As the capital of Spain and also its largest city, Madrid is visited by millions of travelers, annually. In 2019, the city along the River Manzanares, in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula, saw the influx of 10,419,709 travelers, 2.06% higher than 2018. People come from across the globe for the city’s rich history, captivating culture, historical buildings, vibrant traditions and fiestas, museums and art scene, customary cuisine and traditional tapas, robust nightlife, and iconic barrios—among many other good reasons. Of course, the year-round temperate, subtropical Mediterranean climate makes Madrid a popular getaway for travelers looking to escape the winter months, elsewhere. Among the city’s most popular attractions are the Puerta del Sol, one of the most famous squares and gathering places in Madrid; Plaza Mayor and the adjacent Royal Palace of Madrid, built in the 18th century and residence of the Spanish monarchy; Gran Vía, Madrid’s most famous boulevard teeming with shops, restaurants, and a number of the city’s most renowned sights; Parque del Retiro, the city’s famed park dating back to 1868; to name just a few of many. As for accommodations, Madrid is a highly cosmopolitan city with several prominent luxury hotels for discerning travelers.
#1. Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
With its stunning palatial building designed in captivating Belle Époque style, Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid is undoubtedly one of the city’s most lavish of luxury hotels.
The hotel has been extending its excellent brand of hospitality for over 100 years, having hosted renowned guests, including royalty and dignitaries, for more than a century. Living up to the legendary legacy of César Ritz, an industry icon and pioneer, Mandarin Oriental Ritz continues to welcome guests with leveled-up luxury and seamless service.
Regally-appointed guestrooms and suites exude an exquisite elegance that is breathtaking in beauty and unparalleled in comfort. Rooms afford charming views of the Ritz Garden, as well as of some of the area’s landmarks, like Lealtad Square and Prado Museum.
Dining at the hotel is always a five-star culinary experience at any of its five restaurants and bars. Hotel facilities include an upscale fitness and wellness facility, with bespoke holistic therapies and treatments by The Beauty Concept; an indoor swimming pool; and a state-of-the-art gym.
The hotel is situated across picturesque Paseo del Prado—Madrid’s prominent tree-lined boulevard, with its roster of galleries and museums—enabling guests to get their fill of art and culture, just outside the lobby doors.
#2. The Westin Palace, Madrid
Dating to the early 1900s, The Westin Palace Madrid is among the most iconic buildings at Plaza de las Cortes and has been included on the roster of UNESCO Heritage Sites.
Having been commissioned by no less than King Alfonso XIII in 1912, the hotel boasts awe-inspiring architecture, worthy of royalty. For its central location along the city’s renowned Art Walk—in proximity to museums such as El Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza, near the Royal Palace, and across the road from Parliament—the hotel is favored by travelers looking to soak up the city’s arts and culture, while staying in an oasis of opulent luxury.
With 470 luxuriously refurbished and refitted guestrooms and suites, with premium features like Heavenly® Beds and Heavenly® Bath, guests are assured of the utmost in style and comfort throughout their stay.
As for dining, the hotel has four topnotch choices: Rotonda Restaurant, with its gorgeous stained-glass cupola and customary Spanish cuisine, with flair; Asia Gallery, regarded as among the finest Asian restaurants in Madrid; Green Tea Shushi Bar, which serves a mix of Japanese sushi and Spanish tapas, as well as cocktails and spirits; and 1912 Museo Bar, for signature cocktails, aperitifs, and coffee.
#3. Rosewood Villa Magna
Having recently been refurbished, Rosewood Villa Magna now offers guests greater luxury and comfort. With 101 newly refreshed guestrooms and suites, accommodation at the hotel is a blissful experience. Rooms feature a contemporary chic aesthetic, in soothing earth tones, with luxurious furnishing and fittings for an exceptionally comfortable stay.
With the hotel’s Alchemy of Sleep program and turndown service, guests can expect to drift off to dreamland, sweetly and soundly.
The hotel showcases culinary excellence at its four restaurants and bars: Las Brasas De Castellana offers a diverse menu, featuring local, seasonal products, as well as grilled specialties; Amós Restaurant shines a light on Chef Jesús Sánchez’s creative flair, with premium ingredients, produce, and flavors from Spain’s northern region; Tarde.O , the hotel’s terrace bar, has a roster of signature drinks, tapas, and snacks; Flor Y Nata, an all-day café, serves coffee and light fare.
Hotel facilities include Sense® Spa, the Rosewood brand’s signature wellness center; and a fitness center, with the latest in gym equipment and personalized training. Located along Paseo de la Castellana, Rosewood Villa Magna is central to many points of interest, including the Serrano shopping district, trendy restaurants and bars, and the Golden Triangle of Art.
#4. Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá
With its Elizabethan-style façade and avant-garde flair, the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá is an eye-catching architectural icon in Madrid de los Austrias, adjacent to the Royal Palace, the Royal Theatre and the Almudena Cathedra. Housed in a 19th-century palace, with a 1,000 sqm garden, the hotel exudes a regal enchantment and opulent luxury truly fit for nobility.
The hotel’s aesthetic was inspired by the work of Golden Age Spanish painter, Diego Velázquez, a theme which runs throughout the property. With rich, earthy tones and elegantly ornate style, the guestrooms and suites are a nod to Las Meninas, Velázquez’s masterpiece. Each spacious room is furnished and fitted in elegant luxury, with clean lines, fine fabric, and lavish attention to detail, creating the ultimate in comfort in a classic-contemporary setting.
Hotel dining revolves around its three restaurants: Coroa Royal Gallery & Garden, which features cocktails and contemporary cuisine throughout the day; MontmartreRestaurant-Wine Bar, with its array of Spanish and French dishes, paired with fine vintages; andMichelin-starred Dos Cielos Madridby Hermanos Torres, featuring the Asturias-inspired fine cuisine of the Torres brothers, acclaimed Spanish chefs. The hotel also has two cocktail bars, one tea room, and outdoor dining spaces.
#5. Relais & Chateaux Heritage Madrid Hotel
With an address in the heart of Barrio Salamanca, one of Madrid’s most iconic and exclusive neighborhoods, Relais & Chateaux Heritage Madrid Hotel boasts an enviable location, right by the prestigious boutiques of the city’s Golden Mile.
This five-star luxury boutique hotel, with its charming Belle Epoque design, has 46 rooms, seven of which are suites. This exclusivity makes the property even more desirable to guests looking for an elegant, plush, private oasis during their time in Madrid.
Rooms are quaint and well-appointed, with the comforts that make for a pleasurable stay; 19th century furnishings and luxe fittings create spaces that are ethereally elegant in design. The hotel’s restaurant, Haroma, promises a gastronomic experience with lauded Spanish chef Mario Sandoval at the helm. With two Michelin stars to his credit, Chef Sandoval crafts an array of menus that highlight the region’s fresh and seasonal local flavors, and an impressive selection of Spanish desserts and delicacies.
Haroma is especially popular for its brunch special, gourmet breakfast, and its degustación menu. Aside from offering guests an epicurean adventure at the main restaurant, the hotel also has a gorgeous terrace bar for a fresco dining, as well as a number of meeting rooms.
#6. Hotel Palacio Del Retiro
What was once a palatial home at the turn of the 20th century had been masterfully converted into the 50-room property that is now the Hotel Palacio Del Retiro.
This luxury boutique hotel in the middle of Madrid’s captivating Retiro neighborhood is part of the Marriott Group’s Autograph Collection®, a selection of hotels curated for their excellence of character, design, architecture, and bespoke, luxurious service.
As one of the protected National Heritage buildings, Hotel Palacio Del Retiro offers guests a glimpse of bygone days, right in the midst of the bustling cultural, financial, and business area. The hotel is also near the Paseo de Recoletos and Madrid’s famed Art Triangle of museums. Elegantly-appointed guestrooms overlook lush Retiro Park, providing guests with soothing views from the comfort of their luxuriously furnished rooms.
While there is a wide array of restaurants in the Retiro area, just nearby the hotel, The Suite Bar within the hotel serves light Mediterranean cuisine as well as light fare and cocktails. With a fully-equipped, full service business centre, and five function rooms in varying sizes Hotel Palacio del Retiro is an optimal venue for holding business conferences and meetings, as well as celebrations and other private functions.
#7. Hotel Wellington & Spa Madrid
Dating to 1952, the gorgeous Wellington Hotel & Spa Madrid is a historic architectural gem that has been listed as a protected heritage building in the Salamanca barrio, among Madrid’s most upscale areas.
The hotel not only boasts an eye-catching façade and 245 elegant, luxurious guestrooms and suites, but it is also home to one of the largest ecological urban gardens in the world, on the rooftop of the property. Much of the seasonal produce from the rooftop garden is served at the hotel’s Las Raíces del Wellington restaurant, which offers healthy, organic cuisine by the poolside.
As for fine dining options, the hotel showcases the best of international and local cuisine: Michelin-starred Ricardo Sanz Wellington Restaurant, for sumptuous sushi and Japanese haute cuisine; and Goizeko Wellington Restaurant, which serves the finest in Basque haute cuisine with an avant-garde touch. Meanwhile, The Wellington Brunch serves an array of exciting daily brunch offerings, while TheTerrace at the Wellingtonserves light fare and cocktails by the pool; English Bar Lobby offers a selection of alcohol and spirits, with the feel and flair of a British pub.
The hotel also offers Le Max Wellness Club Wellington, with its seasonal outdoor swimming pool.
#8. The Principal Madrid Hotel
As the first five-star hotel to open along Madrid’s iconic Gran Via, The Principal Madrid Hotel has been setting the bar in luxury boutique hotels for several years.
From its prime location to its meticulous attention to detail, design, and service, the hotel is, indeed, an icon of luxury and elegance in downtown Madrid. With 76 luxurious rooms and suites, in a thoroughly remodeled historical building, the hotel offers elegant and comfortable accommodations, with the feel of a lavish residence.
Rooms feature expansive space, high ceilings, large windows, luxe furnishings and fittings, total soundproofing, modern and spacious bathrooms, ambient lighting, and a soothing neutral palette.
Dining at the hotel is a delight at its three restaurants: Atico, with renowned chef Ramón Freixa at the helm, offers a casual dining menu with flair; La Pérgola is the hotel’s cozy heated terrace that offers great city views, an array of light fare, and a roster of signature cocktails and drinks by award-winning mixologist, Manel Vehí; La Terraza, an outdoor space and al fresco dining area, showcases a Sushi menu by Chef Pablo Arrechea, as well as a roster of cocktails. Meanwhile, the Wellbeing Area is available for spa treatments and fitness regimens.
#9. InterContinental Madrid
This upscale hotel, a member of the IHG Hotel group, is centrally located right on Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana Avenue, a stone’s throw from Gregorio Marañón Metro Station and within minutes from attractions like the famous shops of Calle Serrano, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, Puerta de Europa, Museo Arte Público, among others.
This hotel is housed in a gorgeously converted 18th-century palace, with 302 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, a delightful restaurant and bar, and a charming garden terrace. Rooms are elegantly-appointed, and fully-fitted to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers, alike.
The hotel is also pet-friendly, allowing a maximum of one pet up to 8 kilos weight in the room. InterContinental Madrid is likewise known for its restaurant and bar, El Jardin Restaurant, with its menu of casual elegant Spanish, Mediterranean, and international cuisine, as well as traditional local dishes, executed by Head Chef Migue de la Fuente. Bar 49 serves an array of cocktails and spirits, while El Jardin Terrace, open seasonally, serves traditional dishes.
For its numerous function rooms for private events and meetings, award-winning business facilities, and 24-hour gym, the InterContinental Madrid is particularly favored by professionals with busy work trips in the city.
#10. Gran Hotel Inglés
Ultra-chic and luxe common spaces, rooms, and suites make this contemporary five-star luxury boutique hotel a favorite of travelers looking to stay in Madrid’s centuries-old Centro district.
While the hotel dates to 1886, Madrid’s first-ever luxury hotel to have its own restaurant, it has since been masterfully renovated under the artistic guidance of the Rockwell Group.
Its enviable address in the heart of the city center makes it close to attractions such as Gran Vía, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Prado Museum, Retiro Park, and more. Guests love the rooms, only 48 in all, which are a nod to a luxurious art deco salon.
The warmth of hardwood floors and walls accented with padded leather panels, bronze furniture and glass, and furnishing and fabrics exclusively designed by David Rockwell all create a space that is expressive, elegant, and enjoyable.
The hotel is likewise a popular dining destination, with authentic seasonal cuisine at Casa Lobo by Michelin-starred Chef Fernando Arellano, and artisanal, bespoke cocktails at LoBbyto bar. Gran Hotel Inglés also has a traditional afternoon tea service, served daily from 16:00 to 19:00.
#11. Hotel NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa
Housed in an exquisite 19th-century palace designed by renowned Classical architect Juan de Herrera, the very same architect as Madrid’s famed Plaza Mayo, Hotel NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa is a gem to behold in the city’s iconic literary hub, the Las Letras Barrio.
The property has since been totally rehabilitated, even winning a European Hotel Design Award in 2012, in the category of Renovation & Restoration. The hotel’s lobby boasts a unique view of the historic underground canal system, which runs underneath the reception area’s crystal flooring.
This beautiful boutique hotel has 85 luxurious and elegantly-appointed guestrooms and suites, a number of which feature high-vaulted ceilings. Rooms have been refitted and refurbished in sleek yet cozy contemporary style, in soothing neutral tones and light-wood accents, with an abundance of natural light. The hotel offers a daily breakfast buffet, showcasing an array of dishes and Continental cuisine, at its ground-floor breakfast room.
It also has a “Room Apetit” menu, an innovative concept in room service with a wide variety of options. For next-level relaxation and pampering, Hotel NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa has a topnotch wellness center, with a range of revitalizing treatments and therapies available to guests.
#12. Hotel Fénix Gran Meliá
This eco-certified five-star luxury hotel in Madrid boasts a prime location, adjacent to Plaza de Colón, right by Paseo de la Castellana and Serrano Street, among Madrid’s most luxurious shopping districts.
The hotel is also within proximity to The Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen Bornemisza, and the National Archaeological Museum, to name a few nearby attractions.
Listed on the roster of The Leading Hotels of the World, Hotel Fénix Gran Meliá exudes a prestige that meets the industry’s highest standards. Preferred by discerning business and leisure travelers, the hotel is not only favored for its excellent location, but also for it effortless elegance, melding an ambience of timeless luxury with avant-garde sophistication. Guestrooms and suites, in an array of sizes and inclusions, are lavishly-appointed for style and function, alike.
The hotel is home to a number of excellent options for wining and dining: Zuma Restaurant highlights a unique Japanese culinary experience with contemporary dishes, a Robata grill, and a sushi bar; Aduana Restaurant, offering modern Mediterranean and fusion cuisine; the acclaimed DRY Martini Bar by Javier de las Muelas; Hortensio by Head Chef Mario Valles, serving French-style haute cuisine with Colombian influences; and a breakfast service at RedLevel Lounge breakfast room.
#13. Hotel Santo Mauro
Belonging to the Marriott’s Luxury Collection, Hotel Santo Mauro is an exciting foray into one of Madrid’s most exclusive residences-turned-hotel.
The property, with its lavish French-influenced design and architecture, was once the home of the Duke of Santo Mauro. Comprised of three buildings set in a stunning private garden with old-growth trees, fountains, and terraces, Hotel Santo Mauro is a luxe oasis like few others in Madrid. Guestrooms and suites meld the aesthetics of Modernism and French Classicism to bring forth an opulent elegance, with meticulous attention to comfort and luxury.
Dining options include The Library Restaurant, once the Duke’s private library, now serving the finest of traditional Spanish gastronomy; The Wine Bar, with its selection of wines, spirits, and tapas; and The Santo Mauro Garden, with menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
The hotel has six breathtaking function rooms, making it the perfect choice for special gatherings, meetings, parties, weddings, and other momentous milestones. For its proximity to parks and public spaces like Paseo del Prado, Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor, Royal Theatre, Puerta de Alcalá The Prado, Reina Sofía Museum, and more, Hotel Santo Mauro is an ideal place to stay to enjoy the area’s many nearby attractions.
#14. Hotel Urban 5* Grand Luxury
Situated in the center of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of museums and cultural attractions,Hotel Urban 5*GL, a member of the Derby Hotels Collection, proves an excellent location for travelers wishing to take in the city’s rich, historic arts and culture scene.
Business travelers likewise favor this hotel for its prime location in the heart of the bustling city’s financial, political, cultural, and commercial area. With a charming and glamorous contemporary aesthetic throughout this five-star property, Hotel Urban 5*GL offers travelers a comfortable, memorable, unique stay in Madrid.
The hotel melds luxury, modernity, and comfort in all its facilities, rooms, and common areas. All of its 96 chic and lavish, expansive guestrooms and suites exude an ambience that makes for a luxurious urban retreat in Spain’s capital city. Rooms boast modern yet cozy features with a sophisticated flair.
The hotel likewise offers packages for guests traveling with their pets. With highly-lauded chefs at the helm, the hotel offers a number of superb dining choices: Michelin-starred Cebo Restaurant serves progressive cuisine, with Mediterranean influences; The Urban Terrace is well-loved for its stunning city views, sumptuous al fresco dining, and extensive cocktail and tapas menus; Glass Bar showcases an array of signature cocktails.
#15. BLESS Hotel Madrid
Situated along Madrid’s exclusive and iconic “Golden Mile” upscale shopping district in the barrio of Salamanca, BLESS Hotel Madrid provides guests luxurious accommodations in an excellent location.
Housed in a refurbished historic building, showcasing interiors by renowned designer Lázaro Rosa Violán, the hotel offers 111 luxury rooms and suites that are a nod to the elegant homes of the Salamanca neighborhood, home to the aristocracy in the 19th century.
Rooms feature unique designs, warm wood tones, sizeable windows that allow an abundance of natural light, exquisite terraces to delight in the outdoors, electric fireplaces, lavish dressing rooms, and opulent bathrooms which showcase period-style bathtubs, indoors, and hydro-massage baths, outdoors.
The hotel lives up to the exacting standards of luxury, even in its gastronomic offerings. Versus Lively Lounge, its signature lobby bar, offers an array of exciting cuisine and cocktails; Blessed Breakfast serves a daily breakfast buffet; Salvaje restaurant showcases signature food by acclaimed chef Fermín Azkue; while Picos Pardos Sky Lounge, a poolside rooftop bar, offers light tapas and cocktails.
Guests looking to enjoy a deeply relaxing wellness experience can drop by Beldon Beauty, with a roster of treatments and therapies, a hammam, sauna, sensory showers, ice fountain, and Jacuzzi®.