The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Madrid

Madrid may have grand monuments, lvish fountains, domed neoclassical buildings and Renaissance squares, yet the Spanish capital has sometimes been overshadowed by seemingly headline-grabbing cities such as Barcelona or Seville. That has changed, however, over the last few years—Madrid is very much having its moment on the world stage. Discerning travelers come for the world-class art collections within the “Golden Art Triangle”—The Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Museo Reina Sofia, home of Picasso’s monumental Guernica. They book well in advance to dine at any of the 26 Michelin-starred restaurants, or to sit front and center along the new Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. If all these weren’t enough of a draw, Madrid is also home to some of the most luxurious hotels in Europe, be it Belle Époque palaces or sleek, contemporary steel-and-glass towers; you’ll find exceptional levels of service and luxury no matter where you choose. In no particular order, these are the 10 of the best luxury hotels in Madrid right now. - The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel Award: Best for imbibing like Hemingway Occupying an entire block just over the road from the Spanish parliament and within ten minutes’ walk of the city’s key sights, The Palace has been the place to see and be seen since it opened in 1912. It was a favorite haunt of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, poet Federico García Lorca, and Ernest Hemingway, who was so impressed by the hotel’s martinis, he mentioned them in his 1926 debut novel, The Sun Also Rises. More than a century on, power brokers, artists, and celebrities still flock to the hotel’s circular Cúpola bar and restaurant beneath the spectacular, florid, Art Nouveau stained-glass dome. The wonderfully bright and spacious 420 rooms and 50 suites (along with the rest of the hotel) were recently revamped by top Catalan interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán. Expect hand-painted wallpaper inspired by Madrid’s Royal Botanical Garden, intricate mosaics, original antique fireplaces, and velvet fabrics in jewel-toned emeralds and indigos. Best amenity: the Cúpola bar and restaurant for expansive breakfasts and brunch buffets, à la carte dinners, or simply a cocktail or drink from the 300-plus wine list. Can’t-miss experience: Picasso, Dalí, and Lorca’s hangout: the hotel’s wood-paneled, English gentlemen’s–style 27 Bar. From $497. - Rosewood Villa Magna Award: Best service Set in a 1970s palace on a grand, tree-lined avenue amid embassies, luxury villas, and Madrid’s most sophisticated shopping, the Rosewood is the last word in serious but unstuffy luxury. The 101 rooms and 57 suites feel contemporary and quietly luxurious with high ceilings, plush carpeting, and white wood paneling—not to mention Marshall Bluetooth speakers and Dyson hairdryers. Additional soothing comes at the Sense Spa, with its gym, treatment rooms, and Turkish-style hammam. For private luxury on a grand scale, the Salamanca Suite and even larger Anglada House Suite (pictured) have spacious terraces with superb city views; here, the hotel can arrange for a private chef to prepare lunches or dinners. (Anglada’s terrace spans 360 degrees and has its own barbecue.) It’s the outstanding level of personalized service and attention to detail that will stick with you. Pillow menus are two a penny in top hotels, but in the premium rooms, you’ll find monogrammed pillows with your own initials. Best amenity: Landscaped gardens at the front of the hotel are the place to come for outdoor movie screenings in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter. Can’t-miss-experience: dining at the superb Amós restaurant from three-Michelin-starred Spanish chef Jesús Sánchez. The stuffed baby squid with hake pil pil is worth the visit alone, not to mention the hotel’s signature vermouth and apple juice cocktail. From $1,000. - Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid Award: Best for old world opulence Originally opened in 1910 as the Ritz Madrid, this was the third hotel designed by César Ritz himself after his eponymous hotels in London and Paris. Reincarnated as a Mandarin Oriental in 2015 and given a contemporary update, the hotel exudes opulence and glamour. At the heart of Madrid’s Golden Art Triangle of museums, the Prado is at your doorstep, as is Retiro Park with its monumental fountains and boating lake. The 100 spacious rooms and 53 suites are a symphony of moulded ceilings and decor in elegant golds, beiges, and ivories. If you want to find your inner Rapunzel, look no further than the Royal and Presidential Suites. Both feature spectacular round bedrooms in the hotel’s turrets, looking across to the gardens and the Prado. Dining options are similarly glamorous, including the mirrored Palm Court for afternoon tea and the two-Michelin-starred Deesa restaurant. Best amenity: The hotel spa has the usual—sauna, steam room, treatment rooms—and a lovely heated indoor pool beneath chandeliers. Can’t-miss experience: multi-Michelin-starred Deesa chef Quique Dacosta’s seafood platters and gourmet tapas at the Jardín restaurant in the hotel’s gardens. From $1,357. - Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel Award: Best for privacy and the plush life Built in the 19th century as a duke’s private palace, the Santo Mauro is as decadent as they come, with its grand staircases, crystal-chandeliers, and Louis XIV–style “Salon Rojo.” It all feels more like a stately home than a hotel. Celebrity and VIP guests can make use of a separate, gated entrance—and they often do. (This is where Victoria and David Beckham lived for several months when they moved to Madrid.) The hotel’s 49 rooms and suites are spread across the main building; the guest villa and a series of more contemporary rooms and duplexes are in the former stables. Some rooms feature elaborate damask wallpaper and antiques, while others are more modern with contemporary fireplaces and a more minimalist feel. Best amenity: It’s a toss-up between the private gardens (and the pop-up bar in the summer) and the velvet-and mirrored-wall bar with its superb cocktails and an extensive wine and whisky list. Can’t-miss experience: The library restaurant, La Biblioteca Gresca, run by star Catalan chef Rafa Peña. As the name suggests, it’s in the building’s library, complete with filled bookcases and the original 19th-century fireplaces. Try the red prawn croquettes or Iberian pork with tarragon and mustard duck with spring mushrooms. From $893. - Hotel Urban Award: Best for urban cool and tribal art Many of Madrid’s top hotels are all about old-school luxury, but this aptly named steel-and-glass Urban exudes modern city sophistication from the moment you step into its sky-skimming, glass-atrium foyer. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the Urban opened in 2004 just moments from the city’s center’s top sights. Since then, its rooftop has become one of Madrid’s coolest nightlife spots, and many deals have been sealed at its Michelin-starred CEBO restaurant. Its 96 guest rooms have dark walls, leather chesterfield sofas, and wood floors in warmer tones, while the eight light-filled duplex suites feature double height ceilings. There’s a small gym and a rooftop plunge pool but it’s the significant art collection that really sets the Urban apart, with 18th- and 19th-century Chinese portraits, 19th-century Indian figurines, and antique African pieces dotting the corridors. Best amenity: the rooftop terrace with its Glass Bar cocktail lounge, complete with VIP areas bookable on request. Can’t miss-experience: the permanent, 200-piece collection of tribal art from Papua New Guinea, both in the dedicated exhibition space in the basement and around the hotel. From $291. - The Wellington Best for: celebrity sightings and VIP treatment for all Since the Wellington first opened in 1952 with its classic mix of high ceilings, red velvet drapes, crystal chandeliers, and marble flooring, it has been the hotel of choice for celebrities and dignitaries: Gene Kelly, Ernest Hemingway, Matt Damon, John Malkovich, Mira Sorvino, Nicolas Sarkozy, and (naturally) the Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Less than five minutes’ walk (or a quick morning jog) from Madrid’s Retiro park in the upscale Salamanca neighborhood, The Wellington is all about traditional but quiet luxury. The 237 rooms and suites are serene, understated, and elegant, with paneled walls in dove gray and pale blue; beige marble and gold bathrooms; and the amenity du jour, pillow menus. Premium rooms come with access to the Wellington Club lounge with unlimited gourmet snacks staffed by servers in Scottish tartan uniforms. There’s also a silver service dining room, a British bar that’s all dark wood and deep red carpets, and a state-of-the-art gym complete with cryotherapy and a zero gravity machine. The hotel can also arrange personal training and yoga classes. Best amenity: The Spa Suite Velásquez and two other suites have walk-in closets and “horizontal showers” so you can lie down as you’re sprayed with water jets. Can’t-miss experience: The hotel’s rooftop terrace is the perfect place to cool down from the hot Madrileño summer. Go for a dip in the outdoor pool or savor a bite at the rooftop brasserie. From: $348. - Four Seasons Hotel Madrid Award: Best for high-end shopping Compared to many of Madrid’s top hotels, the Four Seasons is the new kid on the block. It opened in 2020 (those pandemic years) but quickly made a name for itself as one of the city’s most sought-after destinations. The Four Seasons covers an entire block, just yards from Madrid’s famous Renaissance Plaza del Sol. The vast lobby with its Art Nouveau stained-glass ceiling and gold-topped, green marble Corinthian columns are a reminder of the building’s past as the headquarters for an insurance company in the 19th century. If you need a new Rolex or pair of Jimmy Choos, an internal corridor takes you straight through to the exclusive Canalejas shopping mall, where you’ll find everyone from Chanel, Dior, and Tom Ford to Louis Vuitton and Rolex. The 200 spacious rooms include superb suites with that wow factor. For truly palatial digs, the massive Louis XVI–style Royal Suite (pictured) was once the boardroom and private office of the chairman of one of Spain’s major banks and features a gold leaf ceiling and a marble fireplace. Best amenity: the skylit pool and separate wellness center where you can de-stress with massages and a hair spa. Can’t-miss experience: The rooftop Dani Brasserie by three-Michelin-starred Andalucian chef Dani García has panoramic city views and Art Deco-influenced decor by star designer Martin Brudnizki (as well as superb seafood and grilled dishes). From: $961. - Hotel Orfila Award: Best for a quiet neighborhood retreat Tucked away in the smart, leafy Chamberi neighborhood, some ten minutes’ drive from the city center, this Relais & Chateaux hotel in a small 19th-century mansion is all about discreet luxury. In the 1930s and ’40s, the villa belonged to the Bulgarian royal family; nearly a century on, it’s still awash with antiques, gilt-framed royal portraits, damask wall coverings, and reception staff in morning suits. Each of the hotel’s 32 rooms and three deluxe suites are individually decorated with linen wallcoverings in blue or ochre, parquet floors, mahogany desks, and velvet drapes. Monogrammed towels, bathrobes and slippers featuring the hotel’s initials, and mineral water in cut glass decanters lend additional touches of luxury. Best amenity: The Jardín de Orfila restaurant overlooking the patio garden is run by two-Michelin-starred chef Mario Sandoval. Try the crystalized shrimps with sea bass and pil pil sauce as well as excellent wines. Can’t-miss experience: The plant-filled patio garden with its trompe l’oeil fountains is perfect for escaping the summer heat over pre-dinner drinks. From $417. - Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá Award: Best blend of historic and contemporary style When it comes to historic credentials, the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá is the standout, cleverly merging the 13th-century convent of Santo Domingo and the Elizabethan-style 19th-century Palace of the Dukes of Granada de Ega. The current lobby and lounge were the palacio’s original salon. Original gold clocks, marquetry cabinets, and full-size copies of the two Velásquez paintings that previously belonged to the palacio (but are now in the Prado) harken back to the building’s past. The 179 light-filled rooms, including 20 suites, feel more contemporary with ivory and gold décor and headboards featuring bold prints of famous Velásquez works such as Las Meninas. There are also numerous sprawling suites including the Presidential Suite, whose terrace faces the Royal Palace. Guests in Red Level rooms (Gran Meliá’s premium service) can access a private club lounge for all-day snacks, meals, and drinks; dedicated check-in; a private concierge and a private terrace. Elsewhere there’s a 24-hour gym and Thai spa with chromotherapy, a hammam, and treatment rooms. Best amenity: The rooftop terrace with its spectacular views of Madrid’s Royal Palace and the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains also has an infinity pool, whirlpool tub, Balinese beds, and a cocktail bar. Can’t-miss experience: The Jardín de los Duques garden restaurant in a pretty patio serves updated local specialities like suckling pig alongside an extensive wine list. From $564. - The Principal Madrid Award: Best for under-the-radar allure Although the Principal’s grand, neoclassical façade sits on one of Madrid’s major shopping avenues, the Gran Via, you could easily miss its low-key, side-street entrance. However, once the liveried doormen usher you up to the sixth-floor reception, the hushed elegance of the high-ceilinged lobby and bar are a million miles from the busy streets below. Another member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, with its slate gray walls, marble floors, and gilt-framed antique oil paintings, the Principal has the air of a hip private members’ club. Many of the 76 rooms and suites include private terraces overlooking Gran Via with the upper floor rooms facing the ornate gold dome of the Metropolis, one of Madrid’s most famous buildings. There’s a wellness suite for massages and treatments as well as a small gym, and the hotel can arrange private chauffeured cars. Best amenity: the small, leafy rooftop terrace where you can enjoy the hotel’s excellent breakfast or cocktails. Can’t-miss experience: The Ático restaurant is a destination restaurant in its own right. Look out for wild bluefin tuna tartare with crunchy nori accompanied by a beautifully subtle Sancerre. From $300.