Magnificent boutique hotels in Madrid for a stylish break in Spain

This colourful hotel is full of personality, and it’s a great place to stay if you want your boutique hotel in Madrid to be more than just a bed.

Hotel Barceló Torre de Madrid shows its character as soon as you step through the door… when you’re greeted by a giant bear wearing a gold top hat and disguised as a zebra (I am not kidding!).

Further in you’ll find quirky Spanish infused artwork, faces painted on the walls and windows, and random statement pieces such as monkey side tables and famed Catch chairs by the hotel’s designer Jaime Hayón.

On the practical side, Barceló Torre de Madrid is a great place to hang out. There’s an eighth-floor heated pool that gives great views of the city as you swim, a restaurant that serves food as diverse as its surrounds (think Spanish, Mexican, Japanese and French fusion), and a bar that offers dazzling vistas as you sip on Moscow Mules.

Trendsetters head to Madrid’s URSO Hotel & Spa. It’s understated, chic and right next to two of the city’s most stylish hotspots: Chueca and Malasaña. This area is teeming with galleries, hipster bars and boutiques, and with its flawless design, this Madrid hotel sits seamlessly in the mix.

URSO seeps style from the off, with a Scandi meets trendy but old school European vibe – think muted colours, original Spanish tiles, Japanese floral prints and stained glass windows… all housed in a beautiful early 20th-century palace that makes you feel like royalty.

You’ll get smiles and great service right from the front door and you’ll find a beautiful serene place to relax in the spa, but the real crowning glory of this boutique Madrid hotel is the restaurant: Media Ración. Madrid is famed for its small plates, and this is one of the city’s most in-demand places to eat them. Grab a load for the table and enjoy digging in, I’d recommend the bresaola and the rabbit with rice, but make sure you leave room for cheese and dessert… the bread dipped in chocolate sauce is heavenly!

If you’re looking for a fancy stay, the ME Madrid Reina Victoria is the one to plump for. The hotel sits in one of Madrid’s most interesting quarters (for me anyway!) the Barrio de Las Letras, or Literary Quarter. This area sparkles with the echoes of some former literary greats, such as Don Quixote writer Cervantes. The hotel sits right on the Plaza Santa Ana, towering over it with its palatial early 1900s exterior. This square is also where you’ll find Spain’s national theatre.

I am told that this Madrid hotel was once a popular haunt with Spain’s very best matadors (there’s a bull head in the bar paying homage), and it definitely still gives off those glam vibes with its luxury interior design and popular rooftop bar.

Some rooms boast views across the Santa Ana or the Plaza del Ángel, and if you splash out on a luxury suite you’ll get access to a Nintendo Wii and a concierge that’ll connect you to some of the most exclusive venues in Madrid. That said, even a basic room will give you a luxe experience of this stylish city.

With a discreet entrance along a tiny street in the heart of the city, The Principal Madrid provides a graceful retreat from the bustling activity outside. Check in and you’ll be whisked up to the sixth floor; this hotel towers above Madrid with some of the best views of the city. The real magic sits right at the top of this 1920s building, on the roof terrace, which dumbfounds with its 360º outlook – you’ll need to wash that down with one of the hotel’s signature cocktails.

The Principal has the upper hand on relaxation, with peaceful spots that almost defy their city centre location. There’s a solarium with raspberry red loungers lined up beside a tinkling fountain, and La Pergola, a classic European terrace set next to the hotel restaurant.

Inside, a cool colour palette leads you through the hotel with greys, golds and browns warmed up with splashes of muted blue, orange, yellow and pink. It has a cool, city club feel, with a dash of grand European elegance thrown in for good measure. Rooms are charcoal and black, suites have artwork on the walls that make you feel at home, every room has an instantly calming feel and most offer some spectacular views across Madrid. If you want to hang with the stylish set, this is your pick.

Living in one of the city’s slickest neighbourhoods, Tótem Madrid is effortlessly cool. Dressed in urban style, with subtle elegant accents here and there, the hotel oozes class with a neutral colour palette – charcoals, nudes and rich inky tones provide a backdrop to marble floors and a grand restored wooden staircase.

Rooms continue this classy feel, with chic colour schemes, mid-century style furniture, floor to ceiling windows and dark marble bathrooms.

The real star of the show is the hotel restaurant. Named after the Fitzgerald novel, The Beautiful and The Damned, Hermosos y Malditos is canteen cool, with Scandi style decor and a New York bistro come speakeasy feel. Enjoy tapas by day, cocktails by night, and a great spread for breakfast. Expect masterful flavours from the mixologists at the bar, they even wear lab coats so you know they’ll mix your drink like a pro.

Hipsters hang out in Triball, and Triball is where you’ll find one of my favourite boutique hotels in Madrid, the 7 Islas Hotel. Refreshingly new and understatedly chic, this urban nirvana will definitely give you some insight into this up-and-coming side of the city.

I’ve always wanted to live in one of those cool industrial New York style lofts, and this is the vibe you get from 7 Islas. Set in a warehouse building and living as a hybrid hotel/art gallery, it has a grown-up aesthetic with concrete floors, metal lockers, volcanic stone imported from the owner’s home island and some fantastic art.

Rooms are pared down, with light wooden floors laid with rugs, custom-made leather and steel headboards and metal storage. My favourite feature is the wall hooks, which are tiny models of babies’ hands and feet made by designer Ignacio del Toro. For a unique, solitary spot in the heart of the city (Gran Vía is nearby), this is the perfect place for a break in Madrid.