The 11 Best Design Hotels in Madrid

Why it made the list

Spanish art lovers will geek out at the new Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques, a luxury hotel tucked behind Gran Vía where reproductions of famous Diego Velázquez paintings loom large in every room. But don’t let the Elizabethan façade and Golden Age paintings fool you: Palacio de los Duques is a state-of-the-art property complete with Nespresso machines, Bluetooth speakers, and bedside thermostats in every room.

Spanish art lovers will geek out at the new Gran Meli&aacute Read More

Why it made the list

The Hat epitomizes the fast-growing category of "designer hostels:" affordable properties geared toward the millennial set that boast sleek multi-person rooms, bumping weekend events, and unexpectedly generous breakfasts. All bright whites and blond woods, rooms at The Hat eschew the creaky metal bunks and uncozy atmosphere of most run-of-the-mill hostels. And they come in many sizes, catering to families, solo travelers, groups, and couples.

The Hat epitomizes the fast-growing category of "designer ho Read More

Why it made the list

Housed in a regal turn-of-the-century municipal building, this luxury hotel and spa boasts Old World luxury and avant-garde design to satisfy alternative types and jet-setters alike. With high ceilings, minimal wall art, taupe blackout curtains, and gray plaid accents, every room at URSO feels like a sanctuary. And thanks to impeccable soundproofing, you’ll get excellent shuteye here, regardless of the boisterous partiers in transit to the discotecas that flank the hotel. Be sure to take a ride on the 100-year-old elevator, complete with carved mahogany flourishes and a scarlet-upholstered seat.

Housed in a regal turn-of-the-century municipal building, th Read More

Why it made the list

The Ibizan owners of this hotel bring that island's mix of glamour, energy, and cutting-edge music and design to one of Madrid’s most happening neighborhoods. The Mediterranean blue palette, interspersed with dashes of colonial style, shows up all over the hotel—a renovated mansion from the 19th century—from the headboards in the carpeted rooms to the large collection of ceramic plates in the dining room to the wallpaper in the lounge areas.

The Ibizan owners of this hotel bring that island's mix of g Read More

Why it made the list

This bohemian hotel bears a few reminders of the era when bullfighters would convene here before setting off to Las Ventas—a few bulls' heads hang in the lounge and some abstract pictures of bullfighting are scattered around, but the old flair has been superseded by cutting-edge amenities. Case in point: The oversize minibar brimming with such over-the-top items as cashmere socks, sexy-time candles, and designer thongs.

In an unbeatable location, this ultramodern hotel bears a fe Read More

Why it made the list

Arguably the hottest hotel in town, the newly opened Only YOU Atocha is a stunner with its swanky lobby, rooftop restaurant, and well-appointed, industrial-chic accommodations. It’s a destination in itself, thanks to the sleek interiors by Contemporain Studio, the Catalan design firm behind celebrity hotspots Boca Grande and Soho House in Barcelona. The New York hipster aesthetic—think Edison bulbs, exposed brick, and subway-tiled bathrooms—is in full force here, but don’t let the industrial undertones fool you: Only YOU Atocha provides comforts that comparably priced hotels often forego. Most rooms feature smart TVs (request an HDMI cable at reception), cushy armchairs, and vanity mirrors framed by light bulbs.

Arguably the hottest hotel in town, the newly opened Only YO Read More

Why it made the list

Located on Gran Vía overlooking the tree-lined Plaza de España, Dear Hotel is a sleek urban property designed by Tarruella Trenchs Studio, the firm behind such lauded projects as H10 La Mimosa hotel in Barcelona and La Bien Aparecida restaurant in Madrid. It’s the sort of property that fills up during Madrid Fashion Week due to its boutique size, impeccable interiors, and see-and-be-seen atmosphere. But you don’t have to be a designer or a model to appreciate the hotel’s signature details such as sunlit rooms, soft linens, and rooftop dining.

Located on Gran Vía overlooking the tree-lined Plaza de Espa Read More

Why it made the list

A breath of fresh air on the Madrid hotel scene, Tótem checks all the boxes: genial service, state-of-the-art design, sought-after location, terrific food and cocktails—you name it, they’ve got it. Rooms are minimally yet impeccably furnished with blond woods, bright white linens, and the occasional splash of color.

A breath of fresh air on the Madrid hotel scene, Tótem check Read More

Why it made the list

Inspired by Paul Eluard's La Liberté, whose verses are written across the facade, the owners of this hotel granted carte blanche to 19 of the world's top architects and designers; the result is 12 hotels in one, with floors by such visionaries as the late Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Jean Nouvel, and David Chipperfield. The only snag: you'll need a taxi or the subway to get to the city center.

Inspired by Paul Eluard's La Liberté, whose verses ar Read More

Why it made the list

Every room in this 1957 building overlooking Plaza de España looks like a page ripped from an avant-garde design magazine. There are gargantuan mirrors with gold inlay, side tables in the form of smiling chimps, and evocative Moorish-inspired photos by Klunderbie. Jaime Hayón, the Madrid-born designer behind the property’s idiosyncratic interiors, strikes a balance between playfulness (zebra-striped bear sculptures) and drama (images of flamenco bailaoras with piercing eyes), and it all feels so unapologetically current, from the millennial-pink walls, to the spherical light bulbs, to the microgreen-garnished dishes.

A veritable jewel box of glowing lights, harlequin furniture Read More