Commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1910 because Madrid, he felt, needed a hotel grand enough for European royalty — and still one of the city's two or three most important addresses.
King Alfonso XIII returned from a European tour convinced that Madrid lacked a hotel worthy of its royal court, and enlisted César Ritz — the hotelier behind the Paris and London Ritz hotels — to fix that. It opened in 1910 on Plaza de la Lealtad, directly beside the Prado Museum, in the district known as Madrid's "Golden Triangle" of art museums. It's been through more than a century of history since, including a stint as a military hospital during the Spanish Civil War. A three-year, roughly €100 million renovation completed in 2021, led by Paris-based designers Gilles & Boissier, restored the building's original glass dome and modernised the 153 rooms and suites while keeping the Belle Époque bones intact.
It's genuinely hard to beat: directly next to the Prado, across from the Thyssen-Bornemisza, a short walk from the Reina Sofía and Retiro Park — the entire "Paseo del Arte" museum cluster is on the doorstep.
Travellers who want old-world formality and a genuine piece of Madrid history, prepared to pay accordingly — this sits at the very top of the city's hotel market. Less suited to anyone wanting a livelier, design-forward experience; see Room Mate Óscar for that instead.
The hotel's Deessa restaurant holds two Michelin stars, and the Palm Court is a well-known spot for traditional afternoon tea — both worth booking ahead even if you're not staying overnight.
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Adapters, packing cubes and the other things you always forget until 11pm the night before.
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