Best Historical Hotels in Madrid

In the leafy Calle de Claudio Coello, in Madrid’s chic Salamanca District, is Hotel Único, one of the capital’s most iconic and sought-after boutique properties. Once a noble private mansion, Hotel Único epitomises the understated elegance of this 19th residential neighbourhood, originally built with the help of the 1st Marquess of Salamanca. The guest rooms have recently been beautifully remodelled by designer Maria Santos. This is the capital’s most upscale and desirable area, where the streets are lined with elegant boutiques, designer stores, galleries, and the most fashionable places to eat and drink. The perfect location for an elegant stay in the city.

34 rooms and suites, CoolRooms Palacio De Atocha is a boutique five-star haven set in a restored 19th-century palace in Madrid’s literary quarter. Located along Calle de Atocha, just steps from Plaza Mayor and the Prado Museum, the hotel combines stately architecture with contemporary design.

Soaring ceilings, grand staircases, and restored mouldings meet sleek modern furnishings and bespoke art pieces, creating an atmosphere of understated luxury. Each spacious room features minimalist elegance, freestanding bathtubs, and views of the courtyard or city. The hotel’s El Patio de Atocha Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is a stylish social hub serving Mediterranean cuisine under the open sky, surrounded by lush greenery and a tranquil pool.

Hidden along a quiet street in Madrid’s elegant Chamberí district, Hotel Orfila offers the intimate charm of a grand private residence. A member of Relais & Châteaux, the 19th-century mansion houses 32 individually styled rooms and suites filled with antiques, silk drapes, and classic art, creating an ambience of refined serenity.

The hotel’s tranquil inner garden serves as an oasis amid the city bustle — a rare luxury in central Madrid. Culinary excellence is at the heart of the experience, with El Jardín de Orfila, led by Michelin-starred chef Mario Sandoval, serving exquisite Spanish cuisine in a romantic garden setting. Guests can also enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace or cocktails in the drawing-room bar.

Moments from the Prado and Retiro Park, Hotel Orfila combines old-world elegance with discreet, personalised service the embodiment of Madrid’s cultivated soul.

One of Madrid’s most historic and elegant boutique hotels, the Gran Hotel Ingles’ rich history and charm has attracted the likes of Virginia Woolf and continues to attract travellers seeking an authentic boutique hotel in the heart of Madrid. Situated in Madrid’s vibrant Barrio de las Letras, the Gran Hotel Ingles is the perfect place for guests wishing to immerse themselves in Madrid’s rustic charm. The hotel’s 48 rooms combine the sophistication of the 1920s with modern artistic additions like furniture designed by the renowned David Rockwell, all of this makes the rooms feel distinctly luxurious and open. As the first of Madrid’s Hotels to boast a restaurant, the hotel’s gastronomic history shines through to this day. Guests can dine in the Casa Lobo restaurant which is currently hosting a pop-up Thai market restaurant. The hotel also offers a daily afternoon tea service in its lavish main hall and on weekends provides a delicious brunch service. Yet the hotel’s ‘piece de resistance’ is its exquisite LobByto cocktail bar which serves some of the city’s best cocktails and on Fridays and Saturdays even hosts Rock and Roll and Swing Nights for guests wishing to indulge in a night of musical excellence.

The Circulo Gran Via, part of Marriotts Autograph Collection, is the perfect choice for any leisure or business traveller seeking an adults only hotel, a stones through away from Madrid’s main attractions. Occupying the former building of the Industrial Union of Madrid and the Circle of Trade the hotel seamlessly combines 20th-century architecture with modern amenities and rooms. The hotels newly renovated 71 rooms are perfect for travellers seeking a modern and comfortable room from which they can head out into Madrid’s lively city centre. The hotel is equipped with a fitness room and casino, as well as its own restaurant, the Circilo Mercantil, which serves a magnificent seasonal menu to guests whilst they gaze upon Madrid’s central Gran Via.

This hotel had an unenviable opening date in September 2020 during one of the toughest periods ever for hospitality. Yet this hasn’t prevented the stunning new hotel in Plaza de Canalejas from becoming a huge success. A total of seven historic buildings were brought together over an eight-year refurbishment period to form the Four Seasons in Madrid. The results are impressive – a four-level spa (arguably the best in the city) with a dreamy indoor pool, a massive art collection, a lobby eatery, a gastro bar and a stunning rooftop restaurant. Many of the buildings’ original features have been maintained adding to the now single building’s authenticity. 

Another property from a well-known chain, Autograph Collection’s Hotel Palacio Del Retiro is a 50-room boutique hotel. The building is just over 100 years old, having been re-imagined into its current form, from its original purpose as a grand home. Its location in the city’s magical art triangle is reflected in the eclectic design, fusing traditional Spanish style with contemporary simplicity. The Suite Bar serves light snacks and elaborate Mediterranean dishes, while the spa’s extensive menu provides everything from ayurvedic treatments to massage lessons, to fitness counselling. Guests can relax in the plunge pools and therapy baths and even get married in the hotel.

Relais and Chateaux handpick the finest international properties, each with its own personality, individuality and renowned gastronomy. The Heritage Madrid is situated in the heart of Madrid, on the leafy Barrio de Salamanca, a pleasant stroll away from the boating lake. Designed by Lorenzo Castillo, the style is somewhere between a stately home and a hip boutique hotel. The 46 rooms each have hardwood or parquet flooring, jacuzzis and many of the suites boast balconies. A meal at chef Mario Sandoval’s Restaurant Haroma is a must, with a choice of executive, tasting and hunting menus, as well as high tea and brunch.

The Hotel Gran Melia Palacio Los Duques is found in the refined Hasburg district, a short distance from The Royal Palace, Opera House and Cathedral. This modern resort is housed in a 13th-century convent and a 19th-century palace. It’s a popular choice for families, with 160 spacious rooms and a babysitting service. There’s also a valet, concierge, four eateries, 24-hour room service, a translation service, private tours, personal shoppers, a spa, a fitness centre and a lush peaceful garden. Plush textiles, period features and geometric patterns all merge to create a contemporary urban vibe. The hotel is a member of the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts, and part of the wider Melia Group.

Originally designed by Juan de Villanueva (whose other work included the iconic Prado Museum), this 18th-century mansion house has been given new and stylish interiors by the NH Collection. The brand is skilled at preserving the charm of heritage buildings while infusing a playful trendiness and this is no exception — an especially nice touch are the glass-covered exhibits on the ground floor. Single bedrooms through to family suites can be booked, there are 85 rooms in total, with those on the top floor providing skylights and wooden cathedral ceilings. The hotel is surrounded by theatres and other points of interest.

Housed in a 19th-century building in the capital’s commercial district, the NH Collection Madrid Abascal Hotel was formerly an embassy and home to one of the city’s wealthiest families. Now its 193 bedrooms are decorated in an all-white palette, with premium suites adding furnished terraces. Guests can sip cocktails by Diego Cabrera in the bar, dine from Spanish seasonal menus in the restaurant and relax with a book in the cool courtyard. There’s a bijou gym on the premises, but those staying here also have access to a larger fitness centre across the road.

Following a meticulous two-year restoration, Madrid’s iconic landmark returns with a refined identity as The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid. Situated in Barrio de las Letras within the UNESCO-listed Paisaje de la Luz, the hotel is surrounded by cultural treasures like the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museums. The historic 1912 façade has been restored, along with its signature stained-glass dome and iconic glass palm tree chandelier. Interiors by Lázaro Rosa-Violán fuse classic grandeur with modern sophistication, drawing inspiration from past guests such as Picasso, Dalí, and Hemingway. The 470 redesigned rooms and suites feature hand-painted wallpapers, mid-century chandeliers, and a residential elegance. The hotel’s culinary offering includes La Cúpula, a stylish all-day dining venue, and 27 Club, a reimagined cocktail bar paying homage to the Generation of ’27 poets. Now part of The Luxury Collection, The Palace invites travellers to experience Madrid’s heritage through a lens of contemporary luxury.