Not many hotels in Madrid can boast such wonderful views as Hospes Puerta de Alcalá. This contemporary five star hotel is perched on an elegant curve on the Plaza de la Independencia overlooking the magnificent Puerta de Alcalá. The monument is older than the Arc de Triomphe and the Brandenburg Gate and marks the entrance to Retiro Park.
I first discovered Hospes Hotels staying at the excellent Hospes Amerigo in Alicante years ago, so I was excited to see if the brand’s Madrid hotel would be just as impressive.
On arrival, we were warmly greeted by the super-friendly staff and were offered a much-needed welcome drink of Prosecco, juice or chilled mineral water. The lobby had a bright and lofty feel and it led on to an atrium-style guest lounge – a quiet spot for relaxing.
Our Deluxe Alcalá Room had a modern, cosmopolitan feel and was very spacious and calm. Best of all, it featured two flower-filled balconies with fabulous views of the Puerta de Alcalá. We were also kindly welcomed with a beautiful fruit plate and two large bottles of water, which was a nice touch.
The style was a cool blend of minimalism with clean white walls and polished floors and touches of opulence with an attractive cornice ceiling, Louis XVI-style chair and an ornate silver-painted headboard. Interestingly, there was also an original black iron archway bridging the bedroom and the hallway – just one of the clues that the hotel was once a 19th century townhouse residence.
We loved the comfortable seating area with two plush corner sofas with a wall-mounted TV, fast free wifi and handy tea and coffee facilities. The king-size bed was also dreamy with crisp Egyptian cotton bed linen and plenty of high quality pillows.
The impressive open-plan bathroom around the corner was on a raised level, which seems to be a Hospes Hotels signature design feature that also appeared at Hospes Amerigo. There were two silver-painted double sinks opposite each other, a luxurious walk-in shower, fluffy towels, bathrobes and slippers and a full set of lovely herbal Olivia bathroom products created exclusively for Hospes Hotels.
The hotel’s central location was perfect for an afternoon of exploring and we just loved this chic, boho part of town. The renowned art institutions on the Paseo del Prado are within walking distance and there are so many boutiques, bars and artisan bakeries in nearby Recoletos and Chueca. Be sure to visit the San Anton Food Market and bijou pasteleria La Duquesita.
At the end of a busy day sight-seeing, guests can unwind in the Bodyna Spa, complete with jacuzzi pool, chill-out patio and treatment rooms for facials and massages using Cinq Mondes products. It’s a great spa, but the changing rooms are tiny, so you might want to change in your room and shuffle down in your bathrobe and slippers (that seemed perfectly acceptable during our stay).
That evening, we headed out for dinner at Bar Tomate, a hip urban-rustic Italian spot by Grupo Tragaluz. The food was great (particularly the wood-fired pizza), but the service was remarkably hurried and it was uncomfortably hot inside so it didn’t quite hit the mark.
The dining scene on the doorstep, however, is pretty lively with the hotel’s Independencia restaurant and terrace by chef Alex García, as well as the fashionable Philippe Starck-designed Ramses Life – a three-floor conceptual restaurant/club/bar bar – just next door. It can get a little noisy on the weekend if you’re in a front-facing balcony room, but it was just a low hum of music and not too bothersome.
In the morning, we enjoyed a buffet breakfast of fresh bread, pastries, cakes, cured meats, cheeses, yoghurt and cereal. There was a generous selection, however things really got exciting with the menu of chef’s dishes that were included with the breakfast. I was delighted to start the day with pancakes drizzled in chocolate sauce with a cast iron pot of proper tea – the egg dishes looked rather tempting too.
Hospes Puerta de Alcalá is a stunning hotel in a picturesque and happening location. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable and it really did feel like a relaxing retreat in the middle of the city. For style-conscious travellers, it’s the ideal five star hotel for a memorable city break in Madrid.
For more information and booking, visit: www.hospes.com
Chérie City was a guest of Hospes Puerta de Alcalá
Photos by Chérie City and Hospes Puerta de Alcalá
