Madrid, SpainRecoletos
Hospes Puerta de Alcalá
Restored bourgeois townhouse
Recoletos Madrid, Spain
Opened
2007
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
The house
Hospes HotelsRestored bourgeois townhouse
Connected parlors and art-filled salons replace the traditional lobby, giving the townhouse the easy, domestic rhythm of a private nineteenth-century home.
“The compact Hospes Puerta de Alcalá has a townhouse façade that belies its contemporary interiors.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Restored nineteenth-century moldings meet contemporary salons hung with modern Spanish art.
Notable
Subterranean thermal baths and Turkish hammam set beneath the vaulted former stables.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The forty-one rooms and suites are an object lesson in contemporary luxury design, spare but not minimal, … plush in all the right places.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Puerta de Alcalá stands right outside the front doors, and El Retiro park begins directly across the street.
The rooms
Rooms keep their original crown moldings and tall ceilings. Upper-floor duplex suites tuck bedrooms beneath exposed wooden attic beams.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The hydrotherapy pool rests beneath exposed brick arches, with illuminated turquoise water and a gentle cascade.
The spa
Four treatment rooms host Moroccan rituals and essential oil massages. Upstairs, curved relaxation loungers sit beside French doors.
The gym
Cardio machines and free weights sit under the slanted attic roof, beside a dedicated Pilates room.
Restaurant
Terraza Malvar
Sidewalk tables look directly toward the Puerta de Alcalá, serving all-day dining and weekend brunch.
At the table
The dining room serves seasonal dishes under coffered oak ceilings, leading to a cocktail bar lined in polished copper.
How it began
The widow of Spanish Prime Minister General Prim commissioned the building in 1883 as private apartments for Madrid's bourgeoisie.
Madrid
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.