For an opulent glamour that the Spanish city of Madrid demands, why not stay in the beautiful Westin Palace Madrid. We visited recently and were charmed by the hotel, both for its central location, spacious rooms, and its stunning pièce de resistance – the stained glass domed restaurant.
Location
The Westin Palace Madrid is located in the heart of the city in the area known as the art triangle. You are within easy walking distance of the gorgeously green Retiro Park and Prado Museum. This Art Walk is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as “Paisaje de la Luz” (The Light Landscape) and connects the three most famous art galleries in the city: El Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza. You are also in a great location to sample some of the city’s best Tapas bars, with many restaurants and bars lining the neighboring streets.
If you are reaching the hotel by public transport, Banco de España and Sevilla metro stations are just a short walk from Atocha railway, one of the main stations, lying just slightly further at around a 5-minute walk. The hotel is about 30 minutes by car from Madrid Airport.
Style & Character
When you decide to stay at the Westin Palace Madrid, you are well aware that the absolute highlight will be the stunning stained-glass domed roof that adorns their restaurant. And this is absolutely the case. I loved how it was presented; you enter the hotel from the street into a large reception and lobby area. In itself, this is an elegant space with an enormous stand-out chandelier, an original from 1912, and oversized frescos on the walls.
You are drawn up the wide staircase into a marble space that houses the lifts and a second stunning, sweeping curved staircase, but here your eye is tempted away for that domed roof is peeking at you! You are led straight into La Rotonda Restaurant, your eyes pulling you forward and upwards, and wow!
The doomed roof is truly magnificent, a thing of pure beauty. The surrounding restaurant space aims to complement, not steal, attention, and a combination of teal, ochre, and purple with lots of velvet and gentle pattern coupled with the immense natural light that floods that restaurant from the roof above creates a truly beautiful vibe.
The exterior of the hotel doesn’t disappoint either. Commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1912, the building spans an entire block. The Westin Palace has held an iconic place in Madrid’s hotel scene since its heyday, and architecturally it’s easy to see why. The Belle Époque period being perfectly represented outside as well as in. The hotel has always been a celeb favorite too, since those very early days, and now the walls inside are adorned with photos of past guests – you definitely rather long for those walls to talk!
Rooms
There are 470 guest rooms and 51 suites available at the Westin Palace Madrid. The recently renovated classic rooms are spacious and decorated in a calming color palate of greys and yellow with an Art Deco nod. The rooms all have large desks and built-in wardrobes too. The infamous Westin Heavenly Beds are just that, with down bedding to ensure you really don’t want to leave the immense comfort. The ensuite bathrooms all offer both a bath and shower with all the usual extras you’d expect in a luxury hotel.
Entry level is the Deluxe Rooms, the Premium Rooms are larger, but the Executive Rooms really offer considerably more both in terms of space and style. If you are seduced by a view, then there are also Premium View Rooms that take in the stunning Neptune Fountain and look across to the Prado Museum.
The suites consist of Junior Suites, Executive Suites, and Premium Suites, the latter of which include a fabulous view. The discerning traveler should definitely consider a suite, they boast separate lounges, and some even have separate dining areas too. However, if budget is no object, or perhaps the occasion is extra special, the epic Royal Suite is 160 m² of class, style, and wonderfully opulent luxury with its own sauna, Jacuzzi, and butler service to give you a stay fit for royalty.
Service & Facilities
The 115 m² gym, the WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, is open 24 hours a day and is well-equipped to help you keep in shape. After your workout, head to the outdoor terrace and tuck in a refueling juice while admiring the square below.
A Carita Spa is also available onsite, they offer tailored wellness treatments, and on the second floor, a beauty parlor makes sure you’re always looking your best. The hotel has a business center, parking is available on-site, and the Wi-Fi is fast and free. Westin Palace is also the largest event space in central Madrid. They have 20 multifunctional rooms and can host up to 800 people.
Upon arrival at the hotel, a team of porters warmly welcome you and set the tone for the friendly service from the offset. We became quite reliant on the porters, they were only too quick to secure a taxi for us, assist with directions and carry luggage. The service throughout the hotel is just as you’d expect, professional but approachable, nothing was too much trouble.
Food & Drink
While the rest of the hotel was great, the restaurant was just breathtaking, and we loved spending time here. La Rotonda Restaurant isn’t even all about its roof (although, yes, it does somewhat dominate!). It serves delectable locally sourced cuisine with both Spanish and International dishes featuring and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The breakfast buffet was exceptional, one of the most generous I’ve come across. We returned for a delicious dinner, where the pianist set the mood. The Sunday Opera & Lunch is somewhat legendary, with live opera performances to accompany the buffet feast. Unfortunately, our stay didn’t fall on a Sunday, but it’s a great excuse for a return visit.
To really sit where the famed once tread, quite literally Ernest Hemingway and Salvador Dalí used to frequent the bar and sample a cocktail or two at the 1912 Museo Bar. Here the dark wood paneling is matched by dark green leather chairs to create a sophisticated, speakeasy mood. The hotel is also home to the independently-run Asia Gallery, which serves gourmet Cantonese cuisine, and the Green T Sushi Bar for a Japanese and Spanish fusion to your tapas.
Conclusion
Maybe it’s the location that clinches it for you or the ability to collect Marriott Bonvoy points, but just perhaps it’ll be the historic architecture, welcoming service, and of course, that enchanting stained-glass domed roof atop the restaurant that really make you fall for the Westin Palace Madrid.
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