Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid

Character and identity

A 1910 Belle Époque landmark reopened in 2021 after its largest renovation, the Ritz now reads lighter and more contemporary while keeping its grandeur intact. Architect Rafael de La-Hoz and designers Gilles and Boissier worked in white, gold and Dolomite marble, with a Haberdashery leaf sculpture suspended beneath the lobby's crystal canopy. The 167 rooms and suites sit beside the Prado, opposite the Thyssen-Bornemisza and steps from Retiro. Quique Dacosta runs five venues including the tasting-menu Deessa, the Champagne Bar and the garden. A new underground spa, The Beauty Concept, and a white-marble pool round it out. Staff wear Jorge Vázquez.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The draw here is the combination of Quique Dacosta across five venues and a service register that genuinely matches the room rate, set inside a Belle Époque building that no longer feels like a museum piece. Spend the money if Madrid means art and dining for you; book a Junior Suite for the space, and aim for a Deessa tasting menu and afternoon tea in Palm Court on the same trip.