Gran Hotel Inglés

It’s hard to find a more iconic Madrid address than the Gran Hotel Inglés. Nestled in the vibrant Barrio de las Letras, or Literary Quarter, the grande dame radiates Old World charm befitting of its 19th-century origins. Once home to a storied café where Madrid’s writers, artists and intellectuals gathered, the building took on a new life as the Gran Hotel Inglés in1886. As the first luxury hotel in the city, it quickly became the preferred choice for visiting elite — a reputation it still enjoys to this day. Stepping into the lobby feels like traveling back in time. Designed by the well-respected Rockwell Group, the renovated interiors evoke a sense of understated opulence with rich leather and velvet furnishings, gleaming brass accents, ornate moldings and the original chandeliers. At the heart of this glamorous retreat is the Art Deco-inspired lobby bar, where jetsetters and Madrid’s glitterati mingle over exquisite cocktails and gourmet bites.