Minibuses and taxi cabs are available for transfer from the airport to the center of Madrid. Metro line 8 also serves the airport and takes passengers into central Madrid.

The extensive Metro system connects the hotel with the rest of central London within 15 minutes. The Underground station closest to the hotel is Arguelles. There is also a wide choice of buses. The hotel can order taxis on request.

This hotel has 275 guestrooms, all of which are decorated either in red or blue, with soft carpets, patterned bedspreads and laminate work desks. All are fitted with interactive television, trouser presses, and have spare pillows and blankets. Sheets are 100 percent cotton. Many of the rooms feature large, tinted mirrors. Some overlook the Royal Palace, others have mountain views. The en-suite marble bathrooms have a separate door for toilet and bidet.

Don Pepe restaurant - Seasonal specialties and Spanish Mediterranean cuisine are served in this smart venue, with wide, wooden chairs and two-tone blue and caramel décor. The a la carte lunch and dinner menu may feature dishes such as Gazpacho with Prawns, Baked Peppers with Cod and Cured Serano Ham with Quails’ Eggs. There are 40 covers.

Recoletos bar - Drinks and tapas are served all day every day at Recoletos, decorated in neutral tones and offset by a deep blue carpet. Prints of century old Spanish fashions and maps of Madrid hang on the walls.

Breakfast room - This naturally lit room, located on the third floor, seats 200 for breakfast or special events. Green wicker chairs are set around white linen topped tables, while densely-planted greenery lining the windows and leafy ornamental pool with goldfish creates a conservatory feel.

What to expect: On entering the 1960s building, set back by a courtyard from the main street, a large lobby is dominated by large tear-drop chandeliers in clear and black glass, mustard colored sofas, oriental-style armoires, and large pots filled with flowers. In summer tourists dominate, in winter, it’s convention season.

Amenity highlights: The Servicio Real Floor offers private reception facilities across eleven conference rooms, suitable from small or large meetings and the business center (four computers with high-speed Internet access (fee), secretarial services, fax and photocopying). There is also a nightclub is on site.

Insider tip: The Cultural Center Conde Duque in Calle Conde Duque, 300 meters from the hotel, hosts temporary art exhibitions year-round and theatre and dance in the courtyard in summer.

Eleven meeting rooms range from intimate options for 10 people to 300-seaters. Four of the larger rooms (all decorated in vivid scarlet) are located on the first floor. Here, the corridor is decorated with rustic wooden furniture, Spanish sculptures and objets d’art. Other business rooms are on the third floor. Some of the rooms benefit from natural lighting. The small business center below the lobby has four computers with Internet access (fee), fax, photocopying and printer.

The Spa, set one floor beneath the lobby, has an indoor pool with jets, sauna, one hot tub and one cold tub. Massages are offered in the two treatment rooms. A bright, white room functions as a hairdresser and nailbar. A small selection of cardiovascular equipment is available for guest use (complimentary).

The on site nightclub plays Flamenco and salsa during the week and dance music at weekends.