Hotel Meninas, Madrid

Just a few steps from the city’s Opera and a handful of blocks from the Royal Palace lies a small, unassuming boutique hotel nestled on a quiet residential street but still within walking distance of Madrid’s top attractions.

The staff at Hotel Meninas welcome guests with hearty smiles and a wealth of information. Although the urban hotel seems petite from the outside, the interior opens into a reception desk, two living/reading areas bordered by a ceiling-high bookshelf, and two lounges that also can be used as conference rooms for small meetings.

The elevator lobby lies just past the open stairwell where well-lit, wrought-iron railings lead guests to upper floors or downstairs to the subterranean level. Beneath the ground floor is Hotel Meninas’ restaurant, La Cava del Meninas, where guests can reserve a table for lunch or dinner. Both menus feature Spanish culinary staples like boquerones en vinagre and jamón de bellota ibérico, and dinner service includes a live musical performance.

Reasonably priced rooms start at approximately $120 per night for a single room (including breakfast) and are outfitted with a minibar, safe, lush bedding and biodegradable toiletries.

Located on Calle de Campomanes, Hotel Meninas is approximately six minutes from Plaza Mayor, five minutes from Gran Via and nine minutes from Plaza Puerta del Sol, making it an ideal noise-less nook in an often raucous capital city.

Hotel Meninas