Barrio de las Letras / Sol

Hotel Urban

★★★★★

Hotel Urban is the art lover's hotel of Madrid, and one of the most distinctive places to stay in the city. Opened in 2004 by the Barcelona-based Derby Hotels Collection, it occupies a striking contemporary building of glass, steel and dark stone on the Carrera de San Jerónimo, the street that runs from the Puerta del Sol down to the Spanish parliament and the Paseo del Prado. Its interior is a dramatic atrium of glass walkways and lifts, with a stylish Art Deco-inflected design. What sets it apart is art. The hotel's founder was a passionate collector, and the Urban displays an extraordinary collection of antiquities and ethnographic art throughout its public spaces, corridors and bedrooms: ancient Egyptian pieces, which can be seen in the small in-house museum, Hindu and Buddhist sculpture from Asia, and late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century art from Papua New Guinea. You may find a carved figure from the Sepik river or a Chinese stone sculpture in your room. In summer, the rooftop terrace with its outdoor pool offers views over the rooftops of central Madrid and becomes a popular cocktail spot. Downstairs, the Glass bar is a sleek lounge with huge windows on the street, and the hotel's restaurant, Cebo, has a reputation for modern Mediterranean cooking and held a Michelin star for several years. The location is excellent: the Puerta del Sol is a few minutes up the hill, the Barrio de las Letras with its tapas bars and the Plaza de Santa Ana is across the street, and the Thyssen and the Prado are a short walk down the slope.

Who it suits: design lovers and art enthusiasts, couples, and travellers who want five-star comfort and a central location with more personality than the international brands. The hotel's position between Sol and the museums makes it a strong base for a first visit, and the Barrio de las Letras on its doorstep is one of the best areas in the city for tapas, wine bars and evening strolls. Families are welcome, though the design-forward, adult atmosphere suits couples best.

Living in it: rooms are contemporary and well equipped, with dark woods and marble bathrooms; some have terraces, and higher floors are quieter and lighter. The art in each room varies, which is part of the fun. Ask about the small Egyptian museum, and make time for the rooftop in summer, when the pool and terrace are a real asset in the Madrid heat — note that the pool is seasonal and can be busy at weekends. The Glass bar is a good place for a late cocktail, and the hotel's location means dozens of excellent restaurants are within five minutes.

Value: rates sit at the upper end of the market, usually below the Ritz and the Four Seasons, which makes the Urban one of the better-value five-star choices in central Madrid. Rates rise in spring, autumn and during trade fairs. The value case is the combination of location, rooftop pool and a genuinely unique art collection. Choose it if you want to sleep surrounded by ancient art and walk to the Prado in ten minutes.