7 Best Hotels in Chamberi, Madrid

On a leafy residential street, this 1886 town house bearing the Relais & Château fleur-de-lis feels more like a country estate than a city-center hotel. It was originally the residence of a well-to-do family, and the current owners continue their legacy in touches like pretty flower arrangements, silver platters, and period furniture purchased from French and English castles. Keys come on tasseled keychains, and fine-threaded pillowcases are embossed with Orfila's logo. Upgraded rooms feature balconies (garlanded with tinsel come holiday season) as well as whirlpool tubs and sound systems.

Steps from the trendy Malasaña and gay-friendly Chueca districts and slightly off the tourist track, Hotel Sardinero is a good mid-range value hotel in a turn-of-the-century palace. Rooms are handsome and minimal with dark wood floors, white linens, and vaulted ceilings. The free (nonalcoholic) minibar is a welcome perk.

Chauffeur-driven town cars snake around the block day and night at the Intercontinental Madrid, a classically decorated hotel frequented by dignitaries, diplomats, and other international bigwigs. Situated on the skyscraper-lined Castellana mall and removed from the tourist hubbub (you’ll need to take the metro to most attractions), the property is a dependable option for business travelers, families, and other visitors who favor comfort and service over centrality and trendiness. A fine-dining restaurant, sunny terrace, and an above-and-beyond concierge service round out the offerings.

One of the better values in Madrid hotels at the moment, this modern property off the Castellana thoroughfare offers bright, streamlined rooms with starched white linens and understated furniture. White-tiled bathrooms have overhead showers and plush towels.

Situated between Malasaña and the restaurant-lined Plaza de Olavide, this One Shot outpost has an ideal location for those looking to stay in a true-blue Madrid neighborhood with few tourists around. Colorful headboards and chairs pop in rooms that are otherwise minimally decorated (think white linens and walls), and bathrooms have towel warmers and wide shower heads.  

Hitting the sweet spot between high-end luxury and state-of-the-art design, the Pavilions is a boutique hotel that stands out for its original art and sculpture by top Spanish artists, much of it available for purchase. Guest rooms feature plush velvet chairs and curtains, custom-patterned upholstery, and museum-quality abstract paintings above the beds. A top-floor gym and plant-filled breakfast area with a retractable roof round out the offerings.

This fin-de-siècle palace, first a duke's residence and later the Canadian embassy, is now an intimate luxury hotel (managed by Marriott), an oasis of calm removed from the city center. Hand-painted frescoes crown stately halls, balconies jut out over a tranquil garden lined with hundred-year-old chestnut trees, and marble stairways spiral between floors. Rooms feel palatial with marble fireplaces, parquet floors, and contemporary floral wallpaper; some retain original crown moldings and double-height ceilings. Despite the old-world aesthetic, modern amenities abound including a gym area complete with a sauna and steam room, 24-hour room service, and indoor and outdoor restaurants serving Spanish and international cuisine, respectively.