A luxe boutique hotel with authentic Spanish style and verve: Thompson Madrid

Although Thompson Hotels is one of Hyatt’s fastest-growing boutique brands, most of its recent openings have risen regionally in cities such as Los Angeles, Washington and San Antonio.

But that changed in September 2022 when the chain opened its first European hotel in Madrid. Here’s what you need to know about the new Thompson Madrid.

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This hotel combines high style and low key luxury at an affordable price in the central neighborhoods of Madrid. It also has its own rooftop pool and restaurant, which must be the hottest hot spot in the Spanish capital during the summer.

Why do you love him?

This new hotel has a lot to offer, from the sophisticated guest rooms to the lobby, to keep you entertained throughout the day.

A convivial lobby

Thompson Hotels think of themselves as visitors to the surrounding neighborhood or city, and the Madrid outlet is no exception, absorbing the creative energy of the nearby Gran Vía and Calle de la Montera. Bright works by local artist Nicolas Villamizar (who also created interactive maps for hotel guests) and sartorial works by Madrileno couture house Oteiza adorn public spaces.

The light-filled lobby’s asymmetrical furnishings include mid-century modern chairs, sleek contemporary pieces, low-profile counters and coffee tables with art books and pendant lights with glass sconces.

There are plenty of plugs and outlets to encourage socializing throughout the day (the lobby café-bar will help you fill up on a café conté, or drop by with a cocktail) and there are reception agents standing under the striking copper. Overhang are happy to provide tips for exploring the city.

Advanced classes

While the guest floors are each done by local artists, the carpeting is a fun play on Madrid’s classic cobblestone streets, and the decor in the 175 rooms (including 22 suites) can best be described as “mad (rad) men.” Thanks to the mood, colors and textures.

Design highlights include dark wood floors and paneling, colorful wingback chairs and ottomans, beds in white linen with Thompson’s signature stitched piping and striking black and white headboards.

Bathrooms are finished in beautiful gray marble and feature freestanding slim-profile bathtubs and walk-in rain showers filled with full-size DS and Durga Bowmakers products.

Floor-to-ceiling windows let in a stream of sunlight, and if you snap one of the windows, there’s an outdoor terrace for panoramic rooftop views of Madrid.

Raid the minibar, which looks like a classic folding cabinet, for a bottle of Rioja and jars of nuts and olives, and have your own tapas hour as the sun sets.

Primo area

It doesn’t get more central than this. The hotel is just steps from Madrid’s main thoroughfare, Gran Via, with its many shops and offices, a two-minute walk to the heart of the city at Puerta del Sol and the popular fashion shops of Madrid’s Golden Mile, and a short walk away. To the beautiful Plaza Mayor. The LGBTQ-friendly Chuca neighborhood is a 10-minute walk away, and attractions like the Royal Palace and Prado are just a metro ride from several nearby stations.

The value of points

With room rates starting around $400, award rates at just 12,000 to 18,000 World Hyatt points seem like a steal. In particular, Hyatt Globalists have a good chance of upgrading to Suites (which earned us our guest of honor reservation).

Breakfast bonanza

The hotel’s main restaurant, The Omar, is an industrial-style space just off the lobby, with servers serving tapas and other dishes from a central island and open kitchen to the dining halls.

If breakfast is included with your stay, either in elite status or as part of your rate, make sure you take full advantage. If you can’t be seated right away, enjoy complimentary coffee, juice and pastries in the lobby… then have some at your table.

There seems to be no limit to what to order, so start with fresh seasonal fruit, yogurt, house-baked bread and Aaron-grilled jamón ibérico, then choose egg dishes like classic tortilla española with potato or cheese, or mouse with egg, avocado and grilled mushrooms. It’s usually enough food to last you until a late Spanish dinner.

Rooftop pool

For a city with 350 days of sunshine each year, Madrid has a shortage of rooftop hotel pools, but the eighth floor here is bound to be a popular spot when it opens this summer.

The marble infinity-edge pool itself is quite small, with just a few loungers, but comfortable seating areas, shaded areas and a terrace restaurant and bar serving light bites and drinks from 11am to 1pm daily.

The underground Hijos de Tomas, which is easy to say, was not yet open during our stay, but serves classic and innovative cocktails.

Why don’t you like it?

There are many reasons to recommend this exciting new hotel, but there are a few caveats to keep in mind.

Construction zone

The streets around the hotel can be congested with foot traffic given its location, and there’s a lot of construction going on in the area, not just the massive infrastructure project going on in Puerta del Sol, but also the somewhat disruptive action that Plaza del has caused. Carmen, which the hotel looks after, will now be completely fenced off. It also makes getting a taxi or Uber more difficult.

Food doubts

Chef Nino Redrulo, who has run the famous La Ancha restaurant for over 100 years, helms The Omar and is definitely a place to eat and be seen.

However, high-priced dishes like tart sauce with king crab and zucchini and sole with black garlic and mushrooms seem more like experimental flavor and texture combinations than well-rounded flavors. Given the number of amazing places in Madrid, you should take the opportunity to eat instead (although the Spanish-skewing wine list is impressive).

Try to solve it

The hotel has a gym tucked away on the first floor (second by US standards) and a good cardio suite. But if you’re serious about lifting weights or looking for some space to practice yoga or pilates, you’ll need to check out the hotel.

Options

Not sold by Thompson Madrid? It won’t be a problem. Madrid has been experiencing something of a hotel boom lately, including other fantastic options where you can redeem points.

A short walk from Thompson’s, the Madrid edition brings one of Marriott’s best brands to the Spanish capital, thanks to a lobby that sits between a nightclub and a club lounge, with baroque-inspired rooms and elegant rooms. Its very own floating rooftop pool scene.

Also near Puerta del Sol, Toni Four Seasons Madrid, another relative newcomer, has taken over a series of historic bank buildings and turned them into some of the city’s most luxurious residences. The Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid is another historic landmark that looks as impressive as ever thanks to years of renovations, while the Rosewood Villa Magna is a great choice for those who prefer understated to understated.

On the affordable side, the Hyatt Centric Gran Via is a great use of points for a stay in the heart of the capital (17,000 points or $249 per night), while the Westin Palace Madrid offers a surprisingly grande dame vibe. Low price points starting at under 250 (or 42,000 points) per night.

Accessibility

The entrance and lobby of Thompson Madrid are wheelchair accessible with no stairs and automatic doors (as well as doors that open for guests). The elevator buttons are located on the steps that are easily accessible from a wheelchair, the guest room corridors are wide and according to Spanish regulations, several guest rooms are designed for guests with reduced mobility.

Want to know more about Thompson, Hyatt or Madrid? Start here.