Melia Madrid Serrano

The plain exterior of the seven-floor Hotel Melia Galgos doesn’t match the modernistic interior designs. Blue neon lights reflect off marble floors and mirrored ceilings in the lobby, which has a nightclub vibe with chic white chairs, cocktail tables, and a grand piano. If interiors in the lobby, bar, and meeting rooms feel new it’s because the hotel completed renovations in early 2014. Melia Rewards members have a priority check-in line at the modern front desk. The trendy ambience inside the hotel appeals to a younger clientele -- particularly couples and business travelers. Views of the Salamanca district can be seen from the rooftop terrace, which would be ideal for an outdoor pool, but there isn’t one here.

This hotel is in the Salamanca district in a neighborhood home to a mix of residences, shops, and offices. The location is two kilometers north of Retiro Park. Surrounding the hotel are many lesser-known museums -- the Museum of Lazaro Galdiano and Museum of Public Art -- and several embassies. Serrano Street’s high-end shopping is in easy walking distance and bars and restaurants are within 100 meters from the hotel. The main museums -- Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum -- are reachable by public transportation in about 30 minutes. A taxi queue and public parking lot are directly outside and numerous Metro stations and buses stops are nearby. Plaza de Oriente, with the Royal Palace and Sabatini Gardens, is 30 minutes by subway. The financial district, Plaza de Castilla, is also a 30-minute subway ride away. It’s a 15- to 20-minute cab ride to the Madrid-Barajas Airport. 

Wood wall paneling, neutral furnishings, wooden floors, and modern decor create a welcoming, modern vibe in rooms, which were renovated in 2014. Windows overlook the streets and/or courtyard. Basic Single rooms are suitable for one person with 14 square meters of space. Premium Rooms (and Melia Rooms) have 24 to 26 square feet of space, separate work areas, and trouser presses. For groups of travelers there are Triple Rooms and Family Rooms, which are connected Superior and Standard rooms. One-bedroom Junior Suites and Grand Suites feature ornate wooden carvings on headboards, sofa beds in separate living rooms, kettles, bathrobes, slippers, and marble bathrooms. Most other bathrooms have wooden floors and modern fixtures, shower/tub combos, and hairdryers. Cribs and rollaway beds can be requested. Every room has flat-screen TVs, turndown service, safes, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and minibars. 

On the rooftop of the Hotel Melia Galgos is a spacious terrace used in the summer months for sunbathing with cushioned lounge chairs and flooring that could use updating. Also on the seventh floor is an indoor hot tub, sauna, Turkish bath, and modern fitness center with cardio machines and free weights on orange tiles floors. The hotel doesn’t have a spa, but massages, pedicures, and manicures can be booked on request. This hotel’s 10 spacious and modern meeting spaces, which were updated in 2014, can fit up to 300 people, offering coffee service and audiovisual equipment. The 24-hour front desk can arrange airport transfers, including limousine service, and the business center offers computer and printer access. Salon Castellana serves a buffet breakfast that’s popular among guests with Spanish pastries (tasty churros), a bread station, hot foods, and more. With modern furniture and neon lights, Blue Lounge By Melia offers food and cocktail service and sports games on flat-screen TVs.