Housed in ornate Beaux-Arts
style building
Overlooking
lively Gran Vía in the center of Madrid
Five-minute walk from Puerto del Sol transport hub
Some rooms open
to furnished balconies
Japanese floor
with stylish, serene rooms
Extensive buffet
breakfast with Japanese options
Free Wi-Fi and Internet
terminals
Balcony rooms
cannot be reserved
Some rooms suffer
from noise
Some old tube TVs
The 126-room Hotel Arosa
is a mid-range hotel occupying the top half of a Beaux-Arts style
building overlooking Madrid's bustling Gran Vía. The central location is
perfect for tourists wanting to explore the capital with plenty of attractions
and transport links easily within walking distance. While rooms are mostly quite plain, a stylish Japanese floor is a nice touch and a bit of luck could result in a balcony overlooking
the street (rooms with balconies can't be reserved in advance). Noise, however, can be an issue and claustrophobes won't be happy with the tight elevators. While it's far from perfect, rates are great for the location and
the hotel does have plenty of character.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Top half of Beaux-Arts style building with ornate interiors and Japanese floor
Hotel Arosa occupies
the top half of an ornate piece of superbly maintained Beaux-Arts style
architecture -- while not untypical of the area it remains one of the finer
examples of its kind. The entrance is via a discreet door on a side road that
leads to a small lobby area clad in neo-classical marble and gilt-patterned
coving illuminated by an extravagant cut-glass chandelier. After checking in at
the jarringly modern reception desk guests have a choice of two elevators --
comically small and hexagonal in shape -- to whisk them to the third floor
there the hotel proper begins. Guests then emerge into an impressively spacious
and surprisingly peaceful lounge area decorated largely in classical styling
reminiscent of an 18th-century salon -- though interspersed with plenty of
contemporary as well as antique furnishings. First and foremost a tourist
hotel, the property particularly caters to Japanese travelers with the whole
of the eighth floor smartly decorated in gray slate with Japanese symbols and
traditional futon beds.
Location
Overlooking vibrant Gran Vía in the bustling heart of Madrid's center
Located right on Gran Vía -- one of Madrid's busiest and most central streets -- the
location couldn't be any more in the bustling heart of the city. The
surrounding area is awash with restaurant, bars, and shopping and is one of the
liveliest streets in Spain, if not Europe, during both the day and night. While
there are plenty of attractions within walking distance -- such as the Royal Palace
and Plaza Major -- there are several Metro stops within a five-minute walk,
including the major transport hub of the Puerto del Sol that connects
throughout the city.
Rooms
Some rooms open to balconies overlooking the Gran Vía -- though they can't be reserved
The hotel has 126
rooms, most of which are decorated in a pretty standard chain hotel fashion,
with simple modern furnishings, wooden floors, and patterned fabrics. Room on the
Japanese level, however, are smarter with dark-wood finish and traditional
futon and tatami mat beds. In-room amenities include free Wi-Fi, minibars, and
air-conditioning though it only runs in the summer. While flat-screen TVs are
provided in most rooms, some still have old-style tube TVs. Some rooms
have French windows that open to lovely furnished balconies that overlook Gran
Vía, however these can't be booked in advance. Rooms that face the road can get
some traffic noise, and there have been reports of some having poor internal
sound insulation.
Features
Extensive buffet breakfast with Japanese options
The hotel serves an extensive buffet breakfast each morning -- which includes rice and miso soup for Japanese guests -- though is not included in the standard rate. There is no restaurant on-site, though there is a snack bar open through the day, but it is closed for renovations as of January 2017. Guests can get discounts in some selected nearby eateries, . Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and there are two Internet terminals, a small library, and a bright fitness room for guests' use.
