The best boutique hotels in Madrid

The Heritage is a hotel where you can relax in exquisite interiors, sip champagne and eat oysters on the secret roof terrace, then slip out to Madrid’s best restaurants and boutiques. The interiors are inspired by the hotel’s glamorous heritage and its location in the affluent Salamanca neighbourhood. A blue and grey palette is used in some rooms and soft green tones in others, with hand-painted gold wallpaper, antique furniture and smart lights creating unique and unusual settings. Guests are made to feel completely at ease. The Haroma restaurant, overseen by Mario Sandoval, who has two Michelin stars at Coque in Madrid, is excellent value and there’s a lovely conservatory-style bar for afternoon tea and drinks.

The Urso is in the elegant Salesas area of Madrid, a few minutes’ walk from the oh-so-trendy neighbourhoods of Malasaña and Chueca. The early 20th-century palatial building, designed by architect Antonio Obrador, has conserved many original features such as the tiles on the façade, a mahogany lift and the stained-glass windows on the staircase. Rooms, decorated in soothing champagne and teal shades, have sumptuous beds and high-quality sheets. The Natura Bissé spa is everything an urban spa should be, with a hydromassage pool. The Casa Felisa restaurant is a popular and fashionable place to eat, serving Spanish specialities with a contemporary touch.

For those seeking one of the coolest places to stay in the city, you can’t go wrong with this beautiful hotel, with effortless interior design and a great location in the thumping barrio of Chueca. The hotel is in a former palace that dates back to the 19th century, all arched windows, juliette balconies, window shutters and awnings. Expect an eclectic mix of oversized lamps and vases, retro sofas, art books and enviable 1970s-style coffee tables in the public spaces. The chic rooms have studded bed frames, navy-blue walls and old maps of Madrid on the walls. The restaurant has a romantic setting for tapas dinner, while the warm, wood-panelled bar is a great spot for a classic cocktail a night out.

The Santo Mauro is grand, tasteful and popular with celebrities who want to keep a low profile. The former palace is in Chamberí, a quiet, leafy area frequented by locals for its constellation of tapas bars and restaurants. The hotel is surrounded by tranquil gardens with chestnut and eucalyptus trees, ideal for sipping a long drink in the shade. All rooms look different and are distributed between the palace, the former stables and an annexe. Abstract artworks and wooden floors create a contemporary luxe vibe. Renowned chef Rafa Peña is at the helm in La Biblioteca Gresca restaurant in the oak-panelled library. You can also eat in the Art Deco-style Wine Bar Gresca.

The Tótem exudes discreet urban chic from its location on one of the most upmarket corners in the city in the Salamanca area and is one of the best boutique hotels in Madrid. Charcoal, teal, dusky pink, cerise, navy and purple all play a part in the colour scheme, popping out against a palette of shimmery neutrals. Bedrooms are cocoons of minimalist luxury, where all the materials are high quality, from the soft honeycomb bathrobes to the mid-century-style sideboards with built-in Nespresso machines and minibars. El Pimiento Verde restaurant specialises in Basque cuisine and is a favourite with people who are working or shopping in the neighbourhood.

In a city of long days, late nights and riotous fun, the Orfila is a quiet haven in which to relax before everything starts up again. Family-owned, and with just 32 rooms, you feel as though you are a guest of an eclectic old Doña who lives there, but is rarely seen. The location, on the edge of three districts, is perfect for seeing the many sides of Madrid. It’s within walking distance of Retiro park, the Prado museum and the upmarket shopping districts of Goya and Serrano. Rooms are done in traditional style – even the lower categories are spacious and have balconies with views over the gardens. Much of guests’ time will be spent in the beautiful terraced garden. One particular highlight is the breakfast buffet, overflowing with Spanish tortillas cheese, jamón and crisp, dry cava.

The Único is is all about good design and great service. The hotel enjoys a swish location on one of Madrid’s most exclusive streets, and is surrounded by the smart shops and upscale restaurants of Salamanca. The aesthetic is nothing if not dramatic, with a swirling black-and-white mosaic floors combining different types of marble, and a striking red sculpture hanging in the stairwell. Rooms have adapted a similar contrasting look; the best category to book is a characterful top-floor room, with pitched ceilings and skylights. Ramon Freixa’s restaurant has earned two Michelin stars for its elegant modern Spanish cuisine, making this a top choice for foodies. He is also in charge of breakfast, which is served in part of the restaurant and on the attractive covered terrace in the garden.

The Principal is popular with a media and fashion crowd, as well as anyone who wants to be able to walk everywhere. With comfortable rooms and a calm colour scheme, it is a handy haven in the beginning of the Gran Vía, the main drag through the centre of Madrid. The high ceilings and large windows in the rooms have a calming effect as soon as you walk in, as do the elegant charcoal grey and black colour scheme. The chic roof terrace is one of the most coveted spots in Madrid for a drink in summer – it has the feel of a private club in New York or London. The restaurant is overseen by Ramon Freixa, who has two Michelin stars for his restaurant at the Único.

The 7 Islas makes a refreshing change from chain hotels, in part due to its refreshing locale of Triball, a part of gentrified Malasaña with some of the city’s coolest bars and boutiques. The staff will go the extra mile to help you have proper authentic experiences, instead of usual tourist activities. Everything in the rooms has been custom made, such as the woven leather and steel headboards designed by Matías Carbia and the bronze wall hooks that are little sculptures of babies’ hands and feet, designed by Ignacio del Toro. Don’t leave without enjoying a drink at 7 Craft Bar: where the cocktails are made with spirits macerated with botanicals to create unique flavours.

You feel like you are sleeping in an art gallery at this elegant, discreet boutique hotel where the emphasis is on attentive service. The prestigious Álvaro Alcázar gallery has filled the hotel with wonderful contemporary art, including pieces by well-known artists Rafael Canogar, Guillem Nadal and Simon Edmondson. It is a favourite of regular Madrid visitors, particularly from the creative industries, given its handy yet non-tourist location (just off Plaza de Colón) and well-designed rooms, which incorporate references to historical Madrid scenes, abstract paintings and lithographs. Book a top-floor suite for the large terraces with brilliant city views.

This handsome 19th-century townhouse is a chic sanctuary that allows you to escape from city life. It overlooks the Puerta de Alcala, one of Madrid’s most important monuments, and is blissfully removed from the hectic downtown with its position opposite El Retiro park. The distinctive cornicing and mouldings in the bedrooms are vestiges of the days when this was a grand private residence; the Duplex room comes with a sleeping area under the eaves and is ideal for a romantic break. The pleasant Bodyna Spa has a relaxation pool and steam room, and a wide-ranging menu of treatments. The best place to unwind post-massage is the Malvar restaurant and tapas bar in the hotel, which has terrace tables on the square.