NH Madrid Lagasca

The NH Madrid Lagasca is a smartly decorated hotel that renovated all of its spaces between 2014 and 2016. The look throughout is minimalist and polished, with mostly neutral tones and some fun accents in public spaces. For instance, the lobby has a living room-like area with a velvet couch and bookshelf lined with knickknacks and novels, plus white wall panels with freeform cutouts that provide a peek into the adjacent bar. The chic bar area has hexagonal mosaic tiling and wall hangings, green-cushioned bar stools, and mustard-yellow chairs. The breakfast room has a pleasant amount of greenery and brass light fixtures that hang over wood tables next to green and red suede chairs. This property attracts a pretty even mix of business travelers with work in the area, and tourists looking to stay in one of Madrid’s poshest districts.

The NH Lagasca is located right in the heart of Salamanca neighborhood, one of the nicest and most upscale areas in Madrid. There are myriad shops ranging from high-end boutiques to international clothing chains such as H&M and Zara a few minutes from the hotel, and restaurants for all budgets can be found in the immediate neighborhood. Attractions such as El Prado Museum, Retiro Park, the National Library, and Puerta de Alcala can be reached on foot, but for longer distances, there are two subway stops and several bus lines a couple of blocks from the property. This is a quiet area at night, but nightlife in the Alonso Martinez and Chueca areas is an easy walk away.

• 16-minute drive to Madrid-Barajas Airport
• Steps to restaurants, bars, shopping, and nightlife
• Four-minute walk to upscale shopping on Serrano Street
• Eight-minute walk to the National Library and the Archaeological Museum
• 10-minute walk to Retiro Park, Madrid’s most famous garden
• 12-minute walk to nightlife in Alonso Martinez
• 12-minute walk to Puerta de Alcala
• 17-minute walk to dining and nightlife in Chueca
• 18-minute walk to Cibeles
• 23-minute walk to El Prado Museum
• 23-minute walk to Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
• 17-minute metro ride to Puerta del Sol
• 20-minute metro ride to Plaza de Oriente, home to the Royal Palace, the Royal Theater, and Sabatini Gardens
• 21-minute metro ride to Plaza Mayor
• 22-minute bus ride to Reina Sofia Museum
• 22-minute metro ride to Templo de Debod Park, with great views and an original Egyptian temple
• 24-minute metro ride to La Almudena Cathedral
• 25-minute metro ride to La Latina, a nightlife hotspot
• 27-minute metro ride to Plaza de Castilla, the financial district

The 100 rooms here are all fairly simple, but thanks to renovations in 2014-15, they're modern, minimalist, and well-kept. Expect a mostly gray-scale color scheme, with pops of blue in armchairs and bed runners. Wooden floors, white wood furniture, and gray headboards are polished, and some rooms have accents walls with beige stripes. Unfortunately, rooms are generally on the small side and those facing the interior can be dark. Additionally, only four rooms have furnished terraces -- though these are lovely. Standard amenities include comfy beds, desks and chairs, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TV with cable, as well as minibars and closets with safes. Upgraded units add sitting areas and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms have either plain beige tiling or attractive black tiling with black-and-white photo murals of an atrium. They're either outfitted with shower/tub combos or walk-in showers, alongside NH-brand toiletries and hairdryers.

As typical for a city hotel, the NH Madrid Lagasca is somewhat light on features. There are no pool or spa, but a small, decently equipped gym has stationary bikes, treadmills, free weights, and a multipurpose weight machine. Dining-wise, the hotel serves an expansive buffet breakfast, which is included in some rates. By night, the breakfast room is occupied by an upscale restaurant serving traditional Spanish tapas and larger meals. Guests can grab light meals and a drink at the chic bar off the lobby. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the hotel.