Hotel Único Madrid occupies one of the prized, high-society addresses in Madrid. In the heart of the Salamanca district, guests here are within walking distance to global fashion brands, local boutiques, great dining and of course, the El Corte Ingles department store. But, its location is not the only thing to love about this property. Let’s take a look at the top five reasons to stay here on your next visit to Madrid.
The dining
Foodies should take notice of the change of hands here. While the two Michelin-starred venue has relocated, the dining scene here is no less engaging. The casual-yet-haute cuisine El Patio del Gourmet is under the helm of a Colombian chef who cut his teeth working at the George V in Paris.
The prices are more approachable than what you might find in a Michelin-starred spot, but the service and presentation is exactly the same, making this quite the bargain. Locals often reserve weeks in advance for a spot.
The Normandy oyster, rice with squid and red prawns, wild sea bass baked in salt and Café de Paris aged beef sirloin all earn accolades. The culinary team is well-accustomed to handling special requests or catering to vegetarian preferences.
Breakfast is served each morning in the same space, but with two buffet areas. One is in the main dining room with fresh fruits and juices while the other is in a separate space for pastries, cereals, cheeses, charcuterie and other tasty treats.
The rooms
A recent renovation made its way through the hotel, and the rooms have never looked better. Designer María Santos, notable for her residential interior design projects around the country, undertook her first hotel project here. And the results are fabulous.
The rooms show light wood paneling, beautiful desks with side panels housing fridges and storage space, easy-access power outlets everywhere you turn, and a fabric luggage rack by the entrance.
Windows open for fresh air, but rooms also have their own air conditioning units (something American travelers will appreciate).
The spacious baths have mostly combination tubs with half-glass panels that close them off for showers. Water pressure is great, and the Italian-made toiletries are in large, eco-friendly bottles. Many of these have natural light although there are privacy shades, of course.
View of Salamanca are most entertaining from their front-of-the-building locations, but the interior garden terrace is an oasis of calm and quiet. Many business travelers prefer it for the privacy and less-distracting outside scenery. There are suites on every floor with extra living space and some even with whirlpool tubs.
The service
The staff here is well-versed on how to welcome an international clientele with aplomb. And that’s the secret sauce of a small hotel: being able to anticipate personal needs before you even know you need them. At the sit-down reception desk, you can expect questions like: can I print any boarding passes for you or would you like a wakeup call? These are all signs of a top-tier property.
This is no more true than in the restaurant where the serving staff seems to know just the right amount of interaction that guests want. Housekeeping stops by twice daily to replenish towels, glass bottles of filtered water and drop off chocolates.
A guest services desk sits across from reception and just beneath the tremendous red art piece that dangles from the ceiling. As you climb the mirrored stairway to your room, it’s a beautiful backdrop.
The location
As mentioned earlier, this hotel is in the swankiest area of the capital, where both the Serrano and Salamanca district coincide. While the hotel is hardly pretentious, the neighborhood’s shops, embassies and restaurants tell a story of a moneyed section of town. And this hotel fits in just perfectly.
But, that doesn’t mean that everything in the area is expensive. You will find a great mix of options around you here. Only a couple of blocks away is Paseo de la Castellana, which is the main street that runs through Madrid. Most of the touristy areas are on the other side, but it’s typically just 15 minutes on foot to the city’s famous Golden Triangle of Art or a bit longer to Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía. Retiro Park is also a quick jog from the front door.
Before you go, be sure to peruse the array of unique art and design books on display. Almost all of these are from the personal collection of the owner of Único Hotels. There is a residential-style living room with local candies as well as a separate library, both of which are great for a get together outside of the lobby lounge.
The perks
As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, travelers can earn or redeem Hilton Honors points during their stay. This also means that Hilton Honors elite members can take advantage of select perks, too, like bonus points or perhaps a room upgrade, if available.
On top of that, there are recreational amenities like a basement gym with packs of granola and filtered water on hand. A small wellness center serves as the home base for top-notch massage and beauty treatments.
