Our stay at the Gran Hotel Ingles has been wonderful. It is the perfect place to serve as a home base for exploring the city of Madrid (mostly on foot). Tucked on a quiet street within a short walk of many of the city's attractions, the hotel is a refuge amidst the bustle of the city. We stayed for three nights in an executive room, which was not huge but a good size for a hotel located in the center of the city. It featured a king-sized bed table with 2 chairs, a small writing desk and a bar, plus a closet off of the bathroom. Our bathroom was almost as large as the rest of the room and had a separate claw-foot tub, shower, double vanity, and WC. The room was especially quiet and the blackout curtains made the space like a cocoon when we needed to sleep. Our room did not have a view, just a window looking out to a alley or courtyard with other windows, but being away from any streets made the room quiet and peaceful. I don't think I heard a sound from outside of our room except for water occasionally running through the pipes. There were no sirens, horns honking or noise from the hallway or elevator - perfect for getting the rest we needed after long days exploring the city. The whole hotel, including the rooms, are stylishly decorated and the lobby is large, welcoming, and comfortable.
I cannot say enough about the great staff of the hotel. They were all kind and attentive throughout our stay, from the warm greeting we received upon arrival and their willingness to accommodate a very early check-in, since our red-eye flight arrived in the late morning and we were eager to take a nap. The concierge staff helped us arrange numerous activities, including numerous restaurant and shopping recommendations, flamenco dancing shows, and museum tickets. While we wanted to practice our Spanish, I was relieved that the staff all spoke English very well. They were always eager to help. The service was exceptionally good!
Local attractions include Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, the Mercado de San Miguel, the Royal Palace, the Catedral de la Almudena, the Museo Nacional del Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and the former home of Cervantes.
There are a number of restaurants nearby that are worth trying:
Lobo 8 (in the hotel) - great place to grab breakfast, which we did several times; nice cold breakfast bar with lots of fresh fruit and pastries, plus a full menu; the staff here is very nice, and the manager saw to it that we received excellent service
Chuka (right across the street) - delicious Japanese style ramen; be sure to make a reservation or get there before they open at 8:30pm - it is extremely popular and very small
El Berril de las Cortes (around the corner, 5 min walk) - nice place nearby for seafood paella, not the best I've ever had but not bad and huge portions
La Rollerie (at the corner) - local chain for breakfast/lunch and fresh breads and pastries read more