Alcala Gade – adjacent
Retiro Park – adjacent
Colón Square – adjacent
Serrano (upscale shopping district – 2 blocks
Prado Museum – 1 kilometer (0.6 miles)
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum – 1 kilometer (0.6 miles)
Grand Via (shopping and entertainment district) – 1 kilometer (0.6 miles)
Botanical Gardens – 1 kilometer (0.6 miles)
Reina Sofia Art Center – 2 kilometers (1.2 miles)
Puerta del Sol – 3 kilometers (1.8 miles)
Plaza Mayor – 3 kilometers (1.8 miles)
Plaza Espana – 3 kilometers (1.8 miles)
IFEMA (convention center) – 10 kilometers (6.2 miles)

Minibuses and taxis 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 Madrid within 10 minutes. The Underground station closest to the hotel is Retiro. There is also a wide choice of buses. The hotel can order taxis on request.

This hotel has 266 guestrooms, all of which are decorated in classic style with wooden furniture, and fabrics in muted reds, greens and browns. Beds have linen sheets. Rooms overlook the courtyard with swimming pool or the street; the latter have double-glazing. Some rooms have balconies. There are 60 non-smoking rooms. All of the en-suite marble bathrooms have two sinks, magnifying mirrors and a wide choice of complimentary toiletries.

The Golden Key - La Llave de Oro serves decent but rapidly served Spanish and international cuisine to hotel guests and locals. Very busy at lunch and in the evenings, this eatery with wooden floor and clean-lined leather seats has street and hotel access.

English Bar - Drinks (particularly beer) and snacks are served at the Bar Ingles, decorated in the style of a British public house with wooden bar and comfortable seating area. Open daily.

Breakfast room - Situated close by the lobby, this room has over 100 covers, and is decorated in caramel and mustard tones, and brightened with fresh flowers.

What to expect: Behind a granite and stone façade, this primarily business hotel offers experienced staff, attentive service and a few surprises. Although the lobby is traditionally decorated with marble floor and chandelier, large canvases of modern art hang in the lounge. The stained glass windows on every corridor are protected by the city authorities - the one which opens up to allow access to the pool features piranhas.

Amenity highlights: Guests can request a massage and sauna in the health center or relax in the English pub-style bar. There is complimentary wireless Internet access in the lobby.

Insider tip: The owners of the hotel also rear bulls, so the hotel enjoys a special relationship with bullfighters, as revered in Madrid as the local footballers. The best of them have stayed at the hotel, including Manuel Caballero and El Juli.

The main meeting room, called The Duke of Wellington, has capacity for 180 theater-style, and is decorated in the same classic style as the hotel, and lit by chandeliers hanging from the 520 meter-high ceiling. Audio-visual equipment is available.

Health and beauty facilities include a hairdresser and barber, male and female saunas, manicure and pedicure and a treatment room for massage.

The outdoor swimming pool is located in the courtyard, overlooked by many of the hotel rooms. In summer, drinks and snacks are served in the seasonal bar.