Background & Location
The Palace Hotel Madrid, opened in 1912, is a historic luxury hotel that has become a symbol of grandeur and elegance in the Spanish capital. The Palace Hotel Madrid was the first hotel in Spain to have a telephone and bathroom in each guest room. It has hosted numerous dignitaries, celebrities, and royals over the years. In March 2025, it converted from the Westin Palace Madrid to the Palace Madrid, a Luxury Collection Hotel. I had the pleasure of staying at the Palace Hotel shortly after the rebranding and renovation to the Luxury Collection.
The hotel is located in the heart of the city, offering easy access to some of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks. Just a short 5-minute stroll away, you’ll find the renowned Prado Museum & the lush Retiro Park. And you’re about 25 minutes from the historic Royal Palace to the west, and then a 25-minute walk to the upscale shops of Salamanca to the north. With its central position, the hotel also provides quick access to the vibrant Gran Vía and the bustling Plaza Mayor, making it an ideal base for exploring the city’s rich culture and history. I truly loved the location as the surrounding area wasn’t too touristy, and it was quite calm. There were some cute small shops and bakeries down the block, and I had an amazing brownie from Estela Hojaldre.
Travel Agency Benefits
I work with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays. Fora is part of Marriott STARS & Virtuoso. These partnerships give you special perks when booking with me. The Palace Hotel Madrid, Luxury Collection comes with the following:
- Daily breakfast for two
- Complimentary upgrade upon availability
- $100 Hotel Credit per stay
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out upon availability
If you are interested in getting these perks and want to stay at the Palace Hotel Madrid, feel free to email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel and I would be happy to help you plan your trip.
Takeoff Points
Date of Stay: March 2025
Room Type: Premium Neptuno 2 Twin, Neptuno Fountain view
Pros: Lovely location, beautiful renovation, solid breakfast.
Cons: The Fitness Center has not been renovated.
Arrival and Check-In
We arrived in Madrid at the main Atocha station from Malaga on the Iryo train. Our group decided to walk to the hotel as the weather was nice. The walk took around 15 minutes.
I liked the refreshed lobby, and we were quickly helped by a friendly associate. They had the old historic keys displayed behind the reception which was cute, though we just received the plastic keys.
The Room: Premium Neptuno 2 Twin, Neptuno Fountain View
Our room was located on the 2nd floor, and the hallways were nicely refreshed.
Bathroom
As you entered the room, the bathroom was located to the left of the room. There were double sinks and a large stand-up shower with rainfall showerhead & wand, and in the back was the W/C with a bidet.
They provided Byredo Le Chemin toiletries, which is one of my favorites from hotels (along with Le Labo & Diptyque). The shower had shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Also, mouthwash, toothpaste, a vanity kit, a shower cap, and a dental kit were provided.
A scale was also provided, and I liked the bathroom. The towels were of a luxury quality as well.
Bedroom
As you entered the room, the closet was to the left. There were three closets of various sizes, and one of the closets featured a safe, a yoga mat, laundry bags, shoe bags/mit, a sewing kit, and a large luxury collection bag. A steamer was also provided.
Next to this closet, space area was the minibar for purchase as well as a kettle for hot water and a Nespresso machine, teabags, and Nespresso pods. There was also a fully stocked mini-fridge.
Our room featured two twin beds with nightstands on each end, and new light controls were available as well as power ports and USB C charging. The bedding was comfortable & linens were of good quality, though the beds were on the smaller side.
Living Space
In front of the bed, space was a nice fake fireplace, a TV and a gorgeous blue sofa to the left. There was also a small chair next to the blue sofa and a white marble table. We had a very large window area with a nice view of the Neptuno fountain.
The Crown moldings and the art wallpapers made for a very luxurious feel, and I did like the rooms aesthetic, though some small touches like the bedside lamps could have been more integrated as they were not fully finished and looks like they needed some fixing on one side of the bed while the other side of the bed was perfectly fine.
Some letter-sized paper & envelopes were provided in one of the bedside tables, and there was a paper notepad and pen on one side of the nightstand.
Turndown service was provided, with water and slippers set up, as well as a card with a poem on it. Though chocolate would be nice.
Amenities
There’s a 24-hour fitness center on the 7th floor, and there is an outdoor terrace you can access. The fitness center has locker rooms and a small co-ed sauna. I found the fitness center to be dated, and it seemed they have not renovated this part of the hotel yet. The dumbbells were also quite old and could use fresh updates.
There was also a treatment room, and they have acupuncture, massages, & reflexology treatments.
Dining
La Cúpula Restaurant
The main restaurant is La Cúpula, with the eye-catching glass-domed ceiling. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As a Marriott Platinum member, breakfast for 2 was included daily, and it consisted of the full breakfast buffet, which was nice. I found the breakfast buffet selection to have quite a great selection and it was tasty. There was an omelet station as well as a ham carving station. Plus, hot food, cold cuts, pastries & fruit stations.
For drinks, you could order coffee & tea with the wait staff, and juices & champagne were sitting out at the bar.
Interestingly, the dome reminded me of my stay at the Palace Hotel San Francisco (another Luxury Collection property).
27 Club
Open daily during evenings, the 27 Club is located next to the La Cúpula restaurant. The name is a homage to the Generation of 1927, the group of influential poets who regularly patronized the Palace in the 20th century.
The 27 Club is where the cocktail reception that we were invited to at check-in took place. It was fun to hear stories of the hotel’s history while sipping on the cocktail (or mocktail) of our choice.
Room Service
The Palace Hotel Madrid also offers 24-hour in-room dining, which can be helpful for those late nights!
The Verdict
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at the Palace Hotel Madrid. I think it’s a solid Luxury Collection property, with nicely appointed rooms, common areas & a nice breakfast venue. Also, I really enjoyed the location for exploring Madrid, as it’s convenient, but the surrounding area was still calm. I would like to see a refreshed fitness center soon, and that will seal the deal.
Have you stayed at the Palace Hotel Madrid before? How was your stay? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
