In short… URSO Hotel and Spa is a beautifully preserved traditional building in an up-and coming area with a flower filled lobby, comfortable rooms, friendly staff and a great spa for a city hotel!
The surroundings… The Urso Hotel is in a great location in between Chamberí, Tribunal and Chueca, and only a 5 to 10 minute walk into Madrid’s hipper/younger area of Malasaña. It’s also right near the chic high streets of Salamanca, so it’s very central and you can find lots of cool shops, restaurants, and coffee shops within walking distance.
The vibe… The hotel is a historic building and still contains many of its original historical elements, including the most charming elevator and beautiful stained glass windows in the stairwell! There are beautiful stained glass windows in the stairwell and antique moldings that really mix the more classical modern vibe of the hotel with its Spanish history. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by elegant valets in traditional Spanish capes and the scent of fresh flowers, which the front desk informed me are arranged fresh almost daily. The lobby is super welcoming and home-y, with couches and lots of coffee table books making you feel right at home, with plenty of original moldings and architectural elements from the building’s first construction!
The rooms… The rooms are beautiful and bright, with simple and chic decor and marble bathrooms. My room had a great view onto a neighboring palazzo-style garden on a quiet street. I toured a few other rooms, two of them top-floor suites with huge terraces. They also pride themselves on serving only Spanish products in the rooms’ mini bar, which is a nice touch.
The wellness… Although I didn’t have time for a spa treatment, their spa pool and steam room are standouts and super relaxing. When you check in, they advise you to call before you plan to go down to the pool so they can restrict guest overlap, which in the long run is much nicer as both times I had the pool to myself! Next to the indoor pool there’s a well equipped small gym area as well.
The food… We were only able to eat breakfast here, but it was still a standout, with a classic buffet offering some Spanish highlights (jamon, pan con tomate, etc.). Don’t miss drinks in the hotel’s elegant and flower-filled lobby. In addition to their breakfast room, the hotel also has their own fine-dining restaurant, Casa Felisa, which prides itself on its traditionally Spanish menu, with super cute farm-chic decor. There is also a private dining room in the hotel available to groups or meetings, which is in one of the hotel’s original rooms with wooden walls bearing original plaques and china stacked in beautiful wooden cabinets.
Extra tip goes to… The live pianist every night from 7-10pm in the hotel lobby and bar. This was very fun as we had some time before our dinner reservation for a drink in the downstairs lobby, and were met with this pleasant surprise..
Be sure to… Explore the hotel pool! It’s not big, but it’s filled with all sorts of jets and underwater massage beds, so it’s the perfect place to unwind and relax your tired legs after sightseeing. There is also a steam room, and a small gym in the spa, too.
Parting words…After traveling to Madrid many times, I have to say that staying at the Urso really made me feel at home, with a sort of old-school atmosphere yet modern comforts and luxury, and the feeling that you can pop in and out throughout the day, thanks to its ideal location.
Date of stay…End of January (24th-26th), 2024
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