Ideal location on the vibrant Gran Via, Madrid's Broadway
Walking distance to some tourist highlights such as Puerta del Sol
Seasonal rooftop pool and bar offer panoramic city views
Public transportation in front of the hotel
Large lobby bar with private sitting areas
Fitness center and sauna
Guests staying in higher grade rooms get access to a VIP lounge with free drinks and snacks
"19th century Spanish" decor is elegant but old-fashioned
Rooms on lower floors facing Gran Via can be noisy
Some rooms are dark
Food and drink prices, including continental breakfast, run high
Popular hotel, must book early
In-room Wi-Fi at a cost; Wi-Fi signal in common areas is weak.
The 232-room, mid-range Emperador Hotel Madrid sits at the intersection of two of Madrid's busiest streets, the Gran Via and Via San Bernardo, with plenty of food, shopping, theater, music, cultural activities and tourist destinations within easy walking distance. While the drapery-heavy “19th century Spanish” décor may feel outdated, the rooftop pool oasis with sunbeds, bar service and sweeping city views is the only one of its kind in the area.
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Scene
A classic hotel ideally located in the city center
Despite the Emperador Hotel Madrid's location on one of Madrid's busiest, noisiest intersections, the property's Old World interiors (think upholstered furnishing, heavy drapes, patterned carpets, dark wood and dramatic chandeliers) in both the public and private spaces make for a quiet and relaxing stay. During the summer, the seasonal rooftop pool with its on-site bar and sun beds become a focal point of the hotel when guests (mostly older tourists and seasoned business travelers) revel in panoramic views of the Spanish capital with cocktails and snacks.
Location
City-center location with easy metro access
The Emperador Hotel Madrid sits on a busy corner of the Gran Via, the city's major traffic artery, which is lined with shops, bars, restaurants, theaters, and more. The Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are a 10-minute walk from the hotel's front doors. Other tourist highlights such as The Prado, Plaza de Espana, and Royal Palace are a bit further away, but can all be easily reached by metro, which is located around the corner from the hotel. City tourist buses stop directly in front of the hotel.
Rooms
Old World charm with modern conveniences
Rooms are furnished with a traditional decor of heavy reds and golds with floor-to-ceiling drapes, wall-to-wall carpet, and dark wood. Standard rooms, while adequate and clean, can be dark and some are quite small. Club-room upgrades grant guests access to a VIP lounge with a limited selection of gratis drinks and snacks. Suites, meanwhile, feature an elaborate design due to the corner property's curved architecture, and these come with higher-end perks like double-soaking tubs and massage showers. All rooms have teakettles, trouser presses, flat-screen TVs, laptop safes, and minibars. Despite these modern amenities, the overall feel is a bit old-fashioned. Plus, in-room Wi-Fi comes at cost.
Features
A fabulous rooftop pool above and costly amenities below
The highlight of the Emperador Hotel Madrid is its rooftop pool, nine stories above the busy and buzzy Gran Via. Open only during summer months, the pool area packs in guests who enjoy the sun beds, on-site bar and views of Madrid, a rarity on the Gran Via. A continental breakfast buffet is offered each morning for a fee, but neighborhood cafes offer better value. The small fitness center, equipped with cardio machines and weights, lacks windows, which causes it to feel cramped. There are several meeting rooms with a.v. capabilities and DSL hook-ups, but Wi-fi signal is weak. Valet parking is available for a fee.
