If you want to elevate your trip to Spain, Madrid is an excellent city for luxury, five-star hotels with a unique history. Many of the best historic luxury hotels in Madrid are full of stories from the past and offer perks like elegant rooftop terraces, on-site gourmet restaurants, and full-service spas. We also love our picks because they’re all walkable to nearly all the main sites, with many of them either on Gran Vía or just steps away from the city’s famous boulevard.
## Luxurious Stays in Madrid: A Journey Through Historical Elegance
Madrid, a city pulsating with history, art, and vibrant culture, offers a plethora of accommodation options. However, for those seeking an experience that transcends mere lodging, a selection of historical luxury hotels provides a unique window into the city’s rich past and present refinement. These establishments, steeped in heritage and boasting exceptional amenities, offer an unparalleled immersion into the spirit of Madrid.
### The Principal Madrid
Nestled on the iconic Gran Vía, the very first five-star hotel on this famed street, The Principal Madrid, stands as a testament to the city’s enduring elegance. This stately property, housed within a beautifully preserved 1917 Spanish Renaissance corner building, exudes an air of exclusivity and historical charm. The renowned hotelier Pau Guardans, the visionary behind Spain’s Único Hotels, masterfully transformed the building into a luxurious haven, ensuring that the interior seamlessly complements the grandeur and history of the exterior.
The entrance to The Principal Madrid is intentionally discreet, leading to a lobby accessible exclusively to guests, thereby safeguarding the privacy and intimacy of the hotel’s spaces. This creates the ambiance of a members-only resort, a sanctuary away from the bustling city. While modernity is subtly integrated, the decor consciously evokes the building’s illustrious past, featuring solid wood structures, opulent leather and velvet textiles, exquisite Turkish carpets, and carefully selected midcentury furniture.
The rooftop of The Principal Madrid is an undeniable highlight, considered one of the best in the entire city. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the historic Gran Vía and the captivating Madrid skyline. Guests can relax on sun loungers, admire the tranquil fountain, and enjoy refreshing beverages at the bar, often accompanied by live music. Just one floor below, you’ll discover the acclaimed Ático Restaurant, renowned for its gourmet cuisine and inviting heated terrace. This terrace offers a direct view of one of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks: the magnificent Metrópolis dome. Adding to the allure, The Principal Madrid also features a luxurious spa, offers revitalizing rooftop yoga classes, and hosts engaging cocktail-making workshops.
Beyond the hotel’s enticing offerings, guests are perfectly positioned to explore Madrid’s many attractions. Within easy walking distance are iconic sites such as El Retiro Park, Puerta del Sol, and Plaza Mayor. Moreover, the hotel’s location provides convenient access to some of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, including the Literary Quarter, the vibrant Chueca, and the bohemian Malasaña. The rooms at The Principal Madrid are bright and modern, yet imbued with a timeless charm. Some rooms overlook a peaceful inner courtyard, while others feature Juliette balconies that open directly onto the bustling Gran Vía. The bathrooms are spacious and stylish, adorned with elegant black tiling and stocked with organic toiletries from Mallorca.
### Gran Hotel Inglés
The Gran Hotel Inglés proudly holds the title of Madrid’s first luxury accommodation, offering a unique blend of comfort and history. It first opened its doors in 1886 on Calle del Lobo (Wolf Street), one of the city’s first streets to be illuminated by electricity. The hotel’s esteemed eatery, Casa Lobo, derives its name from this very street. Don Agustín Ibarra, the well-known proprietor of Madrid’s celebrated Cafe Inglés, acquired the building that now houses the Gran Hotel Inglés.
During the 19th century, the Gran Hotel Inglés garnered acclaim as “one of the best hotels in the world,” lauded for its luxurious amenities, which included an elevator, bathrooms on each floor, electric lighting, and steam heating. The owner thoughtfully sourced the hotel’s furnishings from New York, and today, the decor incorporates pieces from around the world, meticulously preserving the property’s original Belle Époque charm. The Art Deco ambience of the lobby, enhanced by a cocktail and sherry bar designed by a Michelin-star chef, is an experience in itself. Guests can also indulge in a beautiful breakfast buffet and traditional afternoon tea service.
The Gran Hotel Inglés offers a selection of rooms and suites, each uniquely styled by a New York design firm. Wood floors, intricately designed iron light fixtures, and vibrant artwork create an atmosphere of playful sophistication. For guests seeking more space, the suites offer additional features such as a comfortable seating area, a functional desk, a free-standing bathtub, or a private terrace complete with an outdoor plunge pool. The hotel’s royal suite stands out as the largest hotel room available in Madrid’s historic city center, offering an unparalleled level of luxury and space.
The hotel aptly describes itself as “hidden in Madrid,” tucked away on a quiet side street within the romantic Literary Quarter. This location provides a central base without the intrusion of excessive noise. The pedestrian-friendly neighborhood invites guests to embark on a tapear (tapas walk), as the Literary Quarter is brimming with traditional taverns. Many of the city’s iconic sites, including El Retiro Park and the Prado Museum, are easily accessible on foot, as are Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace.
### Wellington Hotel & Spa
Nestled in Salamanca, one of Madrid’s most affluent neighborhoods, the Wellington Hotel & Spa provides easy access to attractions like El Retiro Park, the Prado Museum, and the Gran Vía. Salamanca is renowned for its upscale shopping, luxurious hotels, and refined dining establishments, making it an ideal location for a hotel of this caliber. The Wellington Hotel & Spa seamlessly integrates into this sophisticated environment.
The hotel’s story began in 1952, sharing its origins with the day Isabel II ascended to the throne of Spain. Baltasar Ibán Valdés, a bullfighting breeder, envisioned a luxurious hotel in the chic Salamanca district, even though tourism was not yet a major economic force in the country. Baltasar acquired the plot where the hotel stands today, carefully preserving its two historic facades. Despite the limited tourism at the time, the Wellington Hotel & Spa flourished and expanded 20 years later, owing to its immense popularity.
Today, the Wellington Hotel & Spa occupies a protected building, showcasing the city’s architectural heritage. Its uniquely layered top-floor structure and iconic vintage signage are truly captivating.
One of the defining features of the Wellington Hotel & Spa is its outdoor pool, a rarity in Madrid. Guests can relax by the pool, unwind on a sun lounger, or savor cocktails on the terrace. The hotel also boasts a comprehensive spa with an extensive treatment menu, a modern fitness center, a traditional Finnish sauna, a revitalizing hydrotherapy soaking pool, and a tranquil Hammam. Guests have a choice of three themed restaurants, two bars, a bakery, options for Sunday brunch, a gourmet picnic basket, and English tea service.
The rooms at the Wellington Hotel & Spa offer a classic decor that reflects the building’s past. While the rooms might feel a bit dark due to the heavy draping and slightly outdated dark-wood furnishings, the hotel offers an option for those seeking even greater exclusivity: the “Wellington Club.” Located on the top floor, the Wellington Club features a private lounge, bar, outdoor terrace, breakfast service, cigar cellar, and library, providing a glimpse into Madrid’s turn-of-the-century glamour.
### Hotel Villa Real
The Hotel Villa Real boasts a historically significant and picturesque location directly on Plaza de las Cortes, within easy walking distance of the Neptune Fountain, El Retiro Park, and Puerta del Sol. Renowned as a “museum hotel,” the Villa Real features an impressive art and archaeology collection displayed in its common areas. Guests can admire Roman mosaics and statues, as well as Apulian vessels from Magna Graecia. This private exhibition is one of the most significant in Spain.
The Hotel Villa Real also offers a variety of other amenities, including an extensive breakfast buffet served in an elegant dining room. Guests can dine at the gastro bar, which offers Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, as well as traditional tapas and drinks on the terrace. An outdoor terrace and pool are available to guests two blocks away at Villa Real’s sister property.
The hotel offers a selection of superior rooms and suites, each reflecting the hotel’s theme of timeless decor that echoes the building’s 19th-century history. Some rooms overlook the Plaza de las Cortes, while others include private terraces with sun loungers. The family room, with its split-level design and capacity to sleep up to four, is ideal for families traveling together.
### URSO Hotel & Spa
Situated in the northern reaches of the trendy Malasaña and Chueca neighborhoods, the URSO Hotel & Spa might not be directly on Gran Vía or next to El Retiro Park. However, these sites, along with numerous others, are easily accessible on foot. This location provides a slightly quieter and more local environment. When traveling throughout the city, guests can choose from three nearby metro stops.
The URSO Hotel & Spa is housed in a building dating back to 1915, formerly the home of a paper company. The hotel retains original stained glass along the staircase, as well as a renovated inner courtyard patio, elegant marble floors, wood-lined walls, and intricate tiling. The hotel decided to fully preserve the original library, where important documents were once stored.
Besides its historical aspects, the URSO Hotel & Spa features a photo display showcasing the city from the 1920s to the 1940s and also honors King Alfonso XIII by offering violet candies, the King’s favorite. The facade is a striking example of Madrid’s 20th-century bourgeois architecture.
This historic charm continues into the rooms, which have a bright and comfortable ambiance, with seating areas, desks, and marble bathrooms with tubs and robes. Some rooms also feature four-poster beds, private terraces, leather sofas, and dining areas. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite is ideal for families.
The URSO Hotel & Spa offers an impressive array of amenities, collectively known as “The URSO Experience.” Guests can indulge in the spa, which features treatments, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. The lobby bar provides nightly piano entertainment paired with glasses of champagne. The hotel also has two restaurants: The Greenhouse, with its glass ceiling and bamboo garden, and Half Portion Restaurant, a traditional Madrid bistro with a wine cellar.
These historical luxury hotels in Madrid offer not just a place to stay, but a curated experience. They are portals to the city’s vibrant history, providing a luxurious and memorable stay steeped in the elegance of a bygone era.
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