown stately halls and soaring guest rooms, balconies jut out over a tranquil garden, and marble stairways spiral between floors. Despite the Old-World aesthetic, modern amenities abound including a gym area, complete with a sauna and steam room, and a Spanish nueva cocina restaurant.
Hotel Palacio del Retiro, Autograph Collection
Why it made the list
This early-20th-century palace, as its name suggests, was once owned by a noble family with extravagant habits (the elevator carried their horses up and down from the rooftop exercise ring). Today, this spectacular hotel is a case in point that classical and modern décor can happily coexist when done right. Relics of the mansion's grandiose past include baseboards and fountains covered with ceramics from Talavera, Parisian stained-glass windows, marble floors and columns, and original moldings.
Only YOU Atocha
Why it made the list
Arguably the hottest hotel in town, the newly opened Only YOU Atocha is a stunner with its swanky lobby, rooftop restaurant, and well-appointed, industrial-chic accommodations. It’s a destination in itself, thanks to the sleek interiors by Contemporain Studio, the Catalan design firm behind celebrity hotspots Boca Grande and Soho House in Barcelona. A decked-out gym and boozy brunches add to the fun.
Dear Hotel
Why it made the list
Located on Gran Vía overlooking the tree-lined Plaza de España, Dear Hotel is a sleek urban property designed by Tarruella Trenchs Studio, the firm behind such lauded projects as H10 La Mimosa hotel in Barcelona and La Bien Aparecida restaurant in Madrid. Its homey, minimalist rooms—think blond woods, white sheets, and square wall molding—flood with natural light, and some even boast outdoor street-facing patios. It’s the sort of property that fills up during Madrid Fashion Week due to its boutique size, impeccable interiors, and see-and-be-seen atmosphere. But you don’t have to be a designer or a model to appreciate the hotel’s signature details such as sunlit rooms, soft linens, and rooftop dining.
Hesperia Madrid
Why it made the list
A five-star hotel geared toward the business traveler, Hesperia Madrid is located in the city's financial district, miles away from the tourist hubbub and within walking distance of Bernabéu Stadium and the National Museum of Natural Sciences. What the hotel lacks in inspirational design (think heavy curtains and upholstered armchairs) it makes up for with envelope-pushing cuisine in its two-Michelin-star restaurant, Santceloni. Valet parking, an open-air "sky gym," and multiple meeting spaces add comfort and convenience.
ME Madrid
Why it made the list
Overlooking Plaza de Santa Ana, this ultramodern hotel bears few reminders of the era when bullfighters would convene here before setting off to Las Ventas. A typical guest room boasts an over-the-top minibar (thongs, cashmere socks, and sexy-time candles are a few of its contents), a flat-screen TV with surround sound, and one of the most comfortable hotel beds in town. Be sure to grab a cocktail at its rooftop bar, which features a 360-degree view of the skyline.
Barceló Torre de Madrid
Why it made the list
A veritable jewel box of glowing lights, harlequin furniture, and gilded mirrors, the soaring Barceló Torre de Madrid is the trendiest hotel in town—and one of the newest, opened in February 2017. Jaime Hayón, the Madrid-born designer behind the property’s idiosyncratic interiors, strikes a balance between playfulness (zebra-striped bear sculptures) and drama (photos of flamenco bailaoras with piercing eyes), and it all feels so unapologetically current, from the millennial-pink walls, to the spherical light bulbs, to the microgreen-garnished dishes.
Only You Boutique Hotel
Why it made the list
The Ibizan owners of this hotel bring that island's mix of glamor, energy, and cutting-edge music and design to Chueca, one of Madrid’s most happening neighborhoods. The Mediterranean blue palette, interspersed with dashes of colonial style, shows up all over the hotel—a renovated mansion from the 19th century—from the headboards in the carpeted rooms to the large collection of ceramic plates in the dining room to the wallpaper in the lounge areas.
Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
Why it made the list
Spanish art lovers will geek out at the newly reopened Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques, a well-appointed hotel tucked behind Gran Vía where reproductions of famous Diego Velázquez paintings loom large in every room. But don’t let the Elizabethan façade and Golden Age paintings fool you: Palacio de los Duques feels current with Nespresso machines, Bluetooth speakers, and bedside thermostats in every room. These perks, plus the see-and-be-seen pool bar and exceptional restaurant, set this newcomer an echelon above the competition.
URSO Hotel & Spa
Why it made the list
Housed in a regal turn-of-the-century municipal building, this luxury hotel and spa boasts Old World luxury and avant-garde design to satisfy alternative types and jetsetters alike. Tucked behind the bustling Tribunal station, URSO is within walking distance from the city’s top attractions, yet removed enough from the tourist track to lend it an air of exclusivity. Its sleek and petite spa, a standout amenity, boasts a seven-meter hydromassage pool, steam room, and Natura Bissé spa treatments.
Tótem Madrid
Why it made the list
A breath of fresh air on the Madrid hotel scene, Tótem checks all the boxes: genial service, state-of-the-art design, sought-after location, terrific food and cocktails—you name it, they’ve got it. The hotel is situated in the Salamanca district, a chic area north of Retiro park known for its high-end boutiques, old-school restaurants, and preppy lounges and nightclubs.
The Principal Madrid
Why it made the list
The Principal is a shiny game-changing property in the heart of Madrid that eschews all the fusty pretentiousness you’ll find in many of the city’s five-star hotels. Its Terraza rooftop bar, with a forward-thinking cocktail list and unbeatable views of the newly restored dome of the Metropolis, is a destination in itself, as is the envelope-pushing Ático restaurant. What you see is what you get: a well-appointed urban crashpad designed to please any discerning traveler.
Hotel Ritz
Why it made the list
Unapologetically opulent, the Hotel Ritz is Madrid’s last bastion of old-school Continental luxury. Shimmering chandeliers, carved-mahogany accents, and handwoven carpets go to show that this hotel is unbothered by the latest hospitality trends. Guests here are treated like royalty—no coincidence, given the hotel’s reputation for hosting dignitaries and celebrities in the hundred-plus years it’s been in business. Spacious rooms, fabulous breakfasts, a storied past, and an unbeatable location within Madrid’s “Golden Triangle” of art make the Ritz one of Madrid’s top three hotels. It's worth noting that the future of the hotel, christened by King Alfonso XIII, now lies in the hands of Olayan and Mandarin Oriental, hotel chains that recently bought the property. They have forecasted €90 million in renovations, which are set to begin in early 2018 and will likely shut down the hotel for six months to a year.
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