Melia Castilla

Whether seen as a monolithic eyesore or an exemplary piece of Modernist architecture, it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer size of the 15-story Melia Castilla. A sense of scale certainly doesn't diminish upon stepping in to the cavernous reception area, with polished steel, stone, and glass sparkling from a 2015 update and the sun that pours through prism skylights during the day. Clusters of elegant wingback chairs provide seating areas for the frequent meetings that take place in the lobby, while a long travertine check-in desk is manned with friendly, professional staff and includes a mini-check-in for kids. This landmark chain hotel, however, is principally business-oriented, with a smart, upscale atmosphere that continues through a deluxe spa, numerous function rooms, a swimming pool terrace, and the exclusive "The Level" floor aimed at executives.

This hotel is located amongst the office and apartment blocks of the business and financial quarter of Cuzco, part of north Madrid's Tetuán district. While busy and bustling during the day with plenty of dining in the immediate surrounds, it mostly quiets down in the evenings and weekends. It's less that ideal for tourists as it's relatively far from the city center with no obvious attractions nearby. Real Madrid soccer fans are a 15-minute walk of Santiago Bernabeu stadium, and it's also 15 minutes on foot to the city's Golden Mile of high-end outlets and the Moda shopping complex. The dramatic Plaza de Castilla is a 10-minute walk, while two Metro stations -- Cuzco and Valdeacederas -- are six and seven minutes on foot, respectively, and connect to the city center in 15 to 20 minutes. The Madrid-Barajas Airport is 15 minutes away by road, and taxis tend to congregate outside the hotel.

The Melia Castilla has a whopping 915 guest rooms across a range of categories starting with the entry-level Classic, through Premium and Deluxe to Junior and Grand Suites. The smallest are a relatively roomy 280 square feet (26 square meters) with suites around double that. With so many rooms modernized, decor is being rolled out in phases; updated rooms are chic and contemporary with calm muted tones and stainless-steel accents, while more classic rooms have antique-style furnishings (some showing signs of age). Most rooms either overlook the street or pool, with the 15th-floor's signature The Level Rooms offering great views over the city.

Standard amenities include 32-inch flat-screen TVs (with pay-per-view movies, though limited English-speaking channels), well-stocked minibars, free Wi-Fi, and electronic safes. Pillow menus and black-out curtains are other helpful extras, especially for light sleepers. Pet and kid-friendly rooms are available with appropriate amenities in each. Higher-category The Level Rooms also add Nespresso machines, tea sets, and bathrobes/slippers. Bathrooms are mostly traditionally styled (though some are more contemporary) all with marble accents, shower/tub combos, and hairdryers; better rooms add separate showers and branded toiletries. 

As one might expect from a hotel of this size and caliber, the Melia Castilla offers an impressive range of facilities. To start the day, the morning breakfast buffet provides 120 dishes (including eggs to order) making it one of the largest in the city. However, it does cost an additional fee. There are three other a la carte restaurants on-site, the traditional L’Albufera, considered one of the best specialist rice restaurants in Madrid, chic El Pelícano with an alfresco terrace, and the minimalist Distrito 798 offering high-end fusion. L’Albufera also has a mini-club for kids on weekends and holidays, while the Lobby Café is a popular meeting spot. Guests with rooms in The Level category also get free tapas and drinks in the exclusive club lounge, free breakfast buffet, plus private check-in and check-out. Room service is available around the clock for all guests, too.

The hotel is no slouch on the leisure front either -- it's one of the few hotels in Madrid with an outdoor swimming pool, large enough for a swim with loungers and a poolside bar (though it's only open in summer). A small spa offers massage treatments and a sauna, and there's a modern fitness room. Business travelers can use the wide range of meeting and function rooms, and Wi-Fi is free and fast throughout. The hotel also has a large car park on-site (though parking is expensive).