Sitting in
the Lobby Bar of the Ritz, Madrid savouring a glass of extremely good Spanish
cava, nibbling on almonds and enjoying the sounds of the piano, if felt
so good to be back at this special place. It has the knack of making you feel
as if you belong from the moment you check
in.
The Ritz,
Madrid set in Madrid’s so-called “golden triangle” (the area between the
city’s three most renowned museums, the Prado, Reina Sofia and
Thyssen-Bornemisza) is arguably Spain’s most fabled hotel.
For over a
hundred years, it has played host to royalty, aristocrats and Hollywood’s
greatest. There is even a cocktail on its menu which, apparently, was inspired
by Salvador Dali. Surrounded by the most exquisite arrangement of flowers and
deep plush carpets, I felt engulfed in classic old-world opulence.
This baroque
palace, built at the request of the Spanish king, Alfonso Xlll may now be a tad old-fashioned
but that only adds to the Ritz’s charm,
harking back to a glamorous bygone era. Quality hospitality is
ingrained into its psyche and that is why you want to stay at this grand
retreat.
Its new
owners, a joint venture between Mandarin Oriental and the Olayan Group, a Saudi
Arabian multinational, are reportedly going to propel it into the 21st
century, redesigning the bathrooms, adding amenities such as a spa and swimming
pool.
The service
is impeccable. There are so many Spanish people working in the hotel which adds to the
ambience. The concierge, one of the best I have come across for a long time, is
extremely knowledgeable and honest. The team will tell you about avoiding
tourist traps and where the Madrileños go. All their recommendations were spot
on. They even got me a ticket for the Prado so that I could avoid the long
queues.
There are
167 rooms and suites and, I am told, no two are alike. My room was spacious,
the décor resolutely traditional, though there was a modern TV and fast Wi-Fi
to remind you that you were in 2015. The bed, dressed in the crispest of linens, was so comfy. The
marble bathroom had a separate walk-in rain shower.
As you would expect from a hotel of this calibre there were the lovely little touches such as the traditional almond cake waiting for me when I arrived in my room.
But, what
was noteworthy was that a bottle of bubbly and a slice of gateau was there the
following day to say “happy birthday”.
You also got
a sense of place. Paying homage to Velázquez’s legendary painting Las Meninas,
hanging in the Prado, there was a “menina” doll to let housekeeping know when
you did not want to be disturbed.
With the
stunning gardens in which
to relax and enjoy a light snack or drink and the superb Goya restaurant, it is
all too easy to stay cocooned inside the Ritz, Madrid.
By Daralyn
Danns
Getting
there
British Airways Holidays offers two
nights at the 5* Hotel Ritz, Madrid from £269 per person, travelling November 1
until January 31. Price Includes Euro Traveller return flights from
London Gatwick or London Heathrow and accommodation on a room only basis. For
reservations visit ba.com/madrid or call 0844 493 0758
For further
information about the Hotel Ritz, Madrid visit hmandarinoriental.com/ritzmadrid
