Hotel Mayorazgo

The hotel is a muddled
blend of historical periods inside and out — from its unattractive mid-20th
century exterior to the lobby’s mix of antique and contemporary elements. A
bubbling marble fountain, eye-catching red and white leather or black velvet furniture,
Art Deco marble floors, and a hulking antique fireplace impress on
their own, but they don't come together here in a thoughtful design. The stuffy
Retiro Lounge Bar off the lobby, with ’80s emerald carpets and mirrored walls, is a comfortable if dated place for a drink, while the breakfast room has classic
black-and-white checkerboard floors, giving it a grand flair. On-site Gastro
Via 61 is a more high-end venue, with high-backed leather chairs and a menu
that draws guests from the hotel and beyond. The hotel caters primarily to
tourists, including families and couples, though it has several meeting rooms and draws business travelers too.

Situated right off the busy
Gran Via, one of the city’s main shop-lined thoroughfares, the hotel is conveniently located. The small plaza outside the hotel includes
an outdoor cafe and a go-go bar, and many major landmarks are within walking
distance, including the Plaza de España (three minutes), Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor (15 minutes), the Royal Palace (10 minutes), and the famous Chocolateria San
Gines (10 minutes). The hipster-heavy streets of Malasana are across the Gran Via (five minutes), while there are plenty of boutiques and bars in
almost every direction. The closest metro station is at Plaza de Espana, and
trips to Retiro Park take 15 minutes, while the Atocha train station, the city’s main
rail terminal, is 20 minutes away by metro. Madrid-Barajas International
Airport is 40 minutes away by metro, a trip that takes 20 minutes by taxi, depending on traffic.

Renovated guest rooms are bright and airy, with
hand-painted murals of Madrid landmarks, which gives them a quaint, whimsical
quality, but there can be a wide disparity in room quality.
Even renovated rooms don’t always feel particularly contemporary or stylish. Some of the murals look cheesy, and the furniture
doesn’t seem to be intentionally vintage. Animal murals in Quad Rooms, which have bunk beds, are entertaining for guests with small children, though probably less so for a group of adults. Some rooms mix light- wood laminate floors and
dark-blue carpets, white or walnut furniture with antique silhouettes, and lots
of slatted-wood accents and doors that give the rooms a dated look even though
they’ve been treated to a fresh coat of paint. Beds come with duvets,
throw pillows in complementary colors, and bed runners. All rooms have
desks, small, mounted flat-screen TVs, electric safes, and mini-fridges with minibars. Bathroom
quality is uneven — some renovated rooms have an impeccably contemporary
style, with large vanities, brand new sinks, slick gray or stone tiling, heated
towel racks, and modern fixtures. Others are lined with unattractive tan
marble with dirty grout. Walls are extremely thin, and noise from neighboring
rooms is a problem. The hotel’s interior rooms are immune to street
noise, the interior views aren't great. Guests should also keep in mind that the front desk controls the air-conditioning, and it's not always adequate.

The hotel houses Gastro
Via 61, an upscale dining destination for hotel guests and visitors from across
Madrid that serves traditional Spanish dishes and Mediterranean specialties
with a gourmet twist. A breakfast buffet is available every day in the
hotel’s attractive breakfast room, with a generous selection of hot and cold
items, which is included in some room packages. Retiro Lounge Bar is a fine
enough place to sip a glass of wine or beer in the evening, and has live
music on occasion. Wi-Fi is
free throughout the hotel, and though there is a business center and Internet
corner, faxing, photocopying, and printing are subject to fees. The hotel
has five meeting rooms in an array of sizes, but most of the spaces
vary in quality because of ongoing renovations — some have a charming vintage appeal, while others look outdated. The 24-hour front desk can arrange for airport
transfers and tours, as well as assist with car rentals. Laundry and dry
cleaning services are also available.