Best Madrid Hotels

Erected in 1917, this building is a fine example of classic Madrid architecture, with white columns, ornate scrollwork and colorful tiles. The 103 brightly painted rooms increase the sunlight coming in from the broad avenue Gran Vía, and you’ll have nice views of other grand buildings. The hotel gets its name from the quotes by poets and writers written on the walls. If you want to look them up, there’s a library with volumes in both Spanish and English. The restaurant and bar are good, but not spectacular. The rooftop lounge, however, is well worth a lazy hour for its sweeping views of downtown. This hotel has a cultured yet homey feel, but is a bit pricey for all that.

If you want to splash out on some Old World elegance, try this grand, neoclassical hotel situated on the corner of busy Plaza de Colón. The ground floor is magnificent, with marble columns, chandeliers and an art nouveau colored-glass dome. The rooms retain that traditional charm while offering all the modern amenities. It’s in a good location from which to explore the classy shopping in Barrio de Salamanca and is right next to a Metro station. There are also the usual gym, sauna and massage services you’d expect from a luxury hotel. Unlike most hotel restaurants in Madrid, the restaurants here actually serve up superior food, but don’t miss El Espejo just a short walk down the street.

One of the best modern luxury hotels in Madrid, the Urban is a 2-minutes walk from Sol. The rooftop swimming pool, bar and patio make for some luxurious lounging, in case Sol’s craziness gets to be too much. You can also refresh yourself in the gym and solarium. The decoration is sleek—lots of metal and glass—with a large collection of traditional statues from the Pacific Islands and Asia. The 102 soundproof rooms are similarly decorated. In all, this is a great hotel if you can afford it. The only downside is that—except for the Spanish accents of the staff—there’s nothing to indicate that you’re in Spain.

The Room Mate Hotels chain has become popular for their themed hotels based on the premise of being hosted by a local with a certain personality. Óscar is a typical Chueca resident—hip, friendly, ready to party and more than a bit metrosexual. His choice of décor is bizarre but interesting. At times you’ll think you’re in the Reina Sofía with all the modern art, curvy space-age furniture and strange lighting in the common areas and 74 rooms. Óscar attracts guests like him—young professionals who like to party. The buffet breakfast, served until noon, is a lifesaver for recovering from a long night out. While the location is perfect for checking out Chueca’s party scene, the plaza in front can get sketchy at night, with lots of drunks and discarded bottles. Check out the website for Roommate's other themed hotels in Madrid.

Reasonably priced, affordable hotels offering friendly service right next to Sol are a rarity. Hotel Victoria has 52 double rooms and one suite, all simply and tastefully decorated in bright colors. Everything looks new, since the last renovation was in 2006. The bar and restaurant are OK, but there are a hundred better ones in this neighborhood. Likewise, the rooftop terrace gets you away from the bustle of this barrio but doesn’t provide much of a view. This is a popular hotel, so book well in advance.

Here’s an interesting concept—a boutique hotel that offers budget and moderately-priced rooms, in addition to pricey ones. The décor is girly with a funky twist—think of a teenaged Martha Stewart on dope. Your bed might hang from the ceiling or shoot out of the wall, while your bathtub sits right next to it. The staff is friendly and helpful (this is not as common as it should be in Madrid hotels), but the location is a bit far from the action, and the hotel is so small as to feel somewhat cramped.

Decent, affordable accommodation is hard to come by in Barrio de los Austrias, but this little B&B offers it. Also, unlike most Madrid accommodation, it’s got Spanish-style décor, Colonial-style to be precise, with rust-color walls, dark wood and comfy four-poster beds. The B&B takes up the first floor of a building dating to the 1870s. Remodeled in 2008, it’s better kept than most budget accommodation in town. The big attraction, of course, is the location—only a few minutes' walk from the Royal Palace, Plaza de Mayor and other downtown attractions. Norma and Eduardo speak good English and are a handy source of information. There are only six rooms, so book well in advance.

One of the best of the innumerable pensions in Madrid, this one is conveniently located next to a Metro station and the Malasaña nightlife. The 12 double and twin rooms offer clean, basic accommodation with bright décor, utterly unremarkable, yet inoffensive. It looks like an apartment kept by an overly meticulous middle-class matron. It’s a bit cramped, so you won’t get the same anonymity as in a more expensive hotel. Get a room facing the street for a good view. Being on the fourth floor, you won’t suffer from much noise, and don’t worry, there’s an elevator. The rooms facing away from the street look out on a less-than-scenic airshaft, a typical handicap of these pensions, which are, in reality, simply converted apartments. If you haven’t made reservations and it’s full, there are two other not-quite-so-nice but perfectly OK pensions in the same building—and dozens more within a one-block radius. Unlike many Madrid pensions, all rooms are en suite and have heating, AC and Wi-Fi.