Madrid is a lively metropolis serving up shops, restaurants, parks and historical sites galore. To recoup your energy for exploring the Spanish capital, a spa hotel comes highly recommended.
Peppered around Madrid, you can find some top hotels with state-of-the-art wellness facilities. So, when you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped you can get a pick-me-up and head back for more. Here on Culture Trip you can book one of the best spa hotels in Madrid, including the city’s oldest luxury hotel and rooms in one of its tallest and most well-known skyscrapers.
Madrid’s oldest luxury hotel and the first in the Spanish capital to have its own restaurant, Gran Hotel Inglés opened its doors in 1886; but this place feels anything but tired, with a slick modern edge catering to the 21st-century traveller. At the upscale spa – plant-based products from luxury skincare brand Sisley are used for treatments – you will find a range of offerings, including a jacuzzi and a high-tech fitness centre. Once you’ve had your pampering fix, take a seat at one of the Literary Quarter’s hottest dining spots, Lobo 8, where chef D’Angelo models dishes on the cuisine of Asia, Latin America and Europe.
The spa at the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques – a grand five-star hotel housed in a 19th-century palace – takes its inspiration from Asia, offering Thai therapies in rooms decorated with Burmese lacquer, Chinese antiques and Tibetan art. Easy as it will be to forget that you’re in the Spanish capital, there are several must-see attractions just a short stroll from reception, including the Plaza de España and the Royal Palace, the largest such building in Europe.
The Pestana Plaza Mayor takes its name from one of Madrid’s most historic squares, where it occupies a refined baroque building. The spa features an indoor pool in the building’s former coal cellars, where you can still admire the carefully restored original arches and buttresses. Other relaxation spaces include a sauna, a massage room, a fitness centre and a rooftop pool with Instagrammable views over the city. Book a Plaza Mayor double room (superior or premium) or a suite to bag a Juliet balcony overlooking the square or courtyard.
Hotel Único offers contemporary rooms and suites in a 19th-century mansion in Salamanca, one of Madrid’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Up your holiday game with a trip to its wellbeing centre where you’ll find a fine menu of treatments using Natura Bissé products. The Diamond Experience facial will give your visage some added sparkle, while a deep tissue massage will help soothe your body after a day treading the cobbles. If you want to keep up your workout routine, there is a gym or you can download the hotel’s running map, which details routes of 5- and 10km (3-6mi) around the nearby Retiro park. Top up your energy levels with a trip to the Restaurant RFXM, helmed by double Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa.
The Barceló Hotel occupies the first nine floors of the Tower of Madrid, which became the world’s tallest concrete building when completed in 1957. Located on the famous Plaza de España, it’s still one of the Spanish capital’s tallest structures. Barcelo’s spa features an indoor pool with views stretching beyond the city limits, a massage room, sauna and a well-equipped gym. The restaurant’s interior is the work of acclaimed Madridleño designer Jaime Hayon, and looks straight up Gran Via, one of the Spanish capital’s busiest streets.
If you’re looking for an oasis of calm amid the city, the compact but luxurious spa at the URSO hotel hits the right note. The wellness centre has a warm atmosphere, with dark wood panelling and soft lighting, where you can take a relaxing dip in the swimming pool, a moment in the hammam steam room or opt for a treatment. The grand property URSO occupies was previously the headquarters of a paper-making company and many original features, such as stained glass windows, marble floors and the central patio, remain. The magazine-worthy rooms at this place are just as inviting as the spa.
In the high-end neighbourhood of Salamanca, Villa Magna offers guests a cool, contemporary setting and a stylish stay in the capital. The five-star hotel is also home to the Mytha SPA, which offers personalised wellness and beauty treatments to leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised. Relax in the hammam and then enjoy treatments like Swedish and Anti-Stress massages, foot reflexology and the exclusive Leg School Treatment. When you’re feeling peckish, enjoy some snacks on the beautiful terrace, Spanish cuisine at Restaurante Villa Magna or Asian-inspired food at Tse Yang Restaurant.
The five-star Hotel Hospes Puerta de Alcalá is located right in front of one of Madrid’s most famous monuments, the Puerta de Alcalá, and a stone’s throw from the grand Retiro Park, one of Madrileños’ favourite places to hang out at the weekends. Rooms in this former palace have been updated to give them a modern touch with clean white walls, modern accessories and all the latest technology. The hotel’s Bodyna Spa is the ideal place to recharge your batteries. Set in the building’s old stables, the spa includes several treatment rooms, a fitness room and a jacuzzi pool.
Right on the Plaza de España, VP Plaza España is a five-star hotel where you can enjoy the finer things in life in stylish surroundings. Make the most of its spa, gym and outdoor pool; the ideal place to cool off during Madrid’s hot summers. The Biloba Spa offers a range of treatments from body wraps to purifying skin facials – try booking a manicure or pedicure before a big night on the town. Afterwards, dine in style and take in the magnificent views from the 12th-floor Ginko Restaurant and Sky Bar.
The Thai Room Wellness suite in the chic Only You hotel is a place to de-stress and enjoy the finer things in life. Float away as you enjoy massages, facials and other treatments inspired by ancient Thai customs and traditions. Ancient techniques from Southeast Asia are used in treatments such as the Traditional Thai Massage Royas Style, the Huna Massage (inspired by the traditions of Hawaii) and the Turmeric Body Wrap. After you’ve well and truly relaxed, head to El Padrino bar, a converted bookshop with an intimate, vintage atmosphere.
Set in one of the Cuatro Torres (Four Towers) of Madrid’s business district, Eurostars Madrid Tower is a good option for those on business or those who want a spa with spectacular views over the city from the skyscraper’s 29th floor. Soak up the panorama from the therapy pool, sauna or steam room courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows. On the treatment side of things, there is everything from hot stone massages to facials infused with vitamin C.
Relish the old-school glamour of Hotel Wellington, one of Madrid’s grandest hotels, located in the luxe Salamanca neighbourhood. Its Le Max Wellness Club & Spa is a large relaxation area, complete with whirlpool spa, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms. Each visitor receives a personal assessment to determine the best exercise programme and health and beauty treatments for them.
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