Relais & Châteaux Hotel Orfila

Part of high-end Relais & Chateaux collection, the Orfila is luxury boutique housed in a beautifully renovated small palace originally built in 1886 as a private residence. Interiors are filled with antiques from around Europe, and original details such as charming "trompe l’oeil" decorations in the patio and mural paintings on stairs have been preserved to keep the essence of the original building. The lobby is accessed via what was once a carriage access, marked by a large green wooden door flanked by small wrought-iron lamps and two porthole windows.The reception area is spacious and elegant, with marble finishes, delicate wall moldings, and a skylight. Original antiques and period furniture are sprinkled throughout the space, and walls are hung with classic paintings with ornate golden frames. 

Off the lobby are the rest of the common areas, including the lovely tea room (which doubles as a meeting room for corporate events), the cozy lobby bar, and the restaurant. Large wood and glass doors in the main dining room open onto a charming courtyard, complete with a few wrought-iron tables and chairs, lots of greenery, and a small gurgling wall fountain. The hotel has a refined romantic vibe that draws well-heeled couples, but it also features family suites convenient for those traveling with children.

Hotel Orfila is located on a small tree-lined street in an upscale residential area off Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid’s main thoroughfares. There are dozens of restaurants, shops, and bars within a few blocks of the property, but the area is generally quiet at night, when businesspeople from the many nearby law firms, banks and insurance companies go home for the day. The National Library, the Archaeological Museum, and Sorolla Museum are all within a 10-minute walk of the hotel, but most other major attractions are about a 15-minute metro ride or 25-minute walk away. Colon and Alonso Martinez metro stops are each a five-minute walk from the hotel, offering easy access to all tourist sights, main trains stations, and the airport. The hotel is a 40-minute metro ride or 25-minute drive from Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport. Airport transfers can be arranged at front desk for a fee.

The hotel has 32 spacious rooms, all individually decorated in a classic style with period furniture, cute striped wallpaper accents, and soft colors. They’re elegant but dated, with somewhat stodgy beige carpeting and a pastel palette that may feel a little bland to some. All rooms have modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi, smart TVs, minibars with drinks and snacks, iPod docks, and electronic safes. All but standard Superior Rooms also feature Nespresso machines. Suites have separate living areas and walk-in closets, and suite rates include free airport transfers. 

Bathrooms are spacious and spotless, with double sinks, shower/tub combos with jets and rain showerheads, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and a good array of hotel-brand toiletries. The street where the hotel is located is residential and generally quiet, but light sleepers may want to request a room overlooking the patio. 

The hotel’s Jardin de Orfila restaurant offers excellent market cuisine made with seasonal ingredients and served in a lovely dining room that opens onto a charming little patio with wrought iron furniture. The lobby bar is a quiet spot for a drink in the evening or a casual meeting, with a wide array of liquors, comfortable crushed velvet couches, and leather chairs. Other meeting spaces include a spacious tea room decorated with antiques and the Tragaluz Room, which has a skylight overlooking the patio. Small pets are allowed for a fee, and the hotel offers off-site parking with valet service, also for an extra charge. Wi-Fi is free throughout.