The Most Historic Hotels in Madrid
From converted palaces to grand old hotels, there's no shortage of historic properties in the Spanish capital. These are the hotels that tell the story of Spain—of erstwhile grandeur and silver-screen movie stars, of intricate architecture and sumptuous furniture. Book a room in any of these paradores, and you'll be transported to a bygone era.
AC Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection
Why it made the list
This fin-de-siècle palace in the Chamberí district, first a duke's residence and later the Canadian embassy, is now an intimate 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.
URSO Hotel & Spa
Why it made the list
One of Madrid's most stunning façades belongs to URSO Hotel & Spa, a luxurious modern property that occupies a turn-of-the-century municipal building. Don't forget to take a spin on the 100-year-old elevator, complete with carved mahogany flourishes and a scarlet-upholstered seat.
NH Collection Palacio de Tepa
Why it made the list
Situated on a cobblestone street in Barrio de las Letras, Madrid’s literary quarter, the NH Collection Palacio de Tepa occupies a converted 19th-century palace whose architect also designed the Prado Museum. Interiors are handsome and serious with dark-wood floors, marble bathrooms, and (in some rooms) beamed ceilings and skylights. Though some rooms feel a tad dated, our minor quibbles with the design don’t detract from the overall experience, and travelers of all ilks are sure to leave this property impressed.
Hotel Palacio del Retiro, Autograph Collection
Why it made the list
A palatial early-20th-century building, once owned by a noble family with extravagant habits (the elevator carried their horses up and down from the rooftop exercise ring), 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.
NH Collection Madrid Suecia
Why it made the list
If only the walls of the NH Collection Madrid Suecia could talk: The 1956 building it occupies was once home to Ernest Hemingway and Che Guevara. Today’s guests are decidedly tamer, but the retro aesthetic lives on in the hotel’s brown velvet couches, towering tropical plants, and suave concierges.
Hotel Único
Why it made the list
Situated on a quiet side street in the posh, tree-lined district of Salamanca, Hotel Único is a boutique property suited to travelers seeking a relaxing, cosmopolitan vacation. Its 44 rooms occupy a 19th-century palace complete with wrought-iron balconies, curved staircases, and a sunny courtyard. Though interiors could use a makeover, it’s the rare hotel that houses a two-Michelin-star restaurant (Ramón Freixa Madrid) within its walls—a boon to travelers with a penchant for la nueva cocina.
ME Madrid
Why it made the list
In an unbeatable location, this ultramodern hotel bears a few reminders of the era when bullfighters would convene here before setting off to Las Ventas: Bulls' heads hang in the lounge and some abstract pictures of bullfighting are scattered around. But the old flair has been superseded by cutting-edge amenities; a typical guest room contains an advanced memory-foam mattress, international outlets, and a minibar that's triple the usual size.
Wellington Madrid
Why it made the list
Occupying half of a city block in Madrid’s posh Salamanca district, Hotel Wellington is an iconic, stately property founded by a bullfighting bigwig in the mid-1900s. Its guest list has included such luminaries and celebrities as Ernest Hemingway, Gene Kelly, the Dukes of Wellington, and (more recently) Matt Damon and Adrien Brody. Though millennials might wonder where the Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso machines, and pillow menus are, more traditional travelers will find most of their expectations met by this well-oiled machine of a property.
Westin Palace Madrid
Why it made the list
The Palace opened in 1912 as the largest hotel in Europe, and in its heyday, catered to the likes of Salvador Dalí, Marlon Brando, Rita Hayworth, and Madonna.The property retains much of that Belle Époque charm today—though some say it hasn’t aged as gracefully one might hope.
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