Gran Hotel Inglés
WORDS BY,
NICK HENDRY
Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
Gran Hotel Inglés may be the oldest hotel in the city – it first opened in 1886 –
but what greets guests today is contemporary and stylish.
5 MINS READ TIME
Calle de Echegaray is a quiet, unassuming street in Madrid’s Barrio de las Letras. It is one of many similar little lanes which criss-cross the area in between the Royal Palace to the west and the world-renowned Prado Museum to the east. Walking down it during the day one would be forgiven for thinking nothing of note would be found here but, around halfway down and behind elegant and constantly-attended glass doors, lies Gran Hotel Inglés – Madrid’s oldest luxury hotel.
I had a good feeling about this hotel from the moment we arrived. As rain which seemed uncharacteristic for the Spanish spring battered the roof of our cab, a friendly face arrived with an umbrella to shelter us into the lobby, while another offered ice-cold local cava to help us relax after the journey. The weather may have been disappointing for Madrid in May, but the welcome to the hotel was not.
Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
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Gran Hotel Inglés may be the oldest hotel in the city – it first opened in 1886 – but what greets guests today is contemporary and stylish. The current owners commissioned Rockwell Group, known for masterpieces of modernity like Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, to redesign the property and it was the hotel’s history of innovation which inspired them: this was the first Madrid hotel to have its own restaurant, and to have electricity. Gran Hotel Inglés was traditionally a place where sophisticated travelers and well-to-do locals met; today, that position has been reclaimed.
With only 48 rooms and suites this is very much a boutique hotel, but the common areas still possess a certain grandeur. The lobby bar is the central point, and is dressed with magnificent chandeliers suspended above comfortable velvet furniture, creating a cosy atmosphere for your pre-dinner drinks. That dinner is served at Casa Lobo, named in honor of Calle del Lobo, the historic name of the street. The menu here is overseen by Michelin-star winning Fernando Arellano and features traditional local dishes given a high gastronomic twist. Try the squid ink calamari with white rice – quite delicious.
The quality of the evening meal was impressive, and the crowd that gathered for Afternoon Tea from 4pm showed that the cuisine of this hotel has already earned itself a good reputation, but still neither hit the extraordinary heights of the breakfast. Put simply, I have never eaten pancakes this good – light and fluffy, with just the right texture and sweetness. Contrasted by the intensity of locally-sourced Iberico ham and washed down with deliciously strong coffee, they were a revelation. My only regret is not harassing the chef for a lesson in how he made them.
Food this good needs to be earned, unfortunately, but the hotel has plenty of fitness options on site to burn off those extra calories. Avail yourself to the latest Technogym equipment at the Wellness Centre if you are so inclined, but the location in the centre of the city is an ideal launchpad to explore Madrid on foot. We chose the latter, spending one day discovering the Prado and the glorious Parque del Retiro just behind it and the next strolling through shopping streets, magnificent architecture and bustling food markets near the Palacio Real. Madrid is a beautiful city, full of light and life, and well worth getting just a little bit lost in.
Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
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Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
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Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
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Of course, if one does get just-the-right-amount of lost and ends up walking as much as we did during our trip it pays to have recovery facilities at your adopted base. The Sisley Spa provided by the hotel was a lifesaver in this regard, soothing our aching muscles and allowing us to recharge in complete comfort. The jacuzzi can be privately reserved by the hour at no extra cost, ensuring you will not be disturbed by fellow guests as you unwind, and the treatments offered use only the highest quality Sisley products.
There are lots of little nooks and crannies to discover in this hotel, from the hidden smoking terrace in the vestibule behind the bar to the newspaper images from the halcyon days of the late 19th century when it first opened, and in a 2-night trip I’m not sure I found them all. One thing is for certain: you are truly made to feel at home here, with every little quirk from our breakfast on the first morning being prepared without asking on the second and friendly hints and tips for traversing the city offered by every staff member. The lobby is ideal for lounging, and the room was spacious and comfortable. This was my first trip to Madrid, but I can say with some certainty the second will also be spent at the Gran Hotel Inglés.
Rooms from $445. www.granhotelingles.com
Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
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Photo: Courtesy of Gran Hotel Inglés
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