Catalonia Atocha

Catalonia Atocha opened in 2011 and the building -- replete with Juliet balconies and bas reliefs -- is gorgeous and eye catching. Perhaps a little surprising then are the sleek and modern interiors. The property's ground floor is a lounge-like space with green marble floors and lots of plush, earth-toned seating that's offset by ruby red throw pillows. Shelves of bold sculptures and artful touches add a nice dash of personality to this chain outpost. Heading up to the seventh floor -- by either the stunning wraparound staircase or elevator -- leads to the hotel’s top feature: A rooftop terrace with a bar, whirlpool, and lots of lounge chairs where guests relax. The hotel attracts an international crowd of all ages, but the majority are tour groups on package holidays and mature travelers.

The location here is prime, situated along bustling Calle de Atocha between upmarket Huertas and edgy Lavapies. That also puts the hotel equidistant from Madrid's two most famous museums: The Prado and the Reina Sofia -- both of which are less than 10 minutes away on foot. Food and drink are abundant in the area, with restaurants serving everything from Spanish tapas to pizza or Indian within a five- to 10-minute walk of the hotel. It's a 10- to 15-minute walk to the southwest entrance to beautiful Retiro Park and takes about the same amount of time to reach Plaza Mayor (in the opposite direction). Transit options are numerous, from Anton Martin Metro station, which is a two-minute walk from the hotel, to Atocha Station -- the city's main rail terminus -- which is less than 10 minutes down the street on foot. Budget around 20 minutes by taxi to the airport, or around 45 minutes by metro. 

Rooms have smartly designed interiors that are rendered in simple brown, gray, and black hues. In general, rooms feature twin or queen beds, with twins sometimes pushed together to make king beds. There's little in the way of art on the walls, but you'll see a bit of shimmer in the velvety throw pillows and wood-effect paneling. The look in most rooms is straightforward and simple, and many are compact (especially Single Rooms). Expect built-in wardrobes and desks with pencil-thin chrome lamps, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, safes, and minibars. Street-facing rooms also have Juliet balconies, otherwise guest rooms overlook an inner courtyard (and consequently get less light). While air-conditioning is available, it's centrally controlled, leaving it up to the hotel to determine temperatures. Overall, smartly designed bathrooms have marble tiling, rainfall showers, hairdryers, bidets, beauty mirrors, and heated towel racks. Catalonia Atocha also has splurge-worthy rooms. Superior Terrace Rooms feature separate sitting rooms with plush couches, whirlpool bath tubs, and city-view terraces. The Junior Suite is especially attractive, with parquet floors, gilded wall molding, and murals. It also has a huge whirlpool tub plus pod coffeemakers. 

Catalonia Atocha stands out from the competition with its fabulous rooftop area. The seasonal wood-decked terrace has city views, a large whirlpool, lounge chairs, and a bar (though it's sometimes unstaffed). Down on the ground floor, the hotel’s lunch and dinner restaurant, Gourmet Corner, serves sandwiches, pizza, and tapas. It also has a full bar. A breakfast buffet is served for a fee and gets mostly positive reviews. There's a computer station in the lobby and meeting rooms are available. Staff can arrange massages, airport transfers, and babysitters. There's no valet service or hotel parking, but a public garage is across the street from the hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.