Gran Hotel Inglés

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?Like any brilliant hotel these days, the first thing you see is a big, inviting lobby bar with plenty of leather-covered couches, armchairs, and bar stools to sit in. The bar itself is an island, with a nifty hanging liquor shelf. The Rockwell Group Madrid designed it to be glamorous in a way that works for the hotel's history and location—in other words, not unwarranted or needlessly flashy. Also, the space is big; and in a city crammed with small bodegas and wine bars, where room to move about comes at a premium, it feels like a place you'd want to come and hang out in for a while. How was check in?Very, very easy. Though the reception desk isn't the first thing you notice (it's discreet, and off to the right, which I like), you certainly don't get lost looking for it, either. Staff were warm and professional, and very much cared about informing me about the hotel and how it complements the surrounding neighborhood. Oh, and they also provided typed-up, personalized notes on things to do and see in the 'hood, which was so valuable; Gran Inglés is in Madrid's central literary quarter, which has largely gone under the radar, but has such historical wealth—palaces, caña bars frequented by Hemingway, all a stone's throw from your room. (But I wouldn't have known it!) Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?Here's the thing: Some rooms face the street, and some don't. Those with street views are utterly charming—think the Spanish take on the rooftop views you've seen from Parisian or Roman balconies a million times (chimneys, window boxes, and terraces stacked three or four stories high). That said, this area of Madrid is getting very popular at night, and Madrileños stay out later than even New Yorkers—so you might hear some noise outside your window until as late (or early) as 5 a.m. Rooms are tastefully done—modern, but restrained—maybe in nod to the hotel's history (it first opened in 1886). I loved the personalized notes on the neighborhood. And hotel bath lovers, take note: The deep, sunken, free-standing tubs have tarnished bronze stands for soaps and scrubs, and are the kind you'll stay in until even your shins are wrinkled. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?The F+B is solid. The bar does excellent drinks—I had them mix me up a tasty gin concoction based on flavors I told them I did (and did not) like, and they nailed it. In-room dining is fine, but not massively worth it—mostly burgers and pizza that won't taste nearly as good as the downstairs restaurant, Lobo8, which does creative spins on classic Spanish dishes (think pink tomato salads with avocado ice cream, pear gazpacho, and Iberian pork cheeks). About the staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?Nelson, who showed me to my room! You could tell how proud he was of the hotel, and genuinely cared that I enjoy it the best I could. That said, every single member of the staff impressed me; always with a smile, always greeting me by my name, and very helpful with anything I may have needed, be it an umbrella, an Uber, or a cocktail rec. What type of travelers will you find here?Gran Hotel Inglés is for the type of well-styled, but not flashy, urbanite—someone who posts about her far-flung, glamorous travels on Instagram, but has no desire to be a career-influencer. This is the crowd you'd see at Rome's Hotel Vilòn, or Paris's Hôtel Providence. Mature, with excellent taste. Any other hotel features worth noting?The gym is fine, if not the most comprehensive—but the spa does a mean jet lag massage. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?One million percent worth it, especially since it attracts locals as much as visitors (for the bar, of course)—but because it's in one of the most convenient neighborhoods in town. The balance of historical and modern is nicely captured, which isn't always a given with European properties." - Erin Florio