Gran Melia Palacio de Los Duques – The Leading Hotels of the World

Situated within a 19th-century building that was once home to the Dukes of Granada de Ega, the hotel strives to preserve and embrace its historical setting -- but doesn’t always pull it off. Sections of the sprawling lobby have a glam, Old-World charm, particularly the purple and gold velvet antique couches and chairs collected beneath a glimmering chandelier that dangles from a massive skylight. The area is studded with palms and is visually striking, but the attention to detail throughout the hotel’s other common spaces is uneven. The staircase and area around the front desk look baroque but slightly shabby, and some of the seating areas on guest room floors are outdated and filled with sagging furniture. There are two year-round restaurants on the premises, Tapa’s Room and El Madrono, as well as a stylish terrace that's open during the summer months, though all cater almost exclusively to hotel guests, who include couples, families, solo travelers, and business travelers.

Many of the city’s major landmarks are within a 20-minute walk in either direction, though many sights are right around the corner from the hotel. The Royal Palace and Catedral de la Almudena are a five-minute walk west, while the shops and restaurants along bustling Gran Via are five minutes away in the opposite direction. The narrow lanes between the city’s three main museums -- the Reina Sofia, Prado, and Thyssen-Bornemisza -- are 22 to 25 minutes away on foot (the Reina Sofia is the farthest), while the boho streets of the Malasana neighborhood are a 10-minute walk north. The Opera metro station is a two-minute walk around the corner, and trips to Madrid’s Atocha railway station take about 20 minutes. Madrid-Barajas International Airport is 40 minutes away from the hotel by metro, or 20 minutes by taxi.

Guest rooms also struggle to balance a classic aesthetic with modern touches, and while they are clean and spacious, they come across as tired and confused. Chestnut-wood laminate floors and red accent walls work together to create an immediately warm vibe, and at first glance the antique lines of the chairs, desks, and other furniture appeals. On further inspection, though, some of the furniture shows wear-and-tear and looks dated rather than elegant. Double or twin beds have old-school wooden headboards, though a  duvet would’ve been a nice touch, and the flat-screen TVs that sit haphazardly atop the mini-fridges in most rooms seem like afterthoughts. Rooms also include safes, minibars, telephone, and individually controlled heat and air-conditioning, though the latter can be disruptively noisy. Bathrooms are unattractive, with outdated fixtures, tan marble floors and walls, large vanities, and tubs, sinks, and toilets that are all in a Creamsicle hue lifted straight from the ’70s. Premium Rooms include red overstuffed couches and additional in-room amenities like electric kettles and bathrobes, and they're a noticeable improvement over bathrooms in Standard and Superior Rooms. Family Rooms and Suites are also available, and while some Junior Suites have additional furniture and terraces with lovely city views, they're not in the best of shape. 

The breakfast buffet, which includes hot and cold items, is included in certain room packages and is served in El Madrono. The Terrace also serves breakfast in the summer months, and it's a nice spot for an alfresco start to the day. The Tapa’s Room stays open late and serves an array of local specialties and tapas from across Spain. Room service is available, and the hotel has five meeting and event rooms that can accommodate up to 300 guests, several of which receive natural light, even if they feel a bit anonymous. The hotel offers laundry and ironing services, and there is an on-site fitness center for guests' use, though there is no pool. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the 24-hour front desk can arrange airport transfers and provide concierge services.