The Ritz, which will re-open as a Mandarin Oriental this summer, hasn’t started accepting reservations yet. However, Madrid has a growing corps of high-end hotels with unique top suites. They are the subject of this week’s newsletter.
1. Grand Melia Fenix
2. Hotel Orfila
3. Hotel Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection
4. The Westin Palace, Madrid
5. Villa Magna
6. Gran Hotel Ingles
7. Palacio de Los duques Gran Melia
1. Grand Melia Fenix
Grand Melia Fenix is the only hotel to earn 4 stars from the Forbes Travel Guide in Madrid. There are no 5-star recipients. The guide writes, “Since opening its doors more than 50 years ago, the timelessly elegant Gran Meliá Fénix has become a classic on the Spanish capital’s well-heeled scene. Like the rest of Gran Meliá’s hotel portfolio, you will find a combination of luxury, comfort and top-notch service.”
In earning its stars, the inspectors said, “Following an extensive three-year refurbishment completed in 2017, Gran Meliá Fénix features refreshed décor in all 198 accommodations. Other upgrades include a brighter color palette and new fabrics, which blend a contemporary style with the rooms’ classic features. The renovation also resulted in the creation of a new rooftop restaurant, as well as a makeover for all public spaces, including corridors, lounges and the lobby.”
Presidential Penthouse Suite Red Level
The Presidential Penthouse Suite Red Level (Melia’s version of a Club Floor) spans 2,320 sq. ft. with amazing views over the Plaza de Colón and Paseo de la Castellana from its twin terraces, one with a whirlpool bathtub.
It provides a meeting room, private office with separate bathroom, bedroom with balcony, separate lounge and bathroom. Host meetings or dinners for up to six people.
2. Hotel Orfila
The U.K.’s Telegraph writes, “Hotel Orfila is a quietly luxurious haven in a city of long days and late nights. Part of the Relais & Châteaux stable, the family-owned boutique hotel is all about sumptuous comfort and discreet service. Filled with antiques and works of art, it is handily located in a smart neighborhood away from the tourist areas.”
Rating Recommended from Forbes Travel Guide, its inspectors report, “In the center of Madrid, just a 10-minute taxi ride from the Museo Nacional del Prado, where Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights hangs, Hotel Orfila seems to bring its own classic masterpiece to life. This small but elegant palace built in 1885 has the ambiance of an art gallery with its period furniture, marble accents, and stunning trompe l’oeil effects in the courtyard. Made famous in the 1920s by the plays that were performed in the gardens, the Madrid hotel hasn’t lost even an ounce of its original charm.”
Deluxe Suite
The 740 sq. ft. Deluxe Suite features a separate dressing area and bedroom, high ceilings, and modern features, including individual air conditioning.
3. Hotel Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection
Conde Nast Traveler says, “Hotel Santo Mauro’s stately façade is a head-turner, but it’s the interiors that really wow. You can’t help but look up at the tall ceilings and scan the Chinese Lounge, trying to decide on your favorite antique. This 19th-century (former) home belonged to the Duke of Santo Mauro, and is divided into three sections; guests can bunk in the former stables or in the Duke’s daughter’s private mansion. Each of the three buildings looks like they’re lifted from a fairytale.”
Forbes agrees, adding, “ his 19th-century abode toes the line between Madrid’s past and present. Located in the historic Chamberí neighborhood, this former palace is surrounded by regal homes, but is also just around the corner from the city’s main shopping thoroughfares and attractions.”
It adds, “The property has been a popular stay for nearly three decades, but is now experiencing a renaissance thanks to a recent remodel by Spanish interior designer Lorenzo del Castillo…Stepping into the entrance hall, decorated every day with fresh flowers, transports you back to the belle époque era of luxury and nonchalance in old Europe. The former ballrooms, now part of the modern-day lobby and public spaces, and the main staircase are simply fascinating to behold.”
Royal King Suite
The 1,399 sq. ft. Royal King Suite offers a separate living room and dining area, along with French doors and your own private terrace.
4. The Westin Palace, Madrid
Conde Nast Traveler writes, The Westin Palace takes up a full block across from Plaza de Neptuno—an indication of its importance on the Madrid hotel scene. In fact, it’s among the city’s most famous, having welcomed visitors of all stripes, including Bill Clinton, Salvador Dalí, and Christina Aguilera. The regal lobby and stained-glass cupola of the lounge cement this idea long before you reach the ornate, elegant hallways and guest rooms; you also can booze at the 1912 Museo Bar, where Salvador Dalí and Ernest Hemingway famously did. If you’re looking for loyalty points combined with a famous address, Westin Palace Madrid has no match.”
Rated by Forbes Travel Guide as one of the city’s best, it says, “Take more than a hundred years of history, 470 rooms spanning a whole block in central Madrid, opulent décor and three restaurants, and you have The Westin Palace, Madrid, a grand dame in the city. Since opening in 1912, it’s always prided itself on its modernity, being the first hotel in Spain with en suite bathrooms in every room.”
In 1998, the government declared it a monument of cultural interest. Thanks to a continued refurbishment program, rooms remain at the cutting edge of comfort.
Royal Suite
The Royal Suite (living room and bedroom pictured above) includes one bedroom and one-and-a-half baths. Its corner location overlooks the Neptuno Fountain.
Located on the 4th floor, there is a separate living and dining room, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, powder room and study. Bespoke pieces made by artisans complement the building’s distinctive oval shape, whilst intricately-crafted chandeliers imitate the movement of leaves and almond blossoms.
5. Villa Magna Madrid
Conde Nast Traveler writes, “Never judge a hotel by its façade; after all, Villa Magna Madrid’s plain exterior does little to showcase the elegance and refinement hiding inside. Then again, the formally dressed bellmen and luxury cars out front give off a little whiff of what’s to come: white walls with gold accents, silk lamp covers, and fabric wall coverings.”
Forbes Travel Guide adds, “Opened in 1972, the stylish hotel has experienced a second life since its reopening in 2009, after a change in ownership and an extensive renovation…Public spaces boldly mix styles with empire chairs and Chinese screens. But rooms take on a more soothing aesthetic with a palette of grays and deep purples.”
Real Suite
The 3,121 sq. ft. 2-bedroom, 2.5 bath real Suite includes a 1,292 sq. ft. private terrace (pictured above) with both city and mountain views. Situated on the top floor, tit is the largest in Madrid
The living room features a grand piano, marble detailing and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto stately buildings on the grand Paseo de la Castellana Avenue.
The suite includes a wellness room complete with steam room, treadmill, and elliptical machines. There is also a studio/den. The suite includes a kitchen and a butler. The dining room seats up to 10 people.
6. Gran Hotel Ingles
A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Conde Nast Traveler writes, “Madrid has been long overdue for a properly done boutique hotel, and this one—with its main event lobby bar, considered service, and ideal location—hits the mark.”
The Telegraph adds, “The Gran Hotel Inglés brings a whole new level of luxury to the Madrid hotel scene, with stylish Art Deco design, sumptuous rooms, a quietly excellent restaurant, and a superb spa.”
Royal Suite
The 1,345 sq. ft. Royal Suite is located on the hotel’s 4th floor, the top level. It has two separate entrances, one that leads onto the main rooms, the master bedroom, the bathroom and dressing room, and a second one that leads onto another large bedroom.
There is a large living area, a dining room, a vintage bar, butler service available on request, and two 1920’s style freestanding bathtubs under the traditional sloping ceilings, typical of Madrid’s most exclusive 19th Century architecture.
7. Palacio de los Duques Gran Melia
The Telegraph writes about Palacio de los Duques Gran Melia, “Serious luxury has come to Madrid with this five-star hotel in a lavishly remodeled palace. Superb service, luxe materials, outstanding food and soothing design combine to create a secret haven in the heart of the city. A great choice for a special occasion or treat.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds, “If you thought the public areas were ornate, just wait until you see the rooms, which have dramatic drapery, oversized Velázquez prints, and dreamy comforters (complete with a pillow menu). Book a Red Level room for access to a private lounge with snacks, an open bar, a breakfast buffet, and late checkout.
Presidential Penthouse
The 1,400 sq. ft. Presidential Penthouse features two panoramic terraces with King sized bed. There is a large living room and fully equipped meeting room for private lunches or dinners. The terraces offer view of the Opera House and Habsburg Quarter.
