The Most Luxurious (Ahem, Expensive) Hotels in Madrid
It's no secret that Madrid offers great value when it comes to accommodations, but sometimes you just need to pamper yourself. Splurge at these top properties, and you can bank on high thread counts, standout interiors, seamless service, and mind-blowing breakfasts. These are our top picks for Madrid's priciest luxury hotels.
Westin Palace Madrid
Why it made the list
An iconic hotel situated inside the “Golden Triangle” (the district connecting the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen museums), the Westin Palace is known for its unbeatable location, stately façade, and classical décor. The Palace opened in 1912 as the largest hotel in Europe, and in its heyday, catered to the likes of Salvador Dalí, Marlon Brando, Rita Hayworth, and Madonna.The property retains much of that Belle Époque charm today—though some say it hasn’t aged as gracefully one might hope.
Hotel Palacio del Retiro, Autograph Collection
Why it made the list
A grand early-20th-century building, once owned by a noble family with extravagant habits (the elevator carried their horses up and down from the rooftop exercise ring), this spectacular hotel is a case in point that classical and modern décor can happily coexist. Relics of the mansion's grandiose past include baseboards and fountains covered with ceramics from Talavera, Parisian stained-glass windows, marble floors and columns, and original moldings.
Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
Why it made the list
Unlike other luxury hotels in Madrid that feel stuffy and tired, Palacio de los Duques wows guests with its cloud-like beds, impeccable service, and world-class amenities. Though the hotel rooms’ omnipresent Golden Age art motifs might scare off millennials, the rooftop pool bar and envelope-pushing restaurant are worth going out of your way to visit.
Hotel Único
Why it made the list
Situated on a quiet side street in the posh, tree-lined district of Salamanca, Hotel Único is a boutique property suited to travelers seeking a relaxing, cosmopolitan vacation. Its 44 rooms occupy a 19th-century mansion complete with wrought-iron balconies, curved staircases, and a sunny courtyard. Though the hotel boasts a thrilling two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Ramón Freixa Madrid, the outdated lobby and unremarkable rooms lag behind in the luxury department.
AC Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection
Why it made the list
This turn-of-the-century palace in the Chamberí district, once a duke's residence, is now a boutique luxury hotel (managed by Marriott), an oasis of calm removed from the city center. Hand-painted frescoes crown stately halls and soaring guest rooms, balconies jut out over a tranquil garden, and marble stairways spiral between floors. Despite the Old-World aesthetic, modern amenities abound including a gym area, complete with a sauna and steam room, and a Spanish nueva cocina restaurant.
The Principal Madrid
Why it made the list
Dozens of hotels flank Gran Vía, Madrid’s main artery, but only one of them can claim five stars (and $300-a-night standard rooms): The Principal. Opened in 2015 following a €3.5 million remodeling, the hotel stands out for its stately façade, luxury townhouse feel, and swanky rooftop cocktail bar—the latter being the best vantage point to admire the newly restored dome of the Metropolis, a Beaux-Arts marvel. The property’s central location, within walking distance of Retiro park and the “Golden Triangle” of museums, is another great selling point.
Hotel Ritz
Why it made the list
Unapologetically pricey with entry-level rooms starting at $325 per night, the Hotel Ritz is Madrid’s last bastion of old-school Continental luxury. Shimmering chandeliers, carved-mahogany accents, and handwoven tapestries go to show that this hotel is unbothered by the latest hospitality trends. Guests here are treated like royalty—no coincidence, given the property's reputation for hosting dignitaries and celebrities in the hundred-plus years it’s been in business. Spacious rooms, fabulous breakfasts, a storied past, and an unbeatable location within Madrid’s “Golden Triangle” of art make the Ritz one of Madrid’s most standout hotels.
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