Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid has long been a leader in luxuriousness, but after a years-long renovation completed in 2021, the property sitting in the heart of the city’s Golden Triangle of Art reached even more glorious heights. Esteemed architect Rafael de La-Hoz Castanys was tasked with taking the elegance of trailblazing hotelier César Ritz’s 1910 building and reintroducing it to a new generation of high-end travelers. The team accomplished that, in part, by making made public areas and private spaces airier and more approachable while somehow keeping the original’s Belle Époque grandeur at the center.
White and gold — a color combination many European societies associate with purity and goodness — permeate the 153-room property. Stark white walls are accentuated with gilded picture frames; smooth, shiny chairs; and even gold cutlery.
Speaking of the latter, celebrated chef Quique Dacosta leads the production in the kitchen, meaning Mandarin Oriental’s dining offerings are nothing short of stellar. Similarly elevated standards apply to a wellness program that includes a 24-hour fitness center, a three-room spa and a heated, white-marble-wrapped pool.
- It doesn’t matter if you’re considering a 319-square-foot Superior Room or the 538-square-foot Junior Suite, all units come with dark oak floors, marble showers and bath products from Barcelona’s Natura Bissé. Still, with two powder rooms, two living rooms and a stately reception hall, the 2,013-square-foot Presidential Suite is the apex of elegance at the hotel.
- Spa-less before the renovation, the Madrid hotel now tempts guests with The Beauty Concept, a stunning underground sanctuary for unique treatments, sensation showers and Turkish baths.
- While you can taste chef Dacosta’s influence in everything from Palm Court’s grilled lamb ribs to El Jardin del Ritz’s black rice paella with shrimp and sea bass, it’s in the white-walled, gold-ceilinged Deessa where the toque’s artistic culinary approach shines most brightly through ambitious tasting menus.
- Not to be outdone by the cuisine are two places to sip in style: the timeless Pictura and deliberately intimate Champagne Bar. At the latter, pair bites such as fried egg and caviar with bubbly, and at the former, enjoy cocktails and conversation on sleek couches.
- Madrid’s most iconic hotel boasts an excellent location. The institution sits adjacent to the Prado Museum and across the street from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, two of the city’s best cultural attractions. The luxury hotel also is next to El Retiro Park, one of Madrid’s most popular green spaces.
- Alongside Spanish kings and queens who’ve stayed at the property over the decades, the luxury hotel has hosted Hollywood royalty such as Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Jennifer Lopez.
- Excursion options are nearly endless because the hotel is so close to the financial district, top museums and high-end shopping. Should you need assistance putting together an itinerary, Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid offers guided adventures such as soccer stadium visits and food market tastings.
- Another draw to the hotel is its proximity to Madrid-Barajas Airport. When traffic cooperates, you can get from the terminal to the lobby in under 20 minutes.
- Everyone from the host helping to organize your afternoon to the bartender preparing your nightcap dons smart, well-fitting outfits from renowned Spanish designer Jorge Vázquez.
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