The best hotels in Madrid
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Madrid is one of our favourite city breaks in Europe, beloved for its cultural landmarks, vivacious art scene and beautiful restaurants. These elements are also present within some of the best hotels in Madrid, where you can stay in historic palaces, art-gallery-meets-hotel hybrids or in an unassuming address with its own Michelin-starred restaurant. Then there are the low-key stays, from new-gen hostels to neighbourhood apartment set-ups. And the scene is still growing – the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental – two of the newest luxury addresses in the Spanish capital. For the places to note, we’ve rounded up the best hotels in Madrid. For more, see our guide to the best things to do in Madrid.
Which part of Madrid is the best to stay in?
Much of Madrid's hotels are conveniently scattered around Centro, the city's central area. To be smack-bang amongst the thick of it, look to addresses surrounding the busy Gran Via (Hyatt Centric Gran Vía and The Principal Madrid Hotel) or the Literary Quarter of Barrio de las Letras (Westin Palace Madrid and Four Seasons Hotel Madrid). For a stay that's outside the hustle and bustle, head to the glamorous and grand boulevards of Salamanca where you'll find smart yet unassuming boltholes like Rosewood Villa Magna, Hotel Único Madrid and BLESS Hotel Madrid.
How we choose the best hotels in Madrid
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.
Manolo YlleraMandarin Oriental Ritz
Mandarin Oriental knows that its Madrid outpost will forever be known simply as “The Ritz” – our Ritz, the one inaugurated with pomp by King Alfonso XIII in 1910; the one that welcomed Grace Kelly and Rainier of Monaco during their honeymoon; and the one where Mata Hari, Salvador Dalí and countless other stars caroused. After its remodelling and reopening in 2021, The Ritz is now, even more, Ritz-like than ever, thanks to Mandarin Oriental. Storied Madrid architecture firm Rafael de La-Hoz and French interior designers Gilles & Boissier (Baccarat Hotel New York) had the challenging task of reinventing the hotel while holding onto a certain spirit. The most striking detail was the recovery of the great glass vault of the Palm Court, the social heart of the building, which had been concealed for 80 years, and the opening of the enormous doors that connect, physically and emotionally, to the Museo del Prado (the great art gallery is so close you can almost touch it). But other magical corners abound. My favourites include The Beauty Concept spa, with its spectacular indoor pool, treatment cabins and fitness trainers; the timeless counter of the Pictura cocktail bar, where I’ve spent endless hours watched over by gilt-framed oils; Deessa, chef Quique Dacosta’s artistic restaurant, which has gained two Michelin stars in two years; and the rare oasis that is the hotel garden. To eat Dacosta’s paella here, under the city’s eternal blue sky, has become a defining Madrid experience at what remains a quintessential hotel. David Moralejo
For more, see our full review of the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid.
Address: The Mandarin Oriental Ritz, l. de la Lealtad, 5, 28014 Madrid, Spain
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Nikolas Koenig 2021/The Madrid EDITIONThe Madrid EDITION
The Madrid Edition may be the most transformative of Madrid’s recent influx. It makes no pretence at integration but exists on its own terms. Masterminded by Ian Schrager and architect John Pawson, it stands on a quiet square, galvanising the neighbourhood with a brazenly irreverent sort of modernity. The long vaulted corridor leading into the building from an 18th-century carved granite portal, glowing with a soft pinkish light, sets the tone, as does the pearly white spiral staircase in the entrance hall. Spaces are playfully eclectic: an antique tapestry hangs behind an all-white pool table lined with electric-blue baize, and you might find a minimalist bench draped with a traditional Spanish shawl. In the white-on-white guest rooms, plate-glass windows look out on historic buildings, such as a 16th-century royal monastery. If the Punch Room bar is dark and clubby, the ground-floor Jerónimo restaurant, helmed by Mexican chef Enrique Olvera, fizzes with lime green and hot pink. The fourth-floor pool bar, which holds its own in a town that prides itself on roof hangouts, is a gorgeous open-air world of lush greenery, olive trees and rooftop restaurant Oroya, where Diego Muñoz dishes up tapas-sized but ambitious Peruvian food.
Address: The Madrid EDITION, Pl. de Celenque, 2, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Sergio MartínezJW Marriott Hotel Madrid
The newest hotel to open in Madrid is also an indulgent one. The raison d'être of the hotel comes from the founder of the brand (as well as the larger Marriott Corporation), J Willard Marriott, who firmly believed in the importance of personalised service. Wherever you look and wherever you go on the property, there's the opportunity to check out of real life and embrace the present. A carpe diem attitude is expressed in elegantly pared-back rooms in neutral colours and attentive staff. The hotel’s restaurant is its crown jewel, the creation of the celebrated Sandoval brothers. Expect local produce and traditional meets cutting-edge cooking (plus, we'd say, the best breakfast in Europe). Service is endearingly enthusiastic, and the public spaces (cocktail bar, lobby, book store) make this the capital's trendiest spot right now. For more, read our full JW Marriott Hotel Madrid review. María Ángeles Cano
Address: JW Marriott Hotel Madrid, C. de Sevilla, 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Westin Palace Madrid
The undisputed grande-dame hotel of Madrid – based on a clever idea King Alfonso XIII had just before World War I – faces Plaza Neptuno’s fountains and one of the world’s seriously great art museums, El Prado. Whether you stay here or not, save time for a cocktail in La Rotonda lobby bar beneath the famous stained-glass cupola. And have a wander around the hotel’s small museum, which reveals its life over the past century, name-dropping Hemingway, Picasso, the Rolling Stones and Dalí, who was fond of doodling on the walls. Bedrooms are defined by a restrained, Belle Epoque elegance, with the brand’s signature focus on wellbeing – super-food ingredients on the room-service menus, white-tea-scented bathroom bottles, staff-led jogging paths – and beds that will swallow you up whole.
Address: Westin Palace Madrid, Pl. de las Cortes, 7, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Featured on our 2023 Gold List the best hotels in the world
Santo Mauro’s classic status lies beyond the tawdry plane of real life. Built between 1898 and 1902 as the private palacio of the Dukes of Santo Mauro, who still own the building, the 49-room bubble of gorgeousness, now part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, occupies an affluent corner of the Almagro neighbourhood, where the ebullience of Chamberí gives way to embassies and private clinics. High-ceilinged public rooms compete in fin de siècle grandeur, but design doyen Lorenzo Castillo’s major interior refresh has removed some of the old hauteur, bringing a certain lightness and chic in spite of the many engravings and antiques. The walls have been upholstered and ceiling mouldings under-lit; restored parquet floors creak underfoot. The wood-panelled La Biblioteca Gresca is now the setting for Barcelona-based chef Rafael Peña’s refined Mediterranean market cooking. An outpost of his Gresca in Barcelona, it serves traditional Spanish fare surrounded by walls of colourful books. Meanwhile, the French-style formal garden has been reimagined by landscaper Fernando Valero as a maze of box hedges and trickling fountains, with crunching gravel, towering horse chestnut trees and fences draped with ivy.
Address: Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Calle de Zurbano, 36, 28010 Madrid
Rosewood Villa Magna
Basing yourself at Rosewood’s first Spanish property in Madrid’s upscale Salamanca quarter is like staying just off Fifth Avenue in New York – you’ll think the city is all designer boutiques and people in gilets if you don’t wander quite a lot further afield. A 1972 modernist structure re-opened in 2021 following the attentions of architect Ramón de Aranaas, its exterior has had a chic aluminium and brass-clad upgrade. The vibe inside is very local and knowing – black-framed floor-to-ceiling glass doors, tongue-in-cheek artworks smuggled among more serious pieces, and smart lounges you no longer have to book a table at. Regular restaurant pop-ups are intricate and designed to entice Madrid’s curious foodies (an alpine ski lodge with plentiful sheepskin on our early spring visit), while the on-site patisserie Flor y Nata casts intoxicating smells, all-day dining destination Las Brasas de Castellana serves wonderful traditional dishes and flagship Amós, run by three-Michelin-star winning Jesús Sánchez, does skilful creative turns on Northern Spanish cuisine. Underground, there’s a small, stylish spa with a uniquely shaped Jacuzzi, plus a sauna and steam room; up top is the last piece of the puzzle – the show-stopping Houses opened in 2022 (‘penthouses’ are so pre-pandemic). Ask for Royal Anglada House for a seemingly endless space stretching over a long dining room and circular office and both indoor and outdoor kitchens, the latter on a wowee-terrace large enough to house a full corporate company’s Christmas party, with views out to the mountains beyond the cityscape (so you actually just need to head up to the ninth floor to see past Prada). Becky Lucas
Address: Rosewood Villa Magna, Paseo de la Castellana, 22, 28046 Madrid
Relais & Chateaux Hotel Orfila
We couldn’t miss the chance to mention the city’s best-kept secret: its first Relais & Châteaux (the second is the very sleek Heritage Hotel Madrid). Lorenzo Castillo has renovated Orfila’s interior without losing its essence, bringing it into a brand new era with that same savoir faire that originally won this spot its classic status. The great Mario Sandoval, from two-starred Coque, is the hotel’s executive chef: you have to taste his dishes in El Jardín de Orfila, which is, indeed, a garden. But don’t say a word: this too is (almost) a secret. David Moralejo
Address: C. de Orfila, 6, 28010 Madrid, Spain
Gran Hotel Inglés
The return of the city’s oldest hotel, which originally opened in 1886, brought an excitable buzz to the Barrio de las Letras arts district. Art Deco interiors nod nostalgically to the building’s origins, while a whip smart renovation perfectly integrates the property, part of The Leading Hotels of The Worlds, into its surroundings. Right across the street are La Venencia and Chuka Ramen Bar – two restaurants you cannot miss. David Moralejo
Address: Calle de Echegaray, 8, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Thompson MadridThompson Madrid
The location is surprising. Plaza del Carmen, a little square just off Madrid’s Gran Via, is unprepossessing, while the Calle Montera street it overlooks is a notorious sex-worker haunt. None of which bothers the new Thompson Madrid, the first European member of Hyatt’s upscale urban marque, which opened with the aim of shining the light of culture into this dreary downtown corner. Otherwise, the Thompson eschews theatrical gestures, opting instead for a grown-up calm courtesy of Madrid interior designers Ignacio López and Penélope Tena, channelling mid-century glamour with copper, smoked glass and black Calatorao marble textures. The top-floor suites have wraparound terraces with tremendous views of Madrid’s downtown roofscape, from the neon Tío Pepe sign on Puerta del Sol to the Almudena cathedral and the countryside. A commitment to Madrileño contemporary art sees photographers, artists and fashion designers curated by Luisa Olazábal. Nino Redruello’s restaurant-bakery, The Omar, is the best thing in a large radius, and the Hijos de Tomás bar in the basement feels like a proper local joint, appropriately open until 3am.
Address: Thompson Madrid, Pl. del Carmen, 28013 Madrid
The Principal Madrid Hotel
Neatly set just beyond the fray of one of the Gran Vía’s busiest sections, close to the boho Chueca district, this hotel is party to some of Madrid’s most classic views. A lone doorman welcomes guests up the stairs to a lift that whisks them to the chic rooftop reception, but the magic begins on the rooftop terrace, which looks over towards the angel-topped dome of the city’s famous Metrópolis building. All rooms have bespoke leather furnishings and Mallorcan bath potions, but try to book one of the prized bedrooms at the front of the hotel.
Address: The Principal Madrid Hotel, C. del Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 1, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Hotel Único Madrid
Blink twice, and you might miss the entrance to this unassuming hotel, tucked away behind sliding doors on a polished Salamanca street. A marble staircase leads up to sizeable rooms and bathrooms, where windows galore open to the quiet garden courtyard or the main street in front. What sets this apart, however, is the Ramon Freixa Madrid dining room, which has two Michelin stars and the menu creativity to prove it – fallow deer loin with blueberry and pomegranate demiglace or sole fish steamed in pine with its skins in cava wine, anyone? Make a reservation weeks in advance, otherwise, dozens of Madrileños will beat you to it. For those unable to secure a spot at the dinner table, never fear: the chef also oversees the breakfast spread.
Address: Hotel Único Madrid, Calle de Claudio Coello, 67, 28001 Madrid, Spain
7 Islas
Family-owned 7 Islas is a half hotel, half gallery, just off Gran Vía, one of the best places to shop in Madrid. Its industrial lobby, with polished concrete floors and whitewashed walls, displays works by emerging Spanish and international artists and is open to both guests and passers-by. Designed with Bauhaus minimalism in mind, the place is punctuated with furniture reminiscent of Picasso sculptures, made from natural materials such as wood and upcycled aeroplane parts.
Address: 7 Islas Hotel, C. de Valverde, 14, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Hyatt Centric Gran Vía
Music and radio play heavily into the design here (there’s even a mock radio studio in the lobby), which pays homage to the broadcasting headquarters that once stood across the street. The hotel’s location along Gran Via means front-facing rooms, some with balconies, are always entertaining (although not entirely soundproof). Rooms mix playful whimsy (pillow covers with cats wearing headphones) and furniture with useful tech such as USB ports and electrical outlets everywhere you need one. Visitors will find the setting hard to beat, but locals are the ones fuelling the rooftop terrace and Latin-themed restaurant with a raw bar. Creative craft cocktails and mesmerising views are enough to pay a visit even if not staying here.
Address: Hyatt Centric Gran Via, C/ Gran Vía, 31, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Miguel Merino MSTUDIO,Miguel Merino - MSTUDIO- www.mstudioHotel NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa
What resembles an embassy or diplomatic enclave from the outside, with a stately façade by Juan de Villanueva (the architect better known for El Prado), is actually a bright and modern space inside. The decor of Hotel NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa may seem avant-garde, with minimalist furniture and statement lights – but one glance through the glass panels in the lobby floor will reveal the ruins of a 16th-century canal system below. No hotel takes sleep more seriously, thanks to two sets of interior room doors which keep unwanted hallway noise at bay. If you can, book one of the handfuls of duplex suites facing San Sebastian church, which have spacious living areas below and lovely bedrooms above.
Address: Hotel NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa, C. de San Sebastián, 2, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Bless Hotel Madrid
Walking through the front door here takes you right into the middle of the hotel’s lavish bar, a real scene-setter with an eclectic mix of locals and its design, which weaves in Oriental rugs, brass lamps, vintage artwork and contemporary Art Deco. Behind the library-like reception is SLVJ with a Japanese-Mediterranean menu accompanied by live music and dance. The clubby bedrooms are kitted out more like a private home than a hotel, with framed pictures, velvet sofas and curious antiques at every turn; many have faux fireplaces and small balconies for peering over the smart Salamanca barrio – an area fluttering with labels such as Manolo Blahnik, Prada and Tiffany.
Address: Bless Hotel Madrid, C. de Velázquez, 62, 28001 Madrid, Spain
UMusic Hotel Madrid
Universal Music choosing Madrid as the location for its first-ever hotel feels like a marker of the current buzz around the city. Part of a project that includes the newly renovated 1940s Albéniz Theatre in the same elegant building, the 130-room hotel is slap-bang in the centre of things: steps from the Puerta del Sol and the Kilometre Zero stone slab that marks the geographical centre of Spain. There are proper panoramas from the terraces of some of the faintly retro rooms, which have faux marble floors and Marshall smart speakers, with guitars and turntables in some suites. Corridors are lined with shots of artists such as Rihanna, while the view from the rooftop pool includes graffiti murals on neighbouring buildings of Amy Winehouse and the flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla. While the main restaurant, El Albéniz, does Spanish comfort food, including bocata de toro (brioche buns with bull’s tail), caramelised onion, egg yolk and roasted garlic, there’s a smart Japanese on the rooftop and plans for a speakeasy in the basement of the theatre. The buzz will only get louder.
Address: UMusic Hotel Madrid, C. de la Paz, 11, 28012 Madrid
Hospes Puerta de Alcalá
Directly opposite one of the city’s main entry points, Puerta de Alcalá, and the famous Retiro Park, Design Hotels member Hospes Puerta de Alcalá enjoys an energetic location that is always abuzz day and night. The traffic circle in front means public transportation is never too far. Renovation work on this famous city monument has marred the view temporarily, but it will soon look better than ever when the scaffolding is down. Nevertheless, you won’t regret the rooms in front of this José María de Aguilar-designed 19th-century building with a balcony overlooking the Plaza de la Independencia. Behind the historic facade, the décor switches to a designer-chic style that fills the boutique hotel’s just over three dozen rooms. In a true sign of quality, locals often take up shop in the street front café for after-work modern tapas like cod fritters with apple aioli and garlic prawn croquettes.
Address: Hospes Puerta de Alcalá, Pl. de la Independencia, 3, 28001 Madrid, Spain
Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
Standing proudly on the corner of calles Sevilla and Alcalá, the Canadian-based group’s first hotel in Spain is part of a large project that includes private residences, shops and an upscale food hall, and the building’s ornate 19th-century façade and opulent interiors have been preserved, including the double-height lobby with its ivy-green marble columns and stained-glass roof. Everything breathes quality, from the solid walnut floors and Alpujarra carpets to the faultless sound-proofing and refreshingly user-friendly lighting systems – there’s a delicate touch in the design that seems just right for an age that has tired of glitz. Art in the hotel, nearly 1,500 pieces, is the handiwork of budding Spanish artists and students invited to show off their talents in the hotel. For many, this became their first big break, leading to more projects. The property is home to the city’s largest wellness centre spanning four floors with a glamorously sunlit indoor pool, outdoor terrace and modern fitness centre. Service manages the deft trick of being both briskly efficient and charmingly Spanish with requests just a text message away. The Four Seasons sets the bar high but clears it without breaking a sweat. For more, see our full Four Seasons Hotel Madrid review. By Paul Richardson
Address: Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, Sevilla, 3, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá
This building has held many roles (convent and ducal palace among them), and now it is one of the city’s top hotels. Large-scale works from famed Spanish artist Diego Velázquez hang throughout and blend well with designer furnishings that would not look out of place in a modern-day palace. Sit-down reception is an indicator of the upscale attention to detail here, but those booking Red-Level accommodations are in for a treat. They gain access to a private lounge for all-day refreshments (including bottomless Cava), light snacks and breakfast. You can’t get much more central than this: the Royal Palace is down the street, and Gran Via’s effervescent lights and 24-hour energy is a short walk in the other direction. It’s easy to be tempted to wander off for a meal, but it would be a shame not to dine in the former stables here, now a restaurant run by the Torres brothers (known for their Michelin-starred restaurant in Barcelona). The quality here is just as on point. You needn’t stress over the price of dinner because anyone that joins the loyalty program of The Leading Hotels of the World (this hotel is a member) is treated to complimentary breakfast for two each morning of their stay.
Address: Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá, Cuesta de Sto. Domingo, 5, 28013 Madrid, Spain
VP Plaza Esp DesignVP Plaza España Design
Towering over Plaza de España and its majestic fountain, this high-rise features enviable views and is one of only a handful of skyscrapers along Gran Via. Almost every room benefits from panoramic city skyline views with red-tiled rooftops as far as the eye can see. Far more contemporary than other luxury hotels in the capital (just wait until you see the fashionable staff uniforms), this minimalist property appeals to both leisure travellers and those with a briefcase in tow. It's central to everything, thanks to the metro stop at its front door, but it is the rooftop pool and terrace that has locals standing in line for one of the few prized spots at its aerial bar. From there, not even the most colourful cocktail or designer tapa can distract you from the views.
Address: VP Plaza España Design, Pl. de España, 5, 28008 Madrid, Spain