The 9 Best Hotels in Madrid

In a city bursting with lavish grande dames, Hotel Urso is a breath of fresh air. Despite its neoclassical façade, this revamped mansion is every bit a boutique, from the mid-century modern furniture and bird-patterned wallpaper in the 78 guest rooms to its restaurant, Table, where a different up-and-coming Spanish chef takes over the kitchen each month. The subterranean spa is another highlight, with its hammam and Instagram-worthy lap pool. Not everything is new, however: Spanish designer Antonio Obrador went to great lengths to preserve the building’s history—just look to the restored mahogany elevator, 20th-century stained-glass windows, and original azulejos tiles that frame the entryway. Jump on one of the hotel’s free-to-use bicycles to explore nearby Chueca.

One of the city’s hippest hotels also happens to sport one of its best views: from the roof terrace and bar, you’ll enjoy sweeping vistas of Gran Vía and the sprawling cityscape. You’ll find all your typical-for-Madrid design details here, including iron railings, large windows, and an Art Deco-meets-Art Nouveau façade built during the 1920s, but the 76 guest rooms are as cool as they come, with their all-gray palettes, black and white artwork, and statement furniture. Dine on Spanish haute cuisine by the fireplace at Ático, on the hotel’s top floor, whose every window has a view—then stick around for live music and DJ sets during later hours.

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Madrid’s posh barrio de Salamanca provides the perfect backdrop for TÓTEM Madrid, whose moody, dark interiors—dim lighting, velvet armchairs, potted plants, and mid-century furniture—feel more suited for a members-only club. Upstairs, the 64 white-and-gray rooms spread over five floors are much brighter, with oak floors, blue walls, and large windows that overlook the street (ask for one with a balcony). For a taste of the neighborhood’s social scene, head to the Roaring Twenties-style cocktail bar and adjacent Mediterranean restaurant, both inspired by Fitzgerald’s novel The Beautiful and the Damned.

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Art and anthropology lovers would do well by checking into Hotel Urban, one of the city center's most intriguing hotels. Its glass tower is an Art Deco vision of black Zimbabwe stone and coffee-colored steel beams; inside, the geometric lobby features a glass-roofed courtyard and wooden sculptures from Oceania, hallways are lined with Ming Dynasty prints, and 96 industrial-chic rooms (all leather and antiques) include ancient Buddhist art. The pièce de résistance: the basement museum, which is dedicated to ancient artifacts from Papua New Guinea.

King Alfonso XIII himself called for the construction of the Hotel Ritz in 1910, and it remains one of the city’s most luxurious stays. This is Belle Époque beauty at its finest: the lavish lobby, with its chandeliers, ceiling cornices, and scarlet carpets by Real Fábrica de Tapices, is fit for royal gatherings; guest rooms are just as opulent, with antique carpets and furniture (some feature views of the Prado); and brunch at Goya restaurant, which serves a legendary breakfast spread on the terrace, has become a rite of passage. Bonus: the Prado Museum and Retiro Park are right at your doorstep.

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If Hotel Wellington’s five-star status isn’t enough of a giveaway, let us outline all you can expect from this legendary sleep. For starters, the hotel sits in tony Salamanca, a tree-lined enclave home to the city’s best shopping and dining. Not that you’ll lack for meal options: the hotel has six of its own restaurants and bars, including a Michelin-starred sushi bar and another serving Basque haute cuisine. When you’re not chowing down, hit the luxe spa (by Clarins), the outdoor pool, or the rooftop urban garden (the world’s largest), which includes a herb garden that supplies ingredients for in-house restaurants.

At 466 rooms, Madrid’s largest hotel enjoys pride of place at one of the city’s busiest plazas—the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums are just across the street, while buzzy cafés and the former homes of literary giants like Cervantes are just down the street. It might prove difficult to leave your base, however: it’s impossible not to be transported by the hotel’s Belle Èpoque splendor, from the century-old stained-glass dome ceiling of its Rotunda restaurant to Bar Palace (a former watering hole of Ernest Hemingway) to the more modern (but no less elegant) guest rooms—all golds and grays with touches of the past (ceramic lamps; velvet chairs). The famous Sunday brunch, paired with live opera, draws expected crowds, so get your reservations in early (and be sure to dress the part).

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As far as first projects go, it doesn’t get much better than Barceló: young local designer Jamie Hayón’s first foray into the hotel business involved rethinking the iconic Torre de Madrid, one of Madrid’s tallest buildings and a staple of the city skyline. The result is whimsical and bright: think guest rooms kitted out with Art Deco mirrors, orb lighting, and pops of neon; public spaces awash in pastel pinks, greens, and grays; and touches of whimsy in the form of a zebra-striped bear tipping a top hat in the lobby and flamenco-themed portraits. After a lap or two in the sky-lit swimming pool, head to Somos, the signature restaurant, for creative cocktails and modern takes on Spanish cuisine like teriyaki pork cheeks or marinated tuna with avocado hummus.

Madrid’s once-gritty transport hub, Atocha, is experiencing a tiny renaissance as stylish restaurants, stores, and hotels open up shop. At the forefront is Only You Hotel Atocha, whose 19th-century building was given an industrial-chic makeover—think exposed piping and brick and stenciled lettering on the walls. Today, 205 loft-style rooms feature brick-tiled bathrooms, wooden floors, tartan throws, and soundproofed walls to keep out the street noise. We especially love the first-floor Relaxarium, the perfect place to recharge after hours spent exploring the nearby Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.