Welcome to the central Madrid neighborhood of Las Letras where an immediate sense of the Spanish capital can be garnered from a stroll around the nearby streets.
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The NH Concierge’s Tips
Welcome to the central Madrid neighborhood of Las Letras where an immediate sense of the Spanish capital can be garnered from a stroll around the nearby streets.
Right behind the hotel you’ll find the Congreso de los Diputados, an imposing building where Spain’s laws are debated and created. Facing Congress is a square with a statue in honor of one of its most remarkable neighbors, Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote de la Mancha. Other writers from Spain’s Golden Age including Lope de Vega and Quevedo are remembered with street names and engravings around the area. The vibrant Plaza Santa Ana is where you’ll find the Teatro Español, and a touching statue in tragic memory of the influential poet and playwright, Federico García Lorca. Feel the spirit of Ernest Hemingway in the Cervecería Alemana, the German bar most famous for keeping the writer refreshed while living in Madrid.
Our hotel is proud to present a new gastronomic experience from renowned chef, Lluis Canadell. Casa Suecia offers succulent mixture of Mediterranean and international cuisine – you have to try it.
The city is heaven for the amateur foodie and gourmet connoisseur alike, and we are at the heart (or maybe the stomach) of what is available. Taking the short stroll up towards majestic Plaza Mayor will lead you to a few of the best options. A visit to the Mercado de San Miguel is never forgotten, with its striking metal and glass exterior and home to some of the best gourmet tapas in town.
Just down from the market, Casa Sobrino de Botín, which made Hemingway’s pages and is the oldest restaurant in the world, gives you a traditional taste of Madrid. Try the garlic soup and the classic cochinillo asado, suckling pig roasted in an old oak oven. A few meters down from Botín is the start of Calle Cava Baja, which leads round to Calle Cava Alta. These almost parallel streets are the perfect place to eat tapas and pintxos like the locals, going from one taberna to another while mingling with the Madrileños.
Our hotel is a perfect base for museum visiting, with the three jewels of Madrid (Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen Bornemizsa) are all just a short walk away. But the lesser-known museums in the vicinity are absolutely worth a visit. Learn, through carefully preserved items such as medals, maps and nautical equipment, how the Spanish navy evolved, at the Museo Naval; or pop in to see what temporary exhibition is on at the Instituto Cervantes and the Palacio de Cibeles.
Meet La Dama de Elche, the 4th century B.C. Iberian bust that resides in the Museo Arqueológico. There’s also an underground replica of the cave of Altamira with stunning examples of the ancient rock paintings found in the Cantabrian original. The Biblioteca Nacional de España is not just an incredible depository of books but also hosts exhibitions on the history of writing and printing, using samples of Spain’s oldest books.
No visit to our capital is complete without grabbing a breath of fresh air in El Parque del Retiro. The park is not only Madrid’s green lung, but is also a multicultural space where many hidden gems can be found. The monument to King Alfonso XII next to the rowing lake is one of the many architectural delights of the park. As is the 19th Century Palacio de Cristal, used nowadays for temporary art exhibitions organized by the Museo Reina Sofía. Walking towards the Estatua del Ángel Caído, a powerful statue of the devil, will lead you towards the tranquil walkway of Cuesta de Moyano where a second-hand book fair has been held every day since 1919.
Retiro has so much to offer for all the family and younger members will be mesmerized by puppet shows, musicians, artists, clowns and that obligatory boating trip. To learn more about the city in a fascinating way, let us organize a historical tour, taking you on a journey from the Roman walls to the Arab settlements through the royal feuds and the Franco era. For something a little lighter, downtown at number 8, Calle del Arenal, is the house and museum of Ratoncito Pérez, Spain’s very own version of the Tooth Fairy, a mouse that was the protagonist in stories written for baby King Alfonso XIII.
With our hotel located right in the heart of the city, the best way to move around and enjoy this amazing metropolis is undoubtedly by foot with pretty much all the key places of interest within walking distance. However, Madrid’s public transport network can make getting around even easier. Taxi and bus stops are located just outside the hotel door, with Banco de España metro station just around the corner. Downtown shops tend to close around 9pm but that is just the beginning of the evening in Madrid. Theaters, restaurants and bars will slowly start to fill up with locals and visitors alike from 22:00 onwards.
An evening plan, without venturing too far, could start with one of the many musicals that are playing in the theaters found along Gran Vía. From the enchanting story of the Lion King to the mystery and passion of Don Juan, there is plenty to feed all tastes. El Teatro Español on Plaza Santa Ana is one of the oldest theaters in the world, exciting audiences since 1565, and offers guided tours, which includes visiting the King’s box
After the show, walk through the trendy neighborhood of Malasaña, the iconic home of the post-dictatorship movement known as “La Movida”, that will give life to the Spanish phrase in praise of the city: De Madrid al Cielo, ‘From Madrid to Heaven’. Have a drink in Tupperware or Madklyn to relive that Movida vibe.
Madrid boasts fabulous flamenco performances and there’s nowhere better than El Corral de la Morería, a 15-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Considered by many the greatest tablao in the world, it’s a reference point for the art and since 1956 the likes of Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall and Rock Hudson have all taken center-stage.
Starting just a two minute walk from the hotel, the one mile long thoroughfare of Gran Vía is a shopper’s paradise, crammed with high street fashion retailers. Start the spree from Loewe, which opened its leather-dedicated business in 1939. From there, move onwards past, or into, the iconic names of Zara, Cortefiel, Mango, H&M and Spain’s largest Primark store. Watch out too for Calle Fuencarral, a side street near metro Gran Via full of stylish shops, and no shortage of refreshment stops. Looking for the higher-end? Calle Serrano is for you with Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana just some of the boutiques that line the expansive sidewalks.
The Atocha train station, an appealing building in itself with turtles playing in the center-piece pond feature, is less than 15 minutes’ walk from us and provides an easy gateway to further adventures.
Toledo is one of the most charming and beautiful medieval cities that Spain has to offer and can be reached in around 30 minutes from the station. Discover this historically rich City of Three Cultures, which overlooks Rio Tajo from up high, where Christians, Jews and Muslims coexisted peacefully. Trace back their legacy to the Middle Ages as you admire the Catedral de Santa María, the Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca and the Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz to see wonderful examples, and living proof, of that legacy.
Planning your trip to Madrid? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Madrid.
My name is Pablo Rodríguez and I’ve been part of the NH family since late 2015. After so many years living between London and Amsterdam I decided to return to this wonderful city of Madrid. I started working in the Guest Relations team, a role that I have a natural passion for. The most amazing thing about my role is the opportunity to meet so many interesting people as well as to be part of very unexpected situations based on our customer´s requests. There is nothing more fulfilling than to see a smile on a customer’s face after your interaction with them. That is really the biggest reward for me, to make someone happy. As a bonus, it also gives me the opportunity to get to know the city that I love in many ways so it’s a WIN-WIN situation for me.
The NH Collection Madrid Suecia hotel, formerly known as NH Madrid Suecia, is in the heart of the city’s historic center. A chic hotel on Madrid's Broadway, Gran Vía, it's ideal for shopping and musicals alike. Renovated in 2016, the hotel was originally opened in 1956.
Tasting modern Spanish food in the capital’s oldest wine cellar, watching a stunning sunset from atop a 2,000-year-old temple, or experiencing true flamenco, there are things to do in Madrid that will live long in the mind. There’s always plenty of options for unique things to do in Madrid, filled with culture, history and tradition.
Our Guest Relations team's tips to exploring their neighborhood! Welcome to Madrid’s barrio de Salamanca, where everything that glitters is gold.
With the help of our Guest Relations team, Spain’s culture surrounds you from the moment you arrive to the moment you reluctantly depart: From the works of Goya and Velazquez to the street engravings of Cervantes; from tapas-rich tabernas to the local delicacy of churros,
The best choices for what to do and see in Madrid in one day! Indulge yourself with the mouth-watering local food whilst exploring the numerous historical sites
Tasting modern Spanish food in the capital’s oldest wine cellar, watching a stunning sunset from atop a 2,000-year-old temple, or experiencing true flamenco, there are things to do in Madrid that will live long in the mind. There’s always plenty of options for unique things to do in Madrid, filled with culture, history and tradition.
A visit to Madrid is, of course, incomplete without taking in the beautiful sights that the city has to offer. Orient yourself and admire the cityscape by heading to one of the city's many viewpoints.
Founded in the 9th century as Magerit, the city of Madrid ranks highly among Europe's top tourist destinations. Families continue to visit year upon year and there's something to appeal to all ages, tastes and budgets.
Madrid is a great place to experience the culinary delights Spain has to offer. Full of wonderful restaurants, markets and small eateries, visitors will encounter Spanish culture and an array of gastronomical treats.
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