In the storied heart of Madrid, where cobblestone streets echo with centuries of art, poetry, and passion, one hotel quietly stands as both a witness to history and a symbol of contemporary luxury. Tucked away in the atmospheric Barrio de las Letras, the Gran Hotel Inglés isn’t merely a place to stay — it is an experience that resonates with those who appreciate the delicate art of timeless elegance.

This is Madrid’s oldest luxury hotel, and yet, it feels effortlessly fresh. Originally opened in 1886, the hotel was reborn in 2018 under the meticulous care of the Hidden Away Hotels group, who, in partnership with the acclaimed Rockwell Group, orchestrated a renovation that is both a restoration and a reinvention. The result? A boutique sanctuary where Art Deco glamour meets modern indulgence, and where the city’s literary legacy lives on in every thoughtful detail.

Where Past Meets Present

The hotel’s façade remains a proud nod to Madrid’s Haussmann-inspired architecture, but stepping inside is like entering a private residence crafted for the modern aesthete. Each of the 48 rooms and suites — reduced in number to enhance space and comfort — offers a tranquil cocoon, many outfitted with deep soaking tubs and walk-in showers, rare luxuries in a historic building of this nature.

Suites range from the elegant Deluxe Rooms that open to bright internal courtyards, to the Presidential Suite, a spacious urban retreat complete with private terrace, dining room, and separate living quarters overlooking the cultural pulse of Calle Echegaray. The Meller Suite, with its private jacuzzi terrace, offers a more intimate kind of escape — ideal for quiet afternoons above the bustle of the city below.

Design details throughout reflect a carefully composed dialogue between eras. The lobby, inspired by classic English mansions, glows under circular chandeliers, while heritage artifacts, uncovered during renovation, subtly narrate the building’s storied past. It is these juxtapositions — historical fragments harmonizing with sleek modernity — that give the hotel its distinctive soul.

An Address Steeped in Art and Culture

Echegaray Street, one of the oldest and most fashionable arteries in Madrid today, winds through a neighborhood long considered the intellectual and artistic heart of Spain. Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Quevedo once called these streets home. Today, the same quarter boasts charming taverns, hidden jazz clubs, art galleries, flamenco tablaos, and centuries-old bookstores.

From the Plaza del Ángel to the Royal Botanical Garden, this is a city meant to be explored on foot — and there is no more fitting home base than Gran Hotel Inglés, where tradition is not only preserved but celebrated.

Culinary Sophistication Meets Sensory Delight

Once the first hotel in Madrid to house a restaurant, Gran Hotel Inglés continues to honor its pioneering roots. The LobByto Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, set just off the grand lobby, is a seamless blend of classic Madrileño cuisine and international finesse. From elevated tapas to artfully mixed signature cocktails, the atmosphere is vibrant yet refined — equally perfect for an impromptu aperitivo or a romantic dinner set to live jazz.

For a deeper culinary exploration, CASA LOBO offers a seasonal menu that pays homage to the region’s bounty, blending avant-garde techniques with comforting tradition. Whether enjoying a Cheese & Champagne Night on Thursdays or indulging in the hotel’s Afternoon Tea service — a tiered affair of scones, pastries, and finger sandwiches with optional Champagne — each offering is curated with intention and flair.

Weekends at Gran Hotel Inglés come alive with Show Brunches and Swing Nights, drawing both discerning locals and cosmopolitan visitors who appreciate good food, good company, and the timeless joy of live music.

A Living Legacy

Long before it became a five-star boutique address, the site of Gran Hotel Inglés began life as the Café Inglés, a cultural salon opened in 1853 that quickly became a favored haunt for Madrid’s writers, aristocrats, and intellectuals. When the visionary Don Agustín Ibarra transformed it into a luxury hotel in 1886, he did so with a promise: never to skimp on elegance, comfort, or innovation.

Today, that same philosophy endures through the stewardship of Carmen Cordón and Ignacio Jiménez, who traveled the world in search of the perfect materials, inspirations, and experiences to weave into the hotel’s latest chapter. It’s this spirit — this blend of heritage and vision — that defines Gran Hotel Inglés not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing chapter of Madrid itself.