Gran Vía / Callao

Pestana CR7 Gran Via Madrid

★★★★★

The Pestana CR7 Gran Vía is the Madrid outpost of the lifestyle hotel brand created by the Pestana Hotel Group and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese footballer who spent his most famous years at Real Madrid. It occupies a 1920 building at Gran Vía 29, right in the middle of the boulevard's theatre and shopping stretch, completely refurbished and redesigned with a young, energetic style. Football is everywhere, but with a light touch: murals and photography, a golden football in some rooms, and a giant table football game in the bar. The hotel has 168 rooms, modern and practical, with good beds and technology, and some larger categories are designed for groups, including a room for three adults or two adults and a child, one for four adults and one for up to seven people, useful for friends travelling together. Morsi Madrid, a New York-style pizzeria on the ninth floor, serves relaxed meals, and the Inverse sports bar shows matches. The rooftop is the hotel's highlight: a set of interconnected terraces with 360-degree views over the Gran Vía and the city, a bar, and a small plunge pool, open seasonally and weather permitting. There is a modest entry fee for non-guests, and access to the rooftop and its bar is for adults only. A fitness centre open around the clock suits the brand's sporty identity. The location puts you in the very centre: Callao and the Gran Vía metro stations are a couple of minutes away, the Puerta del Sol is a short walk south, Malasaña and Chueca are just to the north, and the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor are within fifteen minutes on foot.

Who it suits: football fans, of course, especially those coming to Madrid for a match or a tour of the Santiago Bernabéu; groups of friends, thanks to the larger rooms; and younger travellers and couples who want a lively, design-led base in the middle of the city. It is less suited to those seeking traditional elegance or quiet. Families can stay, with some rooms taking a child, but the rooftop is adults only, so families with teenagers should bear that in mind.

Living in it: the rooftop is seasonal, so in winter do not count on it. In the warmer months, it is a great place for a sunset drink, and guests get easier access than visitors. The 24-hour gym is a plus for early risers and late arrivals. The Gran Vía is busy and noisy at night, so ask for a room on a higher floor or away from the street if you are a light sleeper. For dinner, the tapas bars of Malasaña and the Barrio de las Letras are within walking distance, and the Bernabéu is a direct metro ride away.

Value: rates are in the middle to upper-middle range for the Gran Vía, with peaks on big match weekends and during major events. Check the rooftop fee and opening before your stay, as the hotel's information varies. Madrid does not currently charge a tourist tax. Choose it for a fun, central base with a rooftop, especially if football is part of your trip.