The finest luxury hotel in the cultural heart of Madrid — Hotel Urban in the Barrio de las Letras, 5 minutes from the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, where the original Egyptian and Oceanian art collection throughout the building (the owner's personal collection, integrated into the hotel's design), rooftop pool and terrace, and direct access to the literary quarter's finest restaurants provide the correct combination for visitors who came to Madrid for art and dining.
Why We Chose It
Hotel Urban is the luxury hotel that visitors to Madrid's art museums and literary quarter most rate as the right choice — a 96-room Small Luxury Hotels of the World member on the Carrera de San Jerónimo, 5 minutes from the Prado (which has Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings), 3 minutes from the Thyssen-Bornemisza (whose Flemish masters and Impressionist collection complement the Prado's Spanish masters), and in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras neighborhood whose restaurants, wine bars, and bookshops constitute the best dining and cultural district in Madrid. The hotel's internal art collection (Egyptian, Oceanian, and pre-Columbian pieces from the owner's personal collection, displayed throughout rooms and public spaces) reflects the cultural seriousness of the neighborhood. The rooftop pool and terrace, functioning from May through September, are the social highlight — a small, warm gathering space above the literary streets.
What Stands Out
- 5 minutes from the Prado and 3 from the Thyssen-Bornemisza: the correct position for visitors who came to Madrid for art
- Barrio de las Letras neighborhood: direct access to the finest restaurant district in the city without leaving the hotel area
- Owner's Egyptian, Oceanian, and pre-Columbian art collection: the hotel as a secondary museum — interesting artwork
- Rooftop pool and terrace: the best intimate rooftop experience in the central Madrid luxury category
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World: the service standard of a smaller, more personal luxury operation