Paseo de la Castellana / Salamanca

Rosewood Villa Magna

★★★★★

The Villa Magna has been one of Madrid's addresses for power and discretion since the 1970s, and its reinvention as Rosewood Villa Magna in 2021 turned it into the city's most quietly luxurious hotel. It stands at Paseo de la Castellana 22, on the city's grand north-south boulevard, set back behind its own gardens, a few steps from the boutiques of Calle de Serrano and Calle de José Ortega y Gasset in the Salamanca district, Madrid's most elegant shopping neighbourhood. The renovation reimagined the building as a residence rather than a palace: rooms and suites are spacious, light and calm, with natural materials, art and soft colours, and many of the larger suites feel like apartments, with separate living areas and terraces. Families are well catered for, with interconnecting family rooms and multi-bedroom suites, among them a three-bedroom suite designed for groups who want to stay together. Food is a major reason to stay. Amós is the restaurant of Jesús Sánchez, one of Spain's most respected chefs, bringing his northern Spanish, produce-led cooking to the capital; Las Brasas de Castellana is the more relaxed grill, with a terrace open to the breeze in good weather; Tarde.O is the bar, popular with Madrileños for evening cocktails; and Flor y Nata, the patisserie, is a favourite for breakfast pastries and afternoon treats. Sense, A Rosewood Spa offers treatments in a serene setting, and there is a well-equipped fitness centre. Service is the hotel's true signature, personal and unhurried, in the Rosewood style.

Who it suits: couples and travellers looking for the most refined stay in Madrid, families who want space and multi-room suites with top-level service, and anyone who prefers an elegant residential neighbourhood to the bustle of the old centre. The location is ideal for shopping in Salamanca, for the Paseo de la Castellana's museums such as the Lázaro Galdiano and the Sorolla annex, and for the Retiro, which is a pleasant walk to the south. The Prado and the Golden Triangle of Art are a short taxi ride or a longer walk down the boulevard, and Rubén Darío and Colón metro stations are nearby.

Living in it: book a suite with a terrace in spring or autumn, when Madrid's weather is at its best, and reserve Amós ahead, as it is popular with locals as well as guests. Breakfast at Flor y Nata or on the Las Brasas terrace is a highlight. The spa and fitness centre make it a good choice for longer stays. The hotel is calm and discreet, so do not expect a party scene; for nightlife, the bars of Salamanca and the Chueca and Malasaña neighbourhoods are a short ride away. Rosewood regularly publishes offers, including family packages.

Value: this is one of the most expensive hotels in Madrid, priced alongside the Mandarin Oriental Ritz and the Four Seasons. What you pay for is space, calm, exceptional food and very personal service, rather than a historic palace or a central old-town address. Madrid does not currently charge a tourist tax. Choose it for a special-occasion stay, a family trip in comfort, or a Madrid visit focused on food, shopping and art with a peaceful retreat at the end of each day.